Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province, is drawing up plans to turn the city into China's biggest petrochemical production center and a top-notch international petrochemical industry base in five years, according to Mayor of Nanjing Jiang Hongkun.

This will constitute part of the anticipated goals by implementing a strategy raised by the Jiangsu provincial government to boost the economic development of areas along the Yangtze River.

The new development drive involves eight riverside cities with Nanjing as the biggest city and with the best industrial basis. Nanjing is the only city with the Yangtze River running across it in Jiangsu. Two-thirds of the city's population and industries are located on the riverside and it holds about one-quarter of the Yangtze riverlines in the Jiangsu section.

``In five years, we will strive to build Nanjing into a heavy chemical industry center, a high-tech industry center and a port economy center for Jiangsu,'' the major said at a meeting attended by more than 1,000 local officials earlier this month.

``Through implementing the strategy set by the provincial government to promote economic development of the Yangtze River, Nanjing will further strengthen its pillar industries -- heavy petrochemicals, electronics, automobile manufacturing, metallurgy and energy -- which have been already well developed in the city and prepare a sound platform for the arrival of international funds and manufacturing industries,'' said Jiang.

He announced that as the city builds China's first petrochemcial park, it will also introduce a number of international giants to the information industry to help establish a first-class Information Technology (IT) industry base in China.

The focus of the automobile industry will be on sedans, and the city will invite advanced automobile manufacturers and technologists to help the local automobile industry enter the top-five list in China. The annual output target is expected to reach one million units by 2010.

The iron and steel industry will feature the introduction of advanced projects for the production of quality steel and alloy products. Annual steel production capacity is to top 100 million tons by 2010.

The construction of the Banqiao and Longtan power stations will be accelerated to ensure that power generation output doubles so it can support the new round of economic development along the Yangtze River.

``The city will open itself up further to attract overseas funds and introduce advanced production elements to help accelerate local economic growth,'' said the mayor.

He said the city's five pillar industries will seek big partners and the world's top 500 cmpanies will be the main targets for future co-operations and contacts.

(by Ma Zhiping)

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