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Sichuan's industry is pillar of the provincial economy
By Zhang Ao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-21 13:19

Sichuan's industry is pillar of the provincial economy
Sichuan officials in a meeing on the provincial economic development held this week. [chinadaily.com.cn/by Zhang Ao]

Industry in Sichuan has become the pillar of the provincial economy in the 60 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The total industrial output value of Sichuan was only 0.7 billion yuan in 1949, and it came mainly from handicraft workshops on sugar, paper and salt.

Sichuan's industry witnessed a rapid development after China introduced the reform and open policies in the late 1970s.

Industrial added value increased by 11.04% annually from 1978 to 2000.

By paying more emphasis on its four favorable minor sectors, namely electronic information, equipment manufacturing, advantageous resources and agricultural products, Sichuan has formed a more advanced industrial structure, said Jiao Weixia, chief of the provincial economic comission.

Sichuan has 173 nationally famous industrial brands, including Wuliangye Liqour, Changhong home appliances and Di'ao pharmaceuticals.

The production of Sichuan's power generating equipment ranks first in the world, and sales value for liquor ranks second in China.