The plan for "Anhui Demonstration Zone for Industrial Relocation into cities Along Yangtze River" is the first strategic plan at state level in Anhui's history, and the first specific plan aiming at promoting the industrial relocation from home and abroad to the central and west part of China. Meanwhile, it is a significant national action to respond to the industrial relocation, to speed up the rising of central China, and to coordinate the regional development.

1. The Background for Establishing the Demonstrating Zone

Wanjiang River refers to the parts of Yangtze River flowing through Anhui Province, Wanjiang city belt is the significant development zone authorized by "Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the Rise of central China"(2006.no.10), and one of the six urban groups confirmed by "the Plan for Promoting the Rise of Central China". This zone has distinct geographical advantages. It is closely linked to the Yangtze River Delta Area geographically and culturally, and is the closest part to undertaking the industrial relocation. This zone is endowed with such comprehensive merits as high environmental bearing capacity, low factors costs, sound industrial foundations and strong ability to provide the auxiliary items. Since the 1990's, Anhui provincial party committee and provincial government have performed abundant and effective tasks to promote the zone development, to invite investments, to strengthen the organizational joint with Yangzte River Delta Area, and to innovate the cooperation with such areas. Afterwards, the accumulated experiences and expanding scale have ranked Anhui ahead of other Midwest areas. At present, the environmental bearing capacity is becoming less in the cities along China's east coast. Thus the situation of rapid relocation of industrial divisions and arrangements from east to west has come into being. The geographical advantages and gathered experiences have qualified this zone to explore the scientific industrial relocation and make demonstration for the areas in Midwest China.

When Hu Jintao, the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, inspected Anhui in the beginning of 2008, he pointed out: "to give full play to the geographical advantages, the natural advantages and the advantage of labor resources, to take active part in the division of work of development in Pan-Yangtze River Delta Area, to positively respond to the industrial relocation from costal cities, to continuously strengthen the economic cooperation and combination with fraternal provinces." In July 2008, when National Development and Reform Commission were invited to make investigation in Anhui province, they made assumption of establishing "Anhui Demonstration Zone for Industrial Relocation into Cities along Yangtze River". In October, Anhui provincial government submitted "Request for Establishing Anhui Demonstration Zone for Industrial Relocation into cities Along Yangtze River and Positively Promoting the Cooperation in Pan-Yangtze River Delta Area." In the beginning of November, the State Council made significant instructions, informing National Development and Reform Commission to study and support the issue.