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New policies bring sharp rise in Changchun quality of life

By Cong Rong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-25 08:00

Locals take part in a parade at the annual temple fair.

Since China began to revive its northeast industrial heartland in 2003, Jilin province has achieved a remarkable economic and social development.

Changchun, capital and largest city of the province, greatly boosted the development through improving people's quality and spirit.

With a belief of building a people's city, residents of Changchun have taken a hardworking approach and as a result won the honor of "national advanced city of building civilization" in 1999, 2002 and 2005.

"We should attach greater importance to enriching the city's culture and improving people's spirit and moral standard as well as accelerating the economic growth," said Gao Guangbin, secretary of the Changchun municipal Party committee.

"The advanced culture and high moral standard will promote the revival of the city's old industrial base."

In the past 13 years, the city has centered its efforts to build a civilized city on improving the spirit and moral standard of its citizens.

Skiing has become increasingly popular among the people in Jilin province.

The virtues of patriotism, professional dedication, honesty and friendliness have been advocated among people through various social activities, including selection and publicizing moral models.

To enhance the average citizens' accomplishment in science and culture, the city has been spreading knowledge of science, arts, sports, laws, health and environmental protection in residential communities.

A series of lectures on society and traditional culture have been held once a week in the city library that attract a large numbers of residents.

Popular science activities have also been held in the city's public squares, community colleges and farmers night schools.

Recognizing the importance of improving people's health, the municipal government has increased allocations for public medical services and sports facilities.

Residents of Changchun are encouraged to take more physical exercise, adopt a healthy diet and go sightseeing more often for refreshment.

As a result, a large amount of domestic and foreign investment has flowed into the city in recent years and resulted in a faster economic growth.

The city's GDP increased by 17.7 percent and financial revenue by 35.1 percent in 2007, making it one of the fastest growing major cities in China.

Improved livelihood

In addition, the government has set priority on improving people's livelihood in building a national civilized city.

Government-funded livelihood service stations have been set up in the city's 351 communities and 1,687 villages, with 4,683 personnel.

Last year, the municipal Party committee and municipal government fulfilled their promise to do 94 practical things for the residents, winning much respect from people.

For example, the government allocated more funds to building community medical centers that now cover all residents. More libraries and reading rooms have been built in urban and rural areas.

People can often enjoy free digital movies and art performances in community cultural festivals. Families in financial difficulties have been guaranteed the minimum social security from the government.

Urban planning and construction has been fundamental part of the city's efforts to construct a modern civilized city.

In its widespread effort to landscape the city, the government has renovated more than 20 parks and public squares, adding 200 hectares of green belt annually.

The city's current green coverage rate is 41.5 percent, a per capita equivalent of 11.7 sq m.

Some 96.6 percent of sewage is now treated. The number of days with good air quality has been over 340 days for six consecutive years.

City authorities have paid special attention to cultivating good social conduct among residents, with both government agencies and enterprises required to provide standard and law-abiding services and products.

Social commitment

In the past 11 years, more than 200,000 people have donated a total of 10.5 million yuan to help 20,921 orphans in the city attend school.

After the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province in May, Changchun residents made enthusiastic donations for the recovery effort.

In just three days, the residents in the city's national hi-tech industry development area alone donated 7.53 million yuan.

The efforts to become a national civilized city have brought about progress to the city as well as concrete benefits for people, the government said.

A media survey this year showed 99.17 percent of the city's residents approved of the efforts to build Changchun into a national civilized city.

In the past years, the city has received numerous awards and titles, such as "national model city in environmental protection," "China excellent tourism city," "national garden city" and "national model green city".

The city is also expected to become a "national sanitary city," as it had passed the preliminary examination from the national authorities in July.

Liu Hao, a student of the No 8 High School, said he is very proud of being a resident of Changchun.

"Changchun people are especially warm-hearted and tolerant and I want to inherit and develop the spirit," he said.

"I'm so lucky to see our city growing so fast every day."

Bing Zheng, dean of the Jilin Academy of Social Sciences, said: "The Changchun people should carry forward the spirit of constantly striving to better themselves and translate it into industrial revival and economic development."

Chaganhu Winter Fishing Tourism Festival attracts large numbers of visitors.