Yunnan aims to be regional business hub

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Yunnan province aims to grow into a trade hub in Southeast and South Asia and a major manufacturing base for China's export-oriented industries, said Li Jiheng, the province's acting governor.

Tapping into its geographic advantage in terms of links with Southeast and South Asian countries, Yunnan will benefit from hefty investment in infrastructure and business platforms to boost its foreign trade and enhance manufacturing capacity, as the State Council has approved the provincial Gateway Project, Li said.

Positioned in the forefront of China's new round of opening up, Yunnan has an unprecedented opportunity to establish channels, construct bases and set up platforms for development.

Yunnan will continue its green approach to sustainable economic growth, encourage low-carbon and eco-friendly businesses, and promote other green industries such as eco-tourism, clean energy and organic farming, he added.

"Since the 1990s, a green economy has been recognized as a strategic goal by the Yunnan government. Yunnan will continue to work hard to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve green industrialization, with an emphasis on low-carbon and energy-efficient businesses."

Rich in natural resources such as minerals and hydropower, Yunnan is a "green pearl" on the Tropic of Cancer with a more than 50 percent forest coverage rate and excellent biodiversity.

Ruili, a town in Yunnan's Dehong Dai-Jingpo autonomous prefecture bordering Myanmar, has welcomed corporate delegates from across the country seeking investment opportunities and potential partnerships, said Wang Zhaoyue, an official familiar with Ruili's opening-up strategy.