Local gov't targets 12% growth to boost income

Jilin province GDP last year surpassed the 1 trillion yuan ($158.6 billion) mark for the first time to reach 1.05 trillion yuan. Governor Wang Rulin made an official announcement on Feb 1.

This figure increased 13.7 percent compared with 2010, while provincial energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped 3.5 percent.

The provincial government enjoyed full-caliber fiscal revenues under general budget and local fiscal revenues of 162.01 billion yuan and 85.01 billion yuan respectively, up 34.3 percent and 41.1 percent from 2010. The growth rate reached the highest level over the past 18 years.

Large-scale industrial enterprises generated profits of more than 100 billion yuan, an increase of more than 30 percent. Total imports and exports trade volume reached $22.05 billion, rising 30.9 percent from 2010 and doubling the volume from four years ago.

Total investments in fixed assets last year accounted for 744.17 billion yuan, up more than 30 percent from 2010. Total retail sales volume had risen 17.5 percent over the previous year.

Per-capita disposable income of urban residents in Jilin increased 15.5 percent to reach 17,797 yuan and per-capita net income of rural people reached 7,510 yuan, up more than 20 percent.

Grain production surged to record heights in 2011, reaching 31.71 billion kilograms, which is 3.3 billion kilograms more than the previous year.

Numerous projects were carried out to improve housing conditions, as well as heating facilities for residents in urban and rural areas. More than 1 million households received such benefits.

Other infrastructure projects targeted improved transportation, including new subway lines in the provincial capital city of Changchun. 400 kilometers of highways were also constructed.

Local authorities focused on enhancing public security. Criminal caseloads declined by 8.3 percent last year. Food and drug safety bureaus conducted examination campaigns to shut down unqualified restaurants, and block dangerous food additives.

Emergency measures were taken to ensure stronger environmental safety standards after the Fukushima nuclear disaster incident in Japan. Jilin is the closest Chinese province to Fukushima.

New year's outlook

In the blueprint for this year, the Jilin provincial government is targeting a 12 percent growth rate of GDP and the incomes of urban and rural residents.

It set targets of a 16 percent increase of industrial added value from large-scale enterprises, a 25 percent rise of investments in fixed assets, 17 percent growth of retail sales volume and 15 percent increase of total imports and exports trade volume.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP is aiming for a reduction of 3.5 percent and consumer price levels should be controlled at around 4 percent.

The government is planning 150 key projects for the year, each worth more than 1 billion yuan while over 1,500 large-scale projects are each worth a 100 million yuan.

More than 4,000 projects are each worth over 30 million yuan; 54 of which involve hydraulic facilities enhancement such as building canals and dams to improve pipeline networks.

New railroads, highways, subway lines and an airport are in the works.

The government will build a public service system for small-and medium-sized companies to attract 10,000 new privately owned companies that could boost revenues of the private sector, which is expected to grow more than 30 percent this year.

It is designing new policies to upgrade agriculture. Supermarket chains, restaurants and wholesale markets in urban areas are encouraged to establish partnerships with local farmers.

More than 3,000 hectares of greenhouses are planned to improve the vegetable supply in the winter and spring.

Tourism would be another highlight especially for Changchun and the neighboring city of Jilin. More than 100 projects are expected to improve infrastructure.

Some projects would promote cultural and creative industries, such as building libraries, theaters and museums, along with the development of key enterprises for the press, performing arts and animation sectors.

(China Daily 02/09/2012 page12)