Date: 05/21/2000 Page: 1 Author: LIU JIE, Business Weekly staff

Beijing, the capital city of China, is expected to become a world-leading metropolis in terms of politics, its new economy, culture and international exchanges, within 50 years, Mayor Liu Qi told Business Weekly during an interview last week.

"Beijing, as a representative of China, should march at the head of the other provinces and cities. This means we must engage in creative thinking and be sensitive while planning, constructing, operating and managing the city in accordance with international practices," Liu said.

Along with speeding up the social, economic and cultural development of Beijing, the municipal government has initiated a sustainable development strategy for the city.

"Beijing should develop in a steady and healthy way instead of developing too fast, even though speed may bring short-term prosperity," Liu said.

Adjusting the city's industrial structure is a most urgent task for the municipal government.

During the Third Session of the China (Beijing) International High-Tech Industries Week 2000, held in Beijing from May 8-12, the capital displayed its rich resources and great potential in the high-tech industry, which has been pointed to as a pillar industry.

Statistics from the organizing committee of the high-tech week indicated that the volume of the contracts signed between enterprises, scientific and technological research intitutes of Beijing and participants from home and abroad were valued at US$3.5 billion, 58 per cent of the value of all agreements reached during the event.

Liu said the municipal government will give priority to the development of technology-intensive, high added-value energy-saving and environmentally friendly industrial sectors, including electronic information, optical-mechanical-electrical integration, biological engineering, biopharma-ceuticals and new materials.

"We are stiving to reform our administrative system using a market mechanism to reduce some unnecessary governmental restrictions by creating laws and regulations favourable to the technological innovation and industralization of the city," Liu said.

A series of specific policies related to the development of high-tech industries, including using technologies as shares, creating a new incentive system and preferential policies favouring talented employees have been issued by the government in the last few years to encourage the exploitation of and innovation in technologies.

"Based on our high concentration of knowledge and intelligence, we will nurture Beijing into a technological research and development centre in China," Liu said.

He said economic development cannot stand alone. Social development, including the educational, cultural, moral and scientific qualities of citizens, are required for the sustainable development of society.

The municipal government also announced that protecting the environment and exploiting natural resources in a reasonable way are prerequisites for the city's overall development.

According to a source from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Administration, more than 100 industrial enterprises that pollute have been closed or moved to the city's outskirts. A 100-square-kilometre green belt is expected to be built around the inner city before 2003.

In addition to strengthening co-operation with the western regions of China, Liu emphasized the co-operative relationship between Beijing and its neighbouring municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions.

As a member city of the Bohai Sea Economic Development Circle, Beijing has attained great support, including natural resources, energy and food supplies from its neighbours, while providing capital, talented employees and technological help to some of them.

"Breaking down barriers between administrative divisions and basic economic structures to achieve rational resource allocations might be a win-win strategy for all members," Liu said.

Beijing has joined with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to construct a wind power station that is expected to transmit electricity to the capital city.

Liu said regional co-operation on environmental protection is also listed on the agenda.

To prevent pollution such as sandstorms that seriously damaged the capital's environment this spring, Beijing plans to plant trees not only in the city but also in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and other areas to the west and north of the city.

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