Welcome to the Vigorous Henan
Li ChengyuGovernor, Henan Provincial People's Government |
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Looking at Henan on the map of China, you will feel impressed by Henan's superior natural advantages in location. Situated in the core of Mainland China, Henan is linked with Beijing and Tianjin to the north, the Jianghan Plains to the south, the Guanzhong Plains with vast range of fertile land to the west and the highly developed regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai to the east. Henan is the pivot point of transportation from the south to the north, from the east to the west. Since ancient times Henan has always been a major collecting and distributing center of materials, thus attracting a large number of merchants. Nowadays, many a grand project concerning the nation¡¯s economy and the people¡¯s livelihood has got Henan involved, such as the national project of transmitting natural gas from the west to the east China, the project of power transmission from the west to the east, the project of diverting water from the south to the north, the express railway project, as well as the project of building a base of energy raw materials. These significant projects contain an enormous developing potentiality. Covering an area of 167,000 square kilometers and with a population of more than 90 million, Henan province possesses an immense market which strongly appeals to domestic and foreign businessmen. The brilliant Chinese civilization of over 5,000 years has nourished mountains and rivers in Henan province, and the process of transforming Henan¡¯s cultural preponderance into the economic advantages is to bring about great commercial opportunities.
Observed from the overall economic pattern of China or from that of the world, the speed and potentiality of economic development of Henan may well be very impressive. Its economic aggregate has successively ranked first for nine years in the mid-western part of China. Today in Henan, one can see row upon row of multi-storey buildings and broad streets in urban areas, blue sky and clear water in rural areas vibrant with life, prosperous scene of investment-making everywhere. Being vigorous and further opening to the outside world, Henna has taken on an entirely new look. In terms of culture and economy, Henan has already become a powerful province true to its name. It has a significant impact on the development of the nation¡¯s economy. Although there are many factors which enable Henan¡¯s economy to develop at high speed, our persistence in carrying out the opening policy and undertaking broad international exchanges and cooperation with the outside world is undoubtedly a major one. Every year heads of government, ministers, local authorities at state or provincial level as well as experts, scholars and economic and trade personnel from many foreign countries have come to Henan for a visit, while leaders and people in industrial and commercial fields in Henan province also go abroad on business. Besides, a multitude of overseas Chinese nationals, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and Hakka people living abroad have come to Henan either for seeking root, paying tribute to their ancestors, or for visits, investigations, business negotiations, making investment and setting up enterprises. Henan has also established good-will relations with a myriad of foreign cities and made new friends with people throughout the world. All these activities have helped broaden access to exchanges between Henan and foreign countries and regions, attracted foreign investments in a large number of infrastructure and mainstay industry projects, and introduced advanced technologies. As a result, the industrial structure has been optimized, the level of business management and operation enhanced, concepts and ideologies updated and social progress achieved.
It is believed that the contemporary age is an age of openness, exchange, economic globalization and intercultural communication. In this age, it is our sincere wish to view Henan from global perspectives, to strengthen friendly ties with the people in other countries, to seek for cooperation with the outside world, to present Henan to the rest of the world and to let Henan be known to the world. We believe that mutual understanding and cooperation can only be realized through constant exchanges with people in different countries and regions.
I sincerely hope that this picture album may be of some help to you to gain a better understanding of Henan province. And we are expecting you to participate in the development and construction of Henan. Let us make joint efforts for mutual benefits and progress.
Since the reform and opening up to the outside world, Henan has increasingly expanded its friendly relationship with the world. By the end of 2005, Henan has established friendly relationship with 52 foreign cities in 26 countries, ranking 10th in China. Among those 52 cities, 17 are at the provincial level; for that matter, Henan ranks 5th in the country. |
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