Building a resurgent coastal economy
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A pipeline bridge carries liquefied natural gas from the city's Yangkou Port. |
The coastal city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province is blazing a new trail in its economic growth.
Its GDP broke through 500 billion yuan ($81 billion) in 2013 while port cargo throughput surpassed 200 million tons.
Nantong's geographic advantage is its trump card in the economic surge.
The national map shows only two cities at the hub of the coastal and Yangtze River economic belts - one is Shanghai and the other Nantong.
With coastline of 206 kilometers it serves an ocean area of nearly 10,000 square kilometers.
But its development has not always been smooth. Lack of land and investment, as well as environment pressure, were bottlenecks in the local economy for a time.
The local government and related managing departments realized that one important solution to solve the problems was to reduce administrative interference.
They then made a series of innovative policies to better utilize resources and help money flow.
In 2013, the State Oceanic Administration approved Nantong as the nation's only pilot reform city in ocean resources.
It encouraged more innovation in ocean management.
Like many other coastal cities, Nantong is also now facing problems associated with upgrading industries, accelerating urbanization and achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
These concerns were placed on the city government agenda through 100 detailed, clear and practical items.
A few breakthroughs have already been made.
The Yangkou, Dongzao and Lusigang river ports have been improved and the Nantong-Shanghai highway has been completed.
Other basic transportation facilities are also under construction, too.
Nantong gained another four State-level development zones last year, and is developing 12 industrial parks in cooperation with Shanghai and southern Suzhou.
Nine of those parks are now operational, including the Suzhou-Nantong Technology Industrial Park and the Wuxi-Nantong Technology Park.
Contact the writers at dingcongrong@chinadaily.com.cn
