Tianjin takes heavier measures to transform itself into Northern china's economic center

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2012-09-19

With GDP over a trillion, Tianjin takes heavier measures to transform itself into Northern china's economic center

Since the Binhai New Area became a location of interest in the national development strategy, Tianjin's identity as Northern China's economic center has gradually sieved into people's minds.

On July 27, 2006, the State Council approved the "General City Planning of Tianjin (2005-2020)", sending a clear signal to Tianjin regarding its functional position in the next 15 years: an international harbor city, Northern China's economic center and an eco-friendly city. As the center of the Bohai Economic Rim, the Municipality should give priority to the development of the Binhai New Area.

In light of the approval, Tianjin finally oriented its future development. Tianjin is going to be the head-turning leader in the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei economic circle and around the Bohai Economic Rim.

As a matter of fact, Tianjin used to be the second largest commercial metropolis in the history of China's contemporary economic development. Once upon a time, Tianjin never took a back seat to Shanghai in commerce, trading, finance and water transport industries. When the People's Republic of China was founded, Tianjin ranked fifth in total economic output nationwide.

In 1999, China unveiled the plan to transform Tianjin into China's "Key Economic Center of Northern China". Seven years later in 2006, China yet again announced clearly that Tianjin were to become the "economic center of Northern China" and in effect promoted the city's strategic position.

After the Binhai New Area was embodied into the national development strategy, Tianjin's expected identity as Northern China's economic center was of great significance.

From the perspective of regional economic development, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are economic centers that drive the development of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions. Northern China also needs an economic center that plays similar roles as Shanghai, Shenzhen or Guangzhou within their economic circles.

The long-term development target of China is to build a well-off society by 2020. For China's overall economy to take off, we need a yet stronger growth engine in Northern China. Establishing Tianjin as Northern China's economic center is strategically vital for reduction of the economic gap between China's North and South. That establishment also balanced economic development and regional economic coordination.

As the biggest open costal city in Northern China, Tianjin has seen its great economic and social achievements since the Reform and Opening-up. In 2011, Tianjin's GDP exceeded CNY 1 trillion, 2.5 times of that in 2006 with CNY 1.12 trillion, an annual increase of 16.5%. GDP per capita was over USD 13 000. Fiscal revenue of districts reached CNY 533.338 billion, 3.4 times of that in 2006, an annual increase of 27.8%, among which, the local fiscal revenue was CNY 145.487 billion, 3.5 times of that in 2006, an annual increase of 28.4%; fixed assets investment amounted to CNY 751.067 billion, 4.1 times of that in 2006, an annual growth of 34.9%; retail sales of consumer goods totaled CNY 339.506 billion, 2.5 times of that in 2006, an annual increase of 19.5%; direct utilized foreign investment added up to USD 13.056 billion, 3.2 times of that in 2006, an annual increase of 25.9%; direct utilized domestic investment summed up to CNY 208.587 billion, 4.8 times of that in 2006, up 37% annually. Energy consumption, chemical oxygen demand and sulfur dioxide emissions Per CNY 10 000 GDP decreased by 21.3%, 9.6% and 11.2%, respectively, over fulfilling prescribed tasks on energy conservation and emission reduction.

Tianjin enjoys the advantages of geographical location, developed industrial layout, strong research and development (R&D) capabilities, and its natural resources. After years' construction and development, Tianjin has established its own comparative advantages and has become a key logistics and air cargo transport hub in Northern China and a vibrant, capital-attracting area. We are expecting to see a period of Three Kingdoms of Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Economic Rim in China's grand economic development.