China's eastern Fujian province is soon to join the country's club of most wealthy provinces, as its GDP is expected to rise to 1 trillion yuan ($146 billion) for the first time in 2008.

From January to November, Fujian's GDP grew at 13.1 percent year-on-year to 929.475 billion yuan, close to the targeted 1 trillion yuan for the whole year. If that goal is reached, Fujian's GDP per capita will surpass $3,000.

Situated on the mainland's southeastern coast, Fujian has enjoyed rapid economic growth in recent years thanks to flourishing business relations with Taiwan on the other side of the Straits.

Direct transportation links, which were launched in December 2008 are expected to give Fujian's economy a shot in the arm, especially the three cross-Straits port cities of Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou. The provincial authorities are now reportedly planning 50 billion yuan of new investments in its port facilities.

There are nine members in China's club of provinces and municipalities with more than 1 trillion yuan GDP, contributing a significant proportion to the national GDP which was 24.9 trillion yuan in 2007.

By Wang Bo