Dalian leads revitalization of NE China

A drone’s view of the Port of Dalian on June 13, 2017 [Photo/Xinhua]

Dalian in China’s Northeast Liaoning province has maintained steady economic growth for 13 consecutive quarters, making it a key player in revitalizing the northeast region. 

In response to China’s reform and opening-up policy, the Northeast Area Revitalization Plan was adopted to revive the area that once functioned as the center of heavy industry in China. Focused on innovative reform and grand-scale opening-up to the outside world, Dalian is striding ahead of its peer cities.

Dalian’s Jinpu New Area epitomizes the city’s development. Jinpu New Area was just a corn-planting field 34 years ago. Through several generations’ efforts, GDP in the area was worth 210 billion ($30 billion) in 2017, accounting for 28.6 percent of the city’s total. 

The area was the first in China to implement the innovative development model of transferring land to foreign-funded firms, and this has attracted a great deal of Japanese investment. So far, over 1,800 Japanese firms have registered in Jinpu New Area.

As well, many Fortune 500 firms have also invested a lot in the area, including Pfizer, Intel, ThyssenKrupp and Canon. On average, foreign-funded firms have provided 500,000 job opportunities; contributed 30 percent of tax revenue and half of foreign trade volume for Dalian. In turn, the Dalian government this year has released 45 policies and measures to support these firms’ development.

Based on such solid foundations, Dalian will continue its growth path with a focus on quality development. For example, the Heling Petrochemical project is going to operate in the Changxing Island Industrial Park and is expected to achieve annual output of 300 billion yuan.

A drone’s view of Hengli Petrochemical project at Changxing Island Industrial Park in Dalian, Liaoning province, Sept 24 [Photo/Xinhua]

In addition, more professionals from the fields of clean energy, artificial intelligence and supramolecular chemistry will be introduced to the area. And more preferential policies will also be put forward to create an even better commercial environment.

Researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, test equipment on Jan 13, 2017. [Photo by Yang Qing/Xinhua]

Dalian International Conference Center pictured on June 12, 2017 [Photo by Yang Qing/Xinhua]