Changchun New Area, the 17th national new area and located in Northeast China's Jilin province, will count on transportation hub development, high-end manufacturing, modern service and digital-based businesses to promote its global competitiveness, officials said on Friday. Wang Haoyu, deputy director of the new area's planning bureau, said the area aims at expanding international trade channels and establishing an influential cooperation platform to improve investment activities, goods and people-to-people exchanges, especially with countries in Europe and the Northeast Asia region. "Changchun New Area is expected to be more diversified in our market-oriented economy. In addition to heavy industries, we will develop more industry chains, including tourism, agriculture and high-tech, to spur economic growth," Wang said at Changchun New Area Opening-up and Development Forum in Beijing co-hosted by China Daily, the country's leading English-language newspaper. Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said Changchun New Area, encouraged by supportive government policies, a strong manufacturing foundation and favorable geographical position, will play an innovative and efficient role in supporting the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the revitalization of Northeast China. Wang Junzheng, Party chief of Changchun, said the new area will ensure that all foreign investors have a favorable business environment, and it will welcome more global companies to build their presence in the area. Changchun has also achieved notable progress in the opening-up of the economy, which has become a key engine for the regional development. Changchun New Area, located at the crossroad of the Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor and China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, is part of the Belt and the Road Initiative. A new international airport in Changchun New Area, based on the redevelopment of the existing Changchun Longjia International Airport, will be a pivotal aviation logistics hub in Northeast Asia by opening new passenger and cargo routes that will connect to Russia and Northern Europe under the government plan. Another land port will also be built in Changchun New Area. custom wristbandswristband keychaincustom fidgetsilicone wristbandsrubber wristbands24 hour bracelets
SHIJIAZHUANG - The smog-prone northern Chinese province of Hebei has reported fairly good air quality for 66 percent of days since Oct. 1, the best record in five years, authorities said Tuesday.Hebei, which neighbors Beijing, is home to six of China's 10 most polluted cities, including the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, according to a Ministry of Environmental Protection report analyzing air quality in the first 10 months of this year.Levels of PM2.5, a type of airborne particle smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, in Hebei have fallen almost 40 percent so far compared with the same period in 2013 to an average density of 64 micrograms per cubic meter, outstripping the 25-percent smog control target set in 2013, said Wang Xiaoli, a provincial environmental protection bureau official.Shijiazhuang has had only five days of heavy pollution since Oct. 1, down 38.6 percent year on year, and the city's hourly PM 2.5 density exceeded 300 per cubic meter only once, said Wang.In November, periods of heavy pollution in Hebei decreased by 1,278 hours, and its hourly peak PM2.5 density plunged 38.3 percent compared with the same period last year, said Wang.Under Chinese air quality standards, an air quality index (AQI) below 100 is defined as a good air quality day. An average daily AQI above 200 indicates heavy air pollution.Hebei recorded the worst air quality in 2013, with only 33 percent percent of days with good air quality, according to Wang.Overhauling polluting companies, dismantling coal-fired boilers, and controlling inferior coal have contributed to the decrease.Winter months are known to have the worst smog in north China with Hebei hit hard as the wind slows and residents turn on coal-fired furnaces for heating.
