BEIJING, Aug. 31 -- Following the implementation of its large-scale expansion plan, the Changchun Hi-tech Development Zone (CHDZ), one of the nation's top 10 State-level hi-tech zones, is expected to enjoy substantial growth over the next few years.     

    The key elements of the new plan include the consolidation of the existing southern area and the enhanced development of its newly established northern zone.

The administrative center headquarters for the Sino-Russian scientific and technological cooperation projects in the hi-tech area.(Photo Source: China Daily) Photo Gallery>>>

    The northern area of the hi-tech zone, located in the northeastern part of Changchun, the capital city of northeast China's Jilin province, has been approved by the provincial government as a pioneering zone for a new strategic program in the province - the integrated development plan of Changchun, Jilin City and the Tumen River area. The Tumen River area, which covers territories in China, Russia and North Korea, is already part of a United States-sponsored development program, targeting large-scale regional economic cooperation in Northeast Asia.

    In addition, the northern area is also regarded as the core sector of a development scheme proposed by the Changchun city government, a program set to re-invent the economic prospects of northeastern Changchun.

    Sun Yaming, director of the administration committee of the CHDZ and also the assistant to mayor of Changchun, said CHDZ has released a document outlining a proposed three-phase development of the area and an agreed timeline for its implementation.

    According to the document, total sales revenues and gross domestic product (GDP) for the hi-tech zone are projected to grow by 24 percent and 23 percent annually by 2010. The sales revenues of its research and development (R&D) facilities - an important index in demonstrating any hi-tech zone's innovation capacity - are expected to account for 2.7 percent of the total revenues during the same period.

    By 2015 when the second phase of the expansion program is completed, the CHDZ is expected to have an annual growth of 26 percent in total sales revenues and 24 percent annual growth in GDP. The R&D sales revenues are scheduled to account for 5 percent of the total.

    During the third phase of development, set to be completed by 2020, the zone will continue to maintain fast and sustained growth, whilst the annual growth rates of its total sales revenues and GDP stabilize at 21 percent and 20 percent respectively. During the same period, it is anticipated that the R&D sales revenues will account for eight percent of the total.

Guests attend the Changchun Northeast Technology Innovation Center cornerstone laying ceremony last Saturday.(Photo Source: China Daily) Photo Gallery>>>

    Pillar industries

    Sun said the administration committee has designated the automobile, biology and medicine, photoelectronics, new materials and new energies, high-quality foodstaff and high-end service industries as the pillars of the hi-tech zone for the foreseeable future.

    The automotive sector is a traditionally high-profile industry in Changchun and the hi-tech zone. Boosted by big names such as FAW-Volkswagen, the city is already the leading automobile production base in China.

    During this new round of development, the zone expects to increase its efforts to foster homegrown brands and alternative energy vehicles, especially in the field of energy-saving and environmentally friendly electrical cars.

    In the field of biology and medicine, the hi-tech zone will highlight such sectors as biological vaccines, biological engineering and modern traditional Chinese medicines. The city's prestigious research institutions, including the Changchun Biological Research Institute and the Jilin Traditional Chinese Medicines Research Institute, are expected to offer strong technical backup for the growth of the industry.

    The photoelectronics industry will give priority to sectors such as optical-electronic display, semiconductors, laser equipment, microelectronics and medical examination equipment. The new materials and new energies industry will focus on such sectors as building materials, solar energy, windmill power plant equipment, and biomass energy.

    Jilin is one of the most important agricultural production bases in China. In light of this, the hi-tech zone will endeavor to develop high value-added organic food processing products.

    The development of the high-end service industry is aimed at meeting the increasing demands of many businesses in the hi-tech zone. It will focus on developing such key areas as financial services, legal consultation, intermediary services for patent application, as well as intellectual affairs and logistics.

    Enhanced layout

    With the implementation of the expansion plan, Sun said, the Changchun Hi-tech Development Zone will have a new layout in both the southern and northern area. The expanded zone will have a total area of 210 sq km, comprising 55 sq km in the south and 155 sq km in the north.

    The southern area's traditionally successful industries include automobile and auto parts, electronics and biology and medicine. It is proposed that software development and the animation industry will be added to this list in the years to come.

    The expansion of the southern area will see the establishment of a 6.77 sq km design and software park, a 2 sq km animation industry park and a 9.52 sq km commercial and entertainment center.

    The northern area will be mainly engaged in the development of a number of emerging industries, including modern equipment manufacturing, biology and medicine, photoelectronics, new materials and new energies, and food processing. It will see five dedicated industrial parks established for these industries.

    The equipment manufacturing park is planned to cover 10.54 sq km. Its annual sales revenues are expected to reach 42 billion yuan in 2015 and 120 billion yuan in 2020.

    The biology and medicine park will cover 6.28 sq km., whilst its sales revenues are targeted to hit 30 billion in 2015 and 55 billion yuan in 2020.

    The photoelectronics park will have a land area of 6.8 sq km and its sales revenues are estimated at around 46 billion yuan in 2015 and 75 billion yuan in 2020.

    The new materials and new energies park, together with the food-processing park, will cover 12.4 sq km and 9.45 sq km respectively.

    In addition to the five parks, the 12.5 sq km Changchun Northeast Technology Innovation Center will also be established. Consisting of a high concentration of research and development facilities in the fields of electronics, new materials, biology and medicines, new energies and modern agricultural, it has been designated as the key technological powerhouse for the whole hi-tech zone.

    To increase support for the development of the hi-tech zone, two other centers - a 16 sq km logistics center and the 17.84 sq km northeastern Changchun business center - are also planned for the northern area.

    The business center will provide a slew of services ranging from finance and security to trade advice and consultation for all of the enterprises throughout the hi-tech zone and the entire city of Changchun.

    (Source: China Daily)|

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