Life has improved markedly for citizens of Bijie thanks to its rapid development, said Qin Rupei, Party chief of the city, which is located in Guizhou province.

"We are trying to make everything better as soon as we can," Qin said.

The city's development has quickened its pace in recent years, and Qin terms this phenomenon "Bijie speed".

The city is known for its role as the country's automobile assembly base, and the economy here is expected to be further boosted by preferential policies that the State Council introduced this year.

City leaders are making a push to further accelerate economic growth.

To carry out this strategy, all enterprises and departments in the city are doubling their efforts.

During the 2012 Spring Festival holiday, some 63 coal mining companies in Bijie's Qixingguan district kept working instead of taking a break.

One local cement company broke a new sales record when it moved 4,000 tons over the Spring Festival vacation, and Qin praised the company as "the city's industry model".

According to the company's general manager, who declined to be named, their long-term goal is to achieve 1.2 million tons in annual sales this year.

The preferential policies issued this year by the central government were not limited to the city and were designed to encourage the growth of Guizhou province as a whole. However, Qin said that the fact Bijie was mentioned 29 times in the policy indicates it has a special role to play.

By the end of March, Bijie's yearly tax and fee income so far had reached 5.57 billion yuan ($836 million), a year-on-year growth of 49 percent, according to official data.

Meanwhile, the city is also determined to break constraints in the development of transportation.

After a series of construction projects, including railways, highways and an airport, a more modern and developed transportation network will be established, making Bijie a regional hub connecting Guizhou to nearby provinces and regions, such as Yunnan and Chongqing.

In recent years, Bijie has undergone successful upgrades to its industrial structure. It has grown from a simple base of coal mining into a center for coal chemical processing, a more advanced industry.

It has also encouraged development in the equipment manufacturing and wind power industries.

The investment environment has dramatically changed since every county of Bijie began building industrial zones. "It will be a great attraction to outside investors," a local official said.

In addition, a thriving tourism industry also plays a big role in the city's development. Scenic spots, such as the Baili Azalea in Qianxi county, has attracted hundred of thousands visitors for its stunning view.

According to the data provided by local government, tourism created a large number of job opportunities for local residents, who can find work as tour guides or provide services at feature spots.

"Our goal is to achieve 18 percent GDP growth, around 200 billion yuan, by the end of year 2016," said Qin.

"It's not an easily accomplished task, but along with city's spirit and our 'Bijie speed', I'm full of confidence!"

zhaokai@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/24/2012 page24)