 ABOUT
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Hangzhou, known as a "Paradise on Earth" in China for thousand years, is one of the important tourism cities in China, famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritages. Marco polo, the famous Italian traveler described the city as "the most splendid and magnificent city in the world". As one of the seven ancient Chinese capitals, Hangzhou has a history of more than 2200 years and is now the capital of Zhejiang province and the political, economic and cultural center of the province as well.
Owing to its distinct regional advantages, vigorous economy with strong growth momentum and a sound development environment, Zhejiang took the lead in market-oriented reform, maintained a sustained, rapid and sound economic development and realized the historic transformation from a minor province in terms of economy to a major one. In 2004, the GDP of the province totaled US$136 billion, an increase of 14.3% than that of 2003 and the per capita GDP reached US$2,898 an increase of 13.5 than the previous year, both standing at the 4th place in the country.
When the state sector of the economy is being continuously expanded and strengthened, the non-state sector has become an important part of Zhejiang's economy and a sound development pattern has taken shape with the state sector playing the dominant role and diverse forms of ownership develop side by side. Currently, there are more than 300,000 private enterprises and 1.59 million self-employed business people throughout the province. The added value of the non-state economic sector accounted for 70.1% of the province's GDP.
Thanks to its unique geographic locations, solid economic foundation, flexible mechanism and regional economies with distinctive features, Zhejiang enjoys a sound growth momentum and a sharp competitive edge, attracting a growing number of business people to invest in Zhejiang. The first two decades of the new century is a crucial period of time that provides a strategic window of opportunities. Zhejiang province has set the development targets of building a well-off society in an all-round way and realizing modernization by and large ahead of schedule. By 2020, the per capita GDP of the province will be expected to exceed US$6,000. The province will have achieved modernization basically and reached the level of medium developed countries.
Located on the southeast coast of
China, Zhejiang province lies to the south of
Shanghai, the largest metropolis in China. With a
land area of 101,800 square kilometers and a
population of 46.77 million, Zhejiang has long been
known as “the land of rice and fish, the home to
silk and tea, the place of rich cultural heritage
and the paradise for tourists”.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of
China, especially after more than 20 years of
development since the implementation of the reform
and opening up policies, Zhejiang has become one of
the most vigorous provinces with the most developed
economy in China. Zhejiang is a major producer of
rice, tea, silkworm cocoons, and citrus fruits.
Machine building, electronics, chemical and
pharmaceutical industries are the four mainstays of
the local industrial setup.
Situated on the southern bank of Hangzhou Bay in the
East China Sea, with a distance of 180 kilometers to
Shanghai, Hangzhou is one of the most important
central cities in the Yangzi Delta area. It covers a
total area of 16,596 square kilometers, with a
population of 6.36 million, including 3,068 square
kilometers of city proper area and city population
of 387 million people. Hangzhou is an important key
city of economy on the south wing of Yangzte Delta.
Since the adoption of the reform and opening-up
policy, especially since the year of 1992, the GDP
of Hangzhou has increased at an average speed of
22.3% annually. The total volume of economy has had
constant increases and comprehensive economic forces
have been strengthened obviously. In 2002, the GDP
of Hangzhou hit US$21.5 billion and the GDP per
capita reached US$3,400. Hangzhou's industries are
mainly processing industries with outstanding
comprehensive priorities. The business of textile,
silk, machinery, electronics, chemicals, medicine,
light industry, food processing, etc are the main
important industries. The newly developed digital
color TV, multi-medium computer, freon-free
refrigerator, adhesive-bonded fabrics, refuse
incineration project have all been developed
rapidly. The educational undertaking is flourishing
and science and technological force is strong in
Hangzhou. There are now 35 universities and
colleges, 57 technical secondary schools, 3200 odd
middle schools and primary schools, 80 odd natural
science research institutions. There are 99
hospitals with 22,500 medical doctors and 12,500
nurses in the city. Hangzhou, now only next to
Shanghai and Suzhou, is one of the most important
economic cities of China. |
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