VI.TOWARDS THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: FUTURE PERSPECTIVE AND POLICY OF DEVELOPMENT IN SHENYANG

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B. Policy for future development

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1. Transforming economic growth pattern and adjusting industry structure

For many years, the economic growth pattern of Shenyang was based on the fact that industry, especially heavy industry, was dominant in the national economy. In addition, Shenyang adopted a traditional, extensive development pattern. That kind of development pattern not only increased the consumption of energy and resources, it also aggravated the shortage of resources, seriously slowed economic growth and caused severe environmental pollution. So it has become necessary to accelerate the transformation of the economic development pattern and adjust the industrial structure, while also improving economic benefits and changing over from a system of extensive management and heavy resource consumption to one of intensive management and resource conservation.

In order to implement a sustainable, rapid and healthy development of the national economy, and a substantial transformation of the economic growth pattern, the industrial structure must be extensively readjusted. Before 2010, in accordance with the overall requirements of the State and the characteristics of Shenyang's industrial structure, the main readjustment policies should be to: (a) strengthen primary industry (b) optimize secondary industry; and (c) make a major effort to develop tertiary industry and actively enlarge the urban functions. The targets for the end of this century and 2010 are to change the ratios of primary, second and tertiary industries in Shenyang from 8.1:44.3:47.6 to 6:44:50 and 3:40:57, respectively. An advanced industrial structure will thus exist.

The upgrading and transformation of the industrial structure should be guided by international markets, be dependent on technological progress, and aim at less energy consumption, higher efficiency and less pollution. To achieve those objectives, several important actions must be carried out.

1. Adjusting urban function and developing tertiary industry

Shenyang has a favourable geographical position. It is the largest communications, transportation and information hub in north-eastern China, and is a belt linking the north-eastern region with the Bohai Rim region. Moreover, Shenyang has a solid socio-economic foundation. It is possible for Shenyang to become a major central city for trade, finance, technology, information and tourism in north-eastern China, the Bohai Rim region of China and even North-East Asia. In order to achieve its development goals, Shenyang must vigorously develop its tertiary industries, especially finance, trade, information, technology and services, so that it can change its main function from secondary to multi-function industries, with tertiary industry as the foundation. For example, the city should further exploit commercial and financial markets, and move rapidly towards becoming an international trade and services centre. Shenyang should make full use of its own and the Liaozhong city group advantages of industry and products to speed up the realization of major regional (north-eastern and Bohai Rim regions) and national options markets, a financial market, and a large-scale, specialized comprehensive trade centre in accordance with international standards and practices. Achieving those goals will make tertiary industry the mainstay of the city.

2. Optimizing industrial structure and allocations

Shenyang should utilize its available potential, upgrade and expand the existing enterprises, develop its pillar industries, implement the transformation from traditional to modern industries that use high technology and a capital intensive system. The city should strictly confine and even prohibit those enterprises that consume large amounts of energy, waste resources and cause serious pollution. On the other hand, it should support those enterprises that are highly efficiency, use high technology and demonstrate a lower rate of resource consumption. Pollution and destruction of the environment will be reduced through the adjustment of the industrial structure. The city should carefully plan its development and industrial zones, a science park etc. In addition, the city should make rational use of its self-cleaning capabilities to restore and protect the environment. Those enterprises that cause serious pollution in the urban areas must be made to make improvements within a specified time or face removal to other areas or even a shut down of operations.

3. Developing an environmental protection industry

The city should revise its industrial structure, and establish and gradually expand an environmental protection industrial system that includes scientific research, development, production, sales and service. The city should develop new techniques and equipment for application in various areas, such as water treatment, sulphate removal, energy saving, solid waste recycling, noise monitoring, chemicals and other materials, and medicine. The social and economic benefits of the Shenyang environmental protection industry should be improved. In addition, the city should support the growth of that industry and its contribution to the changeover from heavy industry to a combination of heavy and light industries, from a high to a low consumer of energy, from polluting to non-polluting, and from extensive to intensive.

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