A high-level delegation of Hong Kong media, jointly organized by the Information Office of the State Council, the Hong Kong Liaison Office and the Information Office of Shaanxi Province, began their 6-day visit to Shaanxi Province on March 15. The delegation met and interviewed on March 19 Zhao Zhengyong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Standing Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province.
The Hong Kong media high-level delegation consists of 14 media, including Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong Daily News, Economic Herald, Sing Tao Daily, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Hong Kong China News Agency, ATV, Phoenix Television, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Commercial Radio, etc. Members of the delegation are mainly senior executives with Hong Kong media, including Jia Xiping, Editor in Chief of Ta Kung Pao, Hu Xueli, Publisher and Editor in Chief of Hong Kong Daily News, head of Economic Herald, and Li Xiaochun, Editor in Chief of Hong Kong China News Agency, etc.
During their visit in Shaanxi Province, the delegation visited the Qingling-Zhongnanshan Tunnel, Qujiang Cultural Industry Demonstration Park, Yanliang National Aviation High-Tech Industrial Base, Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone, Famen Temple, Xi an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Lou Guan Tai, etc.
On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, Zhao Zhengyong expressed his thanks to Hong Kong media for their long-term attention, assistance and support for Shaanxi Province. He briefed the delegation on the overall situation in Shaanxi Province, the economic and social development after a decade of Western Development program and the efforts in expanding domestic demand, maintaining growth and benefiting the public.
He said that Shaanxi Province is divided into three areas: northern Shaanxi, central Shaanxi, and southern Shaanxi. Northern Shaanxi, where China s revolutionary base of Yan an is located, boasts rich energy reserves and is one of China s major energy sources and a growth point and highlight in Shaanxi s economy.
The area is also internationally renowned for its apple planting and other agricultural production. Central Shaanxi is the economic backbone of Shaanxi Province. The area enjoys favorable geographical location, well-developed science, education and culture establishment and a rapid growth in the equipment manufacturing industry.
A great number of historical and cultural relics, including the Terra Cotta Warriors, attract numerous domestic and foreign visitors. Southern Shaanxi, with green mountains and clear waters, is committed to developing environmentally-friendly industries while prioritizing ecological protection. Last year, the area s economy grew faster than the Province s average.
Guided by the scientific outlook on development and supported by the Western Development policy, Shaanxi s economy has embarked upon rapid development, with economy growing at more than 12 percent every year for the last ten consecutive years. Meanwhile, Shaanxi Province has made the best efforts to improve people s living standards these years.
The eight projects related to people s livelihood have been expanded to cover more areas, and reforms in the rural old-age insurance system and basic health care system have reached far beyond the scope of the pilot areas stipulated by the state. Every year, key problems related to people s livelihood are prioritized for solutions to provide people with more substantial benefits.
Through the implementation of the central Shaanxi-Tianshui Economic Zone Development Plan and the launch of a new round of Western Development, Shaanxi Province will actively restructure its economy and change its growth pattern to sustain a sound and rapid development momentum. Shaanxi s economy is expected to witness a double-digit growth for a relatively long period of time.
Zhao Zhengyong said that the Hong Kong media had given abundant attention and publicity to Shaanxi Province, and had vigorously supported its development and transformation causes over the years. He hoped media from Hong Kong would further strengthen their publicity of Shaanxi Province to make more people understand, pay attention to and support this region which enjoys rich historic and cultural heritage, beautiful natural environment and vigorous economic growth.
Zhao Zhengyong exchanged his ideas with members of the delegation, and answered questions from Lin Xujiang, Deputy Editor in Chief of Wen Wei Po, and Zhang Li, assistant director of Hong Kong Commercial Daily, as to the business opportunities enjoyed by Hong Kong s modern service industry and financial industry in Shaanxi Province, the ways to involve Hong Kong enterprises in the construction of Shaanxi urban MTRs, whether Qinling Mountain will become a national park, and the plans for Shaanxi-Hong Kong cooperation and development over the next ten years, etc.
Zhao Zhengyong said that Hong Kong was closer to the forefront of major international markets compared to Shaanxi Province, and cooperation between the two parties will greatly benefit the northwestern Province. Shaanxi Province offered a great number of business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises, and hopefully the media would serve as a platform and bridge to enhance connection and cooperation between the commercial, industrial and financial sectors in the two areas, he said.
Jia Xiping, leader of the delegation said that the delegation would give greater publicity to Shaanxi Province after they returned to Hong Kong and would contribute to the establishment of a cooperation and exchange platform between the two regions. He wished the green, vibrant and modern Shaanxi a brighter future.
