China has designated a string of islands off the coast of eastern Zhejiang Province as its latest new area to vigorously develop the country's marine economy.
Bestowing Zhoushan with special economic status shows how serious the Chinese government is about marine development, said Fan Hengshan, a senior official with National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
China has established a chain of cities focusing on marine economy along its coast from northeastern Liaoning Province to southeastern Fujian Province on the west side of the Taiwan Strait.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in April that the country should explore and utilize ocean resources scientifically and quicken the development of the marine economy.
"We should stick to the policy of coordinating the development of the land and sea economies during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2011-2015)," he added.
Zhoushan, located at the estuary of the Yangtze River to the sea, acts as a perfect linkage between the land and the sea.
The newly-established Zhoushan New Area, the fourth of its kind at the state level, is expected to receive favorable policy and investment preferences from the central and local governments.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, sees the development of marine economy as a key objective for making Zhoushan a new area, according to the State Council's endorsement regarding the planning of Zhoushan New Area.
"New models of ocean-island development and protection will be explored to serve as examples for the rest of the country," said Lu Zushan, governor of Zhejiang Province.
China is also seeking to transform the Zhoushan archipelago into a bulk commodity storage and transaction center, according to the State Council's endorsement for the new area.
China is one of the world's major importers of raw materials, but its strategic storage capacity is below the global average, which is a risk to national security, said Chen Fengying, an economic expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
Zhoushan serves as the international shipping hub of China, said Zhou Guohui, mayor of Zhoushan, noting that six of the country's seven major international shipping routes run through the islands.
Zhoushan can improve its economic security by building more storage and transaction centers for raw materials, said Liang Liming, chief of the city's Communist Party committee.
However, the establishment of the new area raises environmental concerns as it is common to see economy surge at the price of ravaged ecosystem, while China's largest fishery lies in Zhoushan.
Responding to the concern, Zhejiang's deputy governor Chen Min'er said that a scientific and sustainable development model must be adopted to maintain the ecological balance.
He added that Zhoushan's geographic features and its piloting role require balancing development and preservation.
Source:Xinhua
Weekly review
Bestowing Zhoushan with special economic status shows how serious the Chinese government is about marine development, said Fan Hengshan, a senior official with National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
China has established a chain of cities focusing on marine economy along its coast from northeastern Liaoning Province to southeastern Fujian Province on the west side of the Taiwan Strait.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in April that the country should explore and utilize ocean resources scientifically and quicken the development of the marine economy.
"We should stick to the policy of coordinating the development of the land and sea economies during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2011-2015)," he added.
Zhoushan, located at the estuary of the Yangtze River to the sea, acts as a perfect linkage between the land and the sea.
The newly-established Zhoushan New Area, the fourth of its kind at the state level, is expected to receive favorable policy and investment preferences from the central and local governments.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, sees the development of marine economy as a key objective for making Zhoushan a new area, according to the State Council's endorsement regarding the planning of Zhoushan New Area.
"New models of ocean-island development and protection will be explored to serve as examples for the rest of the country," said Lu Zushan, governor of Zhejiang Province.
China is also seeking to transform the Zhoushan archipelago into a bulk commodity storage and transaction center, according to the State Council's endorsement for the new area.
China is one of the world's major importers of raw materials, but its strategic storage capacity is below the global average, which is a risk to national security, said Chen Fengying, an economic expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
Zhoushan serves as the international shipping hub of China, said Zhou Guohui, mayor of Zhoushan, noting that six of the country's seven major international shipping routes run through the islands.
Zhoushan can improve its economic security by building more storage and transaction centers for raw materials, said Liang Liming, chief of the city's Communist Party committee.
However, the establishment of the new area raises environmental concerns as it is common to see economy surge at the price of ravaged ecosystem, while China's largest fishery lies in Zhoushan.
Responding to the concern, Zhejiang's deputy governor Chen Min'er said that a scientific and sustainable development model must be adopted to maintain the ecological balance.
He added that Zhoushan's geographic features and its piloting role require balancing development and preservation.
Source:Xinhua
Weekly review
