China's Shantou Ambitious in High-tech DevelopmentShantou Special Economic Zone in south China's Guangdong Province is hoping to become a powerhouse of high-tech industrial development in a decade.According to a science and technology plan for the next ten years, Shantou will focus on developing electronics and information, bio-engineering, new materials and photo-electric industries. The city will specially build six centers involving high-tech industrial development, modern agricultural demonstration and experiments, technological innovations, maritime developments. By 2010, eighty percent of the city's major commodities will be manufactured according to internationally advanced standards, while exports of high technologies and high-tech products will make up 30 percent of Shantou's total exports. Agro-scientific development will contribute 50 percent to the city's agricultural economic growth. Local officials said that they will also make efforts to increase scientific and technological exchanges and seek cooperation with other countries. Shantou now has 50 state and provincial-level high-tech industrial businesses, and 320 private scientific and technological companies. By the end of the year, it is expected that there will be sixty high-tech industrial businesses in the city and some 270 different high-tech commodities available on the market. |
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