By Gong Zhengzheng and Wu Yong (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-12-21 16:20

Changsha -- As governor of a province with a 63-million population, Zhou Qiang is really tight-scheduled. But reading China Daily is also on his agenda every day.

Zhou Qiang (L), governor of Central China's Hunan Province, and Zhu Ling (R), editor-in-chief of China Daily, applaud at the opening ceremony of China Daily's Hunan Bureau, in Changsha, Hunan Province, December 21, 2007. The Hunan Bureau marks the first step of China Daily's new endeavor to expand local coverage. [Chinadaily.com.cn]

Friday, at the opening ceremony of China Daily’s Hunan Bureau, Zhou, the provincial governor, said:"I am a loyal reader of China Daily, and I surf on China Daily website everyday."

He said he believes that the national English-language newspaper could bridge the province, where the booming economy and tremendous growth potential are attracting more multinational companies, and the rest of the world.

The Hunan Bureau marks the first step of China Daily’s new endeavor to expand local coverage.

According to Zhu Ling, editor-in-chief of China Daily, the newspaper is also launching another seven local bureaus in coming months, such as those in Chongqing Municipality, Hubei Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"Increasing local coverage is a strategic part of China Daily's future development," Zhu said.

Zhou Qiang (2nd from L), governor of Central China's Hunan Province, Zhu Ling (2nd from R), editor-in-chief of China Daily,  Kang Bing (R), deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, and Jiang Jianguo (L), publicity chief of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the CPC, attend the opening ceremony of China Daily's Hunan Bureau, in Changsha, Hunan Province, December 21, 2007. The Hunan Bureau marks the first step of China Daily's new endeavor to expand local coverage. [Chinadaily.com.cn]

"Our readers are showing more interest in knowing more about local development. Rise of Central China already made the region a hot topic in media."

Recently, three cities in Hunan – Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan – have been approved by central government to be a national experimental zone for energy saving and environmentally friendly programs.

"Overseas investors are swarming in," Zhou said. Many are bringing their latest technologies to the province. For example, ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steel producer, has agreed to transfer its advanced technology to Valin Steel Tube & Wire, its partner in Hunan. ArcelorMittal now owns 33 per cent of the stake of the Shenzhen-listed company, which is one of the top 10 Chinese steel mills.

Hunan is transforming itself into an advanced manufacturing hub in Central China, focusing on key sectors, such as construction equipment, information technology and steel industries.

This year, Zhou predicted, the province's gross domestic product will hit 900 billion yuan, jumping 14.2 percent from 2006.