Provincial capital singled out for devt

By Wang Hongyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-03 07:38

HANGZHOU -- Regions and cities nationwide should learn from the effective and innovative government of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, that have been essential in balancing economic growth with social development and turning the provincial capital into a prominent metropolis, analysts and academics said in a forum over the weekend.

"Improving people's livelihood is one of the important urban development strategies for Hangzhou," Luo Weidong, assistant president of Zhejiang University, said at the inaugural Liangzhu Forum, themed "Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility", on Saturday.

The city has been highly acclaimed for its innovative enterprise - ranking first for four consecutive years as the "Best City for Investment in China" by the World Bank and first for five consecutive years as the "Best Commercial City in Chinese Mainland" by financial publisher Forbes.

The city's per capita GDP alone is expected to reach $10,000 this year and hit $20,000 by 2015, catching up with those of Hong Kong and South Korea, local government said.

"Undoubtedly, government plays a crucial role in social relations and economic development," Luo said, adding that government at all levels should enhance efforts to develop an effective and innovative public administration system to boost the economy and improve people's lives.

"Some have attributed the current crisis in global financial markets to the lack of social responsibility and government supervision," Wang Guoping, Hangzhou Party secretary, said at the opening of the forum.

"Globalization has enabled enterprises to extend their business reach, thus putting them in a position to have an even greater impact on society," Wang said.

"At the government level, the authorities should pay more attention to its supervisory function and enhance efforts on directing and managing the economy."

Participants of the forum also called for managers to promote the long-term viability of an enterprise by balancing the needs of its stakeholders with the financial requirements of sustaining and growing a business.