Northeast China becoming strategic fulcrum

The central authorities convened a meeting last week to review "The Guideline on Policies and Measures to Further Promote a New Breakthrough in the Full Revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era". The region has rich resources, relatively strong industrial foundation, unique geographical advantages and huge development potential. In short, the region occupies an important strategic position in the overall development of the country.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Northeast China revitalization policy. The revitalization of Northeast China in the new era will create new development opportunities. But formulating and introducing a package of supporting policies is necessary to give full play to the comparative advantages of the region, and support it to blaze a new path in high-quality development.

The role of Northeast China in safeguarding China's national security as well as food, energy and industrial security, and promoting high-quality development must be fully understood.

While the authorities should strengthen the role of Northeast China as a strategic fulcrum by providing more support and stimulating its endogenous strength, governments at different levels must promote innovations in the industrial sector by investing more in science and technology including in R&D, work together to upgrade the traditional manufacturing sector, foster strategic emerging industries and strengthen new growth drivers.

As for Northeast China, it should promote large-scale farming, and increase overall grain production and supply. And all departments must coordinate to improve ecological conservation, always keeping in mind that more trees mean more development strength, and protecting forests means protecting wealth.

At the same time, as urged in the meeting, immediate steps should be taken to generate clean energy such as wind and solar energy, and build a grid that can integrate and store wind, solar, thermal and nuclear power. There is also a need for local governments to improve the education system and provide more support for universities and colleges in the region, so as to improve people's education quality and level, and leverage the talents thus developed to push for the full revitalization of Northeast China.

In the meeting, the central authorities also said that efforts should be made to improve the political environment so as to boost people's confidence in development. Officials at all levels should work toward that end.