Economic Policy News
- SZ sets 13% growth target
Date: 23-Mar-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
SHENZHEN plans to slow down economic growth, reduce pollution and energy consumption, and improve public welfare in 2007, Mayor Xu Zongheng told the city's lawmakers yesterday.
In his work report delivered to deputies at the annual session of the municipal people's congress at the Citizens' Center, Xu said the city's GDP is expected to rise 13 percent this year, down from 15 percent last year but 5 percentage points higher than the national growth target.
Acknowledging that Shenzhen is plagued by a number of social and economic problems including the shortage of energy and resources, expensive medical care, rising house prices and crime, Xu vowed to act to solve the problems. He also pledged to upgrade the industry structure and improve the city's environment and people's welfare.
In his report, Xu set the goal of reducing land consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP by 10 percent. The energy and water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP is expected to decline 2.75 percent and 4 percent respectively. Sulfur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen demand (COD), the major air pollutants, are estimated to decline 5 percent and 1.5 percent respectively, said Xu.
'We will further raise the threshold in terms of land, market, energy conservation and environmental protection for investing in Shenzhen, thus forcing out serious polluters and big energy consumers,'said Xu.
He vowed to enhance social equity, enable all residents to share the fruits of the city's development and reforms and 'live a life of dignity.'
He made concrete promises on building 120 new community clinics, improving 96 village schools, building 336 small garbage transfer stations, developing more affordable apartments, providing medical insurance coverage to 300,000 children, expanding the bus network and building 100 community parks.
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