China will strengthen ties with foreign partners to revitalize the economy of northeast China and to strengthen cooperation throughout Northeast Asia, said Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan on Saturday at the International Conference on Revitalizing Northeast China and Promoting Regional Cooperation.

"The world has voiced support of China's strategy to revitalize the traditional industries in the northeast region. Officials and business leaders from many countries are seeking opportunities for cooperation," said Zeng.

The two-day conference, held in the port city of Dalian in Liaoning Province, was sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council's Office for Revitalizing Northeast China. It was suggested by Premier Wen Jiabao when he met with the leaders of the ASEAN nations, Japan and the Republic of Korea last October.

Participants included high-ranking officials and experts from a dozen countries, international organizations and renowned transnational companies.

With the participation of neighboring countries, there has been encouraging progress in regional business cooperation, according to the vice premier.

Despite having ample resources and being an established base of heavy industry, northeast China has fallen behind in economic development in recent years.

Numerous preferential policies have been put in place to encourage foreign partners to take part in the industrial restructuring of the region by such means as annexation of or joint-stock holdings in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially those in equipment manufacturing, shipbuilding, auto manufacturing and petrochemicals.

The policies include exemption from agricultural taxes in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces and value-added tax reform in some industries.

Commercial banks are given greater flexibility in handling non-performing assets and loans to SOEs.

Zeng said an improved environment and healthy market system are needed for foreign investment.

The country has started 160 high-tech projects since last year to restructure and upgrade traditional industries in the region, said Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and director of the State Council's Office for Revitalizing Northeast China.

Zhang said other plans are made or under discussion, such as master plans for the three provinces in the region and the scheme to build Dalian into an international navigation center.

Infrastructure such as power supply and communications tops the list of the commission's key tasks, said Zhang.

Zhang stated that the Ministry of Railway has signed an agreement with the provinces to build two new railway lines. One is a passenger railway line from Harbin in Heilongjiang Province to Dalian in Liaoning Province.

Foreign and private investment in the projects is encouraged, Zhang said.

(China Daily September 27, 2004)