Zhejiang should take the initiative in dovetailing its economy to that of Shanghai, which forms the center of the Yangtze River Delta economic circle, according to Xi Jinping, Party secretary ofZhejiang.

He said Zhejiang and Shanghai could cooperate in a wide range of areas, including infrastructure, application of IT technology, industrial structure, energy development and environmental protection,

Areas around the Hangzhou Bay, where Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou,Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan and many successful Zhejiang cities were located, were to take the lead in the integration process, said Xi.

Xi's call was echoed by leading academic Feng Pei'en, vice-president of Zhejiang University and a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body to the government.

In his proposal, Feng called for dovetailing the economic development of the Hangzhou Bay area to that of the Yangtze River Delta.

Feng said the Hangzhou Bay area was close to Shanghai and had fine natural conditions, including water and land for economic development. This area was home to 50.65 percent of Zhejiang's population and accounted for 72.41 percent of Zhejiang's gross domestic product (GDP).

"Besides, per capita GDP of these regions is 1.42 times the provincial average and three times the national average. I believethis region has acquired the conditions of an economic boom," Fengsaid.

He said to further integrate into the Yangtze River Delta, the Hangzhou Bay area still had to make many adjustments. He suggestedthe area gave priority to the manufacturing industry, promoted theexchange of technology, education and talent, and promoted the application of scientific research results.

(MOFTEC Website February 8, 2003)