Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday called for unremitting
efforts to push forward the rejuvenation of the country's northeast
and other old industrial bases.
Great progress has been made in these regions since China
launched the rejuvenation drive more than three years ago, Wen said
at the fourth plenary meeting of the leading group of the State
Council for revitalizing the northeast and other old industrial
bases.
The drive has helped the regions to rely less on resources and
heavy industry for economic growth and accelerated the construction
of infrastructure, said the premier.
Wen, who also heads the leading group, urged the regions to
develop modern agriculture and set up large processing firms for
local farm produce and livestock and poultry.
He told the meeting that the government will allocate more money
to fund water conservation projects in the northeast and gradually
tackle the drought that plagues the country's west.
Wen also urged the regions to optimize the economic structure
and speed up major transport and energy projects.
The regions should also establish and improve the assistance to
declining industries.
The northeast is a major base of grain production, heavy
industry and energy resources in China. Many cities in the region
started to wane as their energy resources were depleted and heavy
industries faced the burden of restructuring.
The regions should also strictly curb the growth of
high-polluting energy and water guzzlers and eliminate outdated
production facilities, the premier said.
He added they should vigorously develop new and renewable energy
and give better environmental protection to major rivers, including
the Songhua River, and the region's forests.
(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2007)