Wang Qimin, mayor of Chaohu, made the announcement Sunday at the ongoing Asia-Pacific CEO Forum that began on Saturday, saying that by the end of this decade, the green food output in the city will be able to meet the international standards. It will also possibly account for some 50 percent of the city's total agricultural production volume.

Chaohu is one of the largest vegetable growing and freshwater seafood bases in east China. It also produces a large quantity of commodity grain, cotton and edible oil.

The local government of Chaohu has decided to set up a green food fund for technological renovation and build up a technical support system to offer aid in the areas of seed fostering, food processing, storage and keeping the food fresh.

It is another bold plan by the local government to turn the city into a processing base in various industries for Shanghai and Nanjing, two economically and technically developed cities in east China that have port connections with Chaohu.

The program is expected to integrate the three cities and offer more opportunities for overseas investors, according to local officials.

(Xinhua 05/21/2001)