REGIONAL> Development
Shaanxi confident of another good year
By Ma Lie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-14 07:33

XI'AN: The deepening financial recession notwithstanding, the western province of Shaanxi yesterday decided to set its economic growth target for 2009 at 13 percent, the same as last year.

Governor Yuan Chunqing told the deputies during the second session of the 11th Shaanxi provincial people's congress, which opened yesterday, that the province had its advantages, as well as a plan, to achieve the growth target this year.

There are abundant mineral resources, hi-tech enterprises and projects, infrastructural support from the central government and key industries in Shaanxi to help meet the target, he said.

The province's average annual growth rate has reached a little over 12 percent in the past five years, he added.

Though Shaanxi was affected by the financial crisis in the second half of 2008, the provincial government's working report expected an increase of more than 15 percent in the economic growth this year, if the province's GDP touched around 680 billion yuan ($99.27 billion).

In 2009, the per capita disposable income for urban residents is expected to be 12,463 yuan, while the per capita net income for farmers is expected to be 3,100 yuan, an increase of 11 percent and 10 percent respectively.

"We will do our best to ensure an increase of more than 10 percent in the per capita disposable income for urban residents as well as farmers in 2009," Yuan said.

Home to some of the largest gas reserves in the country, the northern part of Shaanxi supplies gas to many large cities, including Xi'an, its capital, and Beijing, said Zhang Shenliang, deputy director of the province's energy base construction office.

"The advantage of such resources is an opportunity for us to maintain stable and rapid economic development," he said.

The province also has a fair share of hi-tech industries, such as aerospace and aviation and software development.

With 76 universities and colleges, and more than 100 research institutes, Shaanxi "is bound to benefit" from achievements in the hi-tech field, Zhang Wei, director of Shaanxi provincial science and technology department, said.

Liu Minghua, deputy director of the Xi'an hi-tech development zone's management and administrative committee, said: "The zone, one of the best in the country, has seen an average economic growth of 35 percent in the past decade."

It's easier for Shaanxi to fight the crisis since its industries are not dependant on imports and exports, said Zhang Baotong, economist and director of Shaanxi economic development research institute.