"Liaoning Province has entered into a new phase of development, and we sincerely hope the Central Government includes our coastal economic development area into the overall national development strategy," said Chen Zhenggao, governor of Liaoning Province and delegate to the 11th National People's Congress, during the delegation meeting open to the press on March 5, 2008.

Liaoning Province boasts a long coastline that extends 2,290 kilometers. Along it lies the Changxingdao Island of Dalian, the coastal industrial base of Yingkou, the coastal economic zone of Jinzhouwan Bay, the industrial park of Dandong and the Huayuankou industrial zone of Dalian. To date, a large group of foreign enterprises, such as Intel and Foxconn, have established plants and offices inside this area.

Liaoning has also made much headway in the development of its city group, which includes Shenyang, Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Yingkou, Liaoyang, and Tieling. All situated in middle Liaoning, these cities combined contribute to more than half of the province's total GDP.

"Remarkable progress has been made in the renovation of Liaoning's old industrial bases. Last year, our GDP exceeded one trillion yuan (over US$140 billion) and our financial revenues surpassed 100 billion yuan. The growth rate of a great number of industries is leading the other parts of the country," the governor told the press.

Engaged in industrial production ever since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Liaoning has made great progress in saving energy and curbing harmful emissions in recent years. Thanks to the provincial government's long-term efforts, a large number of crucial polluting emissions have been cut down to record low levels. Sulfur dioxide emissions, for instance, have been reduced by two percent last year.

Liaoning enjoys special advantages in its location. "If the coastal area were included into the national development strategy," the governor said, "it would play a more important role toward attracting foreign investment and renovating the old industrial bases in northeast China."

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Chen Xia, March 6, 2008)