Chinese President Eyeing on Pudong New AreaChinese President Jiang Zemin has visited the Pudong New Area in Shanghai 10 times in the last 10 years, according to the latest issue of the news weekly "Outlook". On the 10th anniversary of the Pudong New Area, the April 10 issue of the magazine carried an article by Hu Wei, deputy executive director of the Management Committee of the Shanghai Pudong New Area."Pudong has received support from the third generation of the collective leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee since the very beginning," Hu said. Hu cited three important visits to Pudong by Chinese President Jiang Zemin. During the visit to the area on November 11, 1992, the Chinese leader noted that establishing Pudong was part of China's overall economic strategy. "President Jiang has provided the right direction for us when the Pudong area was at the initial stage of construction," Hu noted. When Jiang visited the Pudong Area again on May 1, 1994, he said that the central authorities' decision to develop Pudong is firm and will not change. "The Pudong New Area not only concerns the development of Shanghai but is also an important symbol of China's reforms," Jiang told local government officials. During an inspection tour on October 18, 1997, Jiang observed great changes in the Pudong Area. Over the past 10 years, other top Party and government leaders of the country have also visited the Pudong Area and showed their support. Hu said that plans are underway to start the next phase of development after Pudong leaders have reviewed the area's past successes and experience. Under the new blueprint, the urban area of Pudong will be expanded to 200 square kilometers by 2010, with the number of permanent residents growing to more than 2.1 million. By 2010, financial services, trade and hi-tech industries will take up 70 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the Pudong New Area, and GDP in the area will account for one third or even half of Shanghai GDP. Pudong New Area is determined to play a leading role in the economic and social development of the whole country, the official said. |
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