CHONGQING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The municipality of Chongqing Friday officially unveiled west China's first "new area" economic development zone in Liangjiang.
China's State Council has granted the same favorable policies to Liangjiang New Area as those given to the Pudong and Binhai new areas in Shanghai and Tianjin respectively.
But compared to the other new areas, Liangjiang would have more complicated responsibilities in carrying out the country's strategic development plans, said officials at the inauguration ceremony.
Wang Qingyun, of the National Development and Reform Commission, specified Liangjiang's functions as:
-- a pilot zone of comprehensive urban and rural development;
-- an inland base for advanced manufacturing and modern service base in inland area;
-- a financial and innovation center;
-- a gate of reform and opening-up in west China.
"The central government sees reforms in Liangjiang New Area as significant measures to counter difficulties in the global economic downturn and and carry out strategies to rebalance economic development," Wang said in a speech.
