Vice Governor Zhao Zhengyong: Shaanxi is Confident to Fulfill 13% Economic Growth Target

Author: Liu Xiaobin

On March 7, the plenary meeting of Shaanxi delegation of 11th NPC deputes opened to the media home and abroad. Zhao Zhengyong, Standing Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province, indicated when being interviewed by CNwest and Tencent.com that the Central Party Committee will issue 200 billion yuan of local debts, while Shaanxi has obtained a quota of more than 6 billion yuan. These capitals will be used to do after-disaster restoration work, tackle with financial crisis and enlarge domestic demands. Zhao Zhengyong also said that in 2009 when China tries to keep 8% of economic growth rate, Shaanxi Province is confident to fulfill 13% of economic growth target.

Although there are many other activities such as Q&A of foreign ministers and open days of other delegations, the open day of Shaanxi delegation has attracted more than 100 journalists from 50 media home and abroad. CCTV.com and CNwest jointly recorded and broadcasted the whole process of the open day. It is the first time for related media to record and broadcast whole process of the deliberation of a delegation during the “two sessions” period.

Three factors support fulfillment of 13% economic growth target
 
In the interviews, the 13% economic growth target of Shaanxi Province became focus of the media. Many questions were put forward regarding how will Shaanxi tackle with influences of financial crisis and fulfill the 13% economic growth rate. Among 7 NPC delegates that accepted the collective interview, Zhao Zhengyong, as the standing committee member of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the standing vice governor of Shaanxi, replied these questions for sure.

Zhao Zhengyong said that the 13% economic growth rate target is a self-imposing target set based on practical situation of Shaanxi. It is a target for Shaanxi to welcome challenges and tackle with financial crisis, and for a target for Shaanxi, especially west China, to share worries of the State and struggle actively. Fulfillment of the target needs joint efforts of all departments of the province.

Zhao Zhengyong said that the State has set the economic growth target of 8%. Targets set by most of the provinces are higher than 8%. Some provinces set the target of 12%. Only Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi set the targets of 13%. Three factors made Shaanxi Province to set up the economic growth target of 13%. Firstly, Shaanxi’s economy has entered the expressway for development. In the 10th Five-year Period, the average economic growth rate of Shaanxi reached 11%. In the first three years since the 11th Five-year Plan, economic growth rate of Shaanxi reached 12.8%, 14.6% and 15.6%. The economic growth rate can’t fluctuate greatly. Although we met some difficulties this year, we should keep stable development. The 13% economic growth target is determined by the current situation of Shaanxi’s development.

Secondly, Shaanxi boasts rich energy resources. In particular, coal, gas, oil, salt and iron ore in north Shaanxi are rarely seen in the world. Orderly exploration and utilization of energies are main forces to drive economic growth of Shaanxi. In recent few years, economy of Shaanxi, in particular north Shaanxi, has developed rapidly thanks to driving forces of energy, heavy chemical, equipment manufacturing and other industries. Resources are capitals. In the face of difficulties created by the financial crisis, Shaanxi’s resources became its effective capitals for further development. Besides some enterprises in Shaanxi, the central enterprises started to enhance their cooperation with Shaanxi, so as to further explore and use resources of Shaanxi.

In addition, scientific and technological resources of Shaanxi can be converted into productivity and form technological innovation industry, which can resist the international financial crisis. Innovative enterprises, development areas or cities are less impacted by the financial crisis. Independent innovation is an important development way of Shaanxi, while scientific and technological resources are effective conditions for development of Shaanxi.

6 Out of 8 Pillar Industries of Shaanxi Grow Stably in First Two Months of This Year

According to Zhao Zhengyong, Shaanxi has accelerated the development of three major industries under the supports of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. In particular, industrial economy has developed rapidly. Equipment manufacturing, non-metal mine industry and other industries also developed rapidly. Even in the first two months of this year, when the economy was seriously affected, 6 out of 8 pillar industries of Shaanxi had grown by more than 10%. Growth rate of some industries even reached 20%. These lay foundations for economic growth of Shaanxi.

When the journalists asked that whether the fulfillment of 13% economic growth rate will affect ecological environment of Shaanxi, Zhao Zhengyong replied that environmental protection is the greatest concern and special focus of Shaanxi. Energy-conservation indicator and environment endurance ability have always been the pre-conditions to development. When speeding up its development, Shaanxi will do a better job in resource conservation and environmental protection, so as to construction an eco-friendly society.

Shaanxi obtains a quota of six billion yuan of local debts

A journalist asked that the premier mentioned in the governmental work report that the State will issue 200 billion yuan of local debts, and how much quota will Shaanxi obtain.

Zhao Zhengyong said that the State plans to issue 200 billion yuan of local debts. So far, no specific plans had been released. However, he indicated that Shaanxi had obtained 6 billion yuan of quota. These capitals will be used in after-disaster restoration and to tackle with financial crisis. Issuance of the debts aims at enlarging domestic demands, reconstructing buildings after disasters and tackling with financial crisis. Shaanxi will use most capitals on these aspects. In addition, some capitals will be used to support infrastructure projects and key projects.

From:The Government Website of Shaanxi Province