|
CHINA> Taiwan, HK, Macao
![]() |
|
Premier urges acceleration of Straits economic zone
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-10 16:04 FUZHOU -- Premier Wen Jiabao has called for the acceleration of an economic zone on the western side of the Taiwan Strait, in order to boost social and economic development in the region and combat the global economic downturn. In a three-day visit to the southeastern province of Fujian from Friday, Wen said the economic zone, centered on Fujian and facing Taiwan Island across the strait, had been long planned by the central government. Such an economic zone could make use of the currently peaceful ties across the Taiwan Strait to forge stronger economic cooperation for mutual benefits and development, and help tackle the challenges posed by the global financial crisis, Wen said. It would also contribute to the ignition of a new growth engine in China by capitalizing on Fujian's comparative advantages, and to the long-term development plan of the country, he said.
"Creativity is key to our strength building, to gaining advantages and development, and to retaining our honor," Wen said. He urged labor-intensive industries to become technology-intensive, adding that information technology and environmental industries were the focuses of economic competition that merited vigorous development. The Premier also called for greater importance to be attached to boosting social security, which would be one of the country's key ensuing measures to combat the global financial crisis, he said. During his visit to Xiamen, Wen also visited Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to the Xiamen University to learn about the prevention of A (H1N1) influenza in the city and the ongoing medical reform. After talking with a quarantined patient at the hospital via video camera, Wen hailed Fujian's disease prevention efforts, but warned they must not be relaxed. "The whole country must carry out disease prevention work in accordance with the arrangements made by the central authorities, to protect the health of the Chinese people," he said. On May 4, the State Council, China's cabinet, passed the plan to support the development of the economic zone on the western side of the Taiwan Strait. The new economic zone faces Taiwan Island across the strait, and neighbors the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, two economic powerhouses on the mainland. Besides Fujian, the zone also covers parts of the neighboring provinces of Jiangxi and Guangdong. The zone would become a frontier platform to boost industrial and cultural exchanges across the strait, according to the plan. |
隆昌县| 平舆县| 丹江口市| 炉霍县| 泸州市| 长汀县| 克什克腾旗| 盖州市| 子洲县| 秭归县| 邯郸县| 陕西省| 沁阳市| 鲜城| 韶关市| 丹东市| 广元市| 通州市| 江口县| 通榆县| 营山县| 南开区| 扶沟县| 台东市| 永春县| 金阳县| 陵川县| 革吉县| 新巴尔虎右旗| 桓仁| 林州市| 仁布县| 台东市| 巴林左旗| 宜城市| 麻栗坡县| 巨鹿县| 九江市| 双峰县| 施甸县| 白银市|