Information from the health department of Changsha shows that the penetration rate of community health service institutions in the city will reach 100 per cent before 2008.

The department will further push forward reform of the medical and healthcare system to help ease the high costs of the healthcare service, which has become a pressing issue for residents.

According to the department's requirement, Changsha will launch projects to renovate rural and township public health institutions, build county-level disease control entities and a medical emergency aid network by the end of 2007.

A new rural co-operative medical service system will be established in the city by emphasizing the construction of a batch of rural and township clinics that have a relatively good foundation and a strong team of medical staff.

Trade co-op seminar

Changsha organized a group of projects and enterprises with industrial advantages and launched the "Hunan (Changsha) Hong Kong Economic and Trade Co-operation Seminar" at the China Central Fair for Trade and Investment, which was held in Changsha between September 25 and 28.

The 290 projects from the city range from agriculture, industry, new and high-tech industries, trade and logistics, tourism and recreation, urban infrastructure, social welfare to energy and transportation.

The city reserved 34 stands and a 1,300-square-metre outdoor exhibiting zone, accounting for one third of the total exhibiting area of Hunan Province.

HK eyes biz opportunities

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said the rise of the central part of China would provide many investment opportunities for Hong Kong.

The chief executive said Hong Kong, as a platform for Hunan to promote itself and raise funds abroad, would be an ideal place for the province to go global.

Using Hunan Province as an example, Hong Kong's strength in banking, finance and accounting sectors will help the province strengthen its industry, optimize its agriculture and promote the service industry, Tsang said.

Hong Kong is strong in its ability to raise funds. It can help enterprises in the province gain capital for development.

Tsang said that Hong Kong has a very mature service industry. Its international trade, financing, securities and insurance sectors have experienced decades of development.

"If these sectors are allowed to have operations in Hunan, it will greatly help the province to be integrated with the world economy," he added.

Investment potential

Changsha ranks fifth in the "2006 Chinese Cities with Most Investment Potential," according to researches jointly launched by the Industrial Economy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and China Business News.

The research lasted six months and was undertaken among 286 cities above prefecture level.

After elimination, 108 cities were chosen. Among them, 20 cities were selected as cities with the strongest comprehensive strength in attracting foreign investment and another 20 cities were selected as having the most potential for foreign investment.

According to Chen Zaikun, vice-director of the department of commerce of the province, Changsha ranks fifth because of its advantages in urban infrastructure construction, regional consuming power, industrial development, introduction of foreign funds and professional education and labourers.

Changsha Evening News

(China Daily 10/11/2006 page10)