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With the bumper harvest in the Year of Monkey, we
greet the New Year of Rooster with jubilation. On the
occasion of the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, I
have great pleasure, on behalf of Foshan Municipal Government
and all my fellow citizens, to extend New Year greetings
on the Internet to the Overseas Foshanese, Hong Kong,
Macao and Taiwai compatriots and Foshan Honorary Citizens.
I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous New
Year!
Year 2004 is an important year that witness Foshan
making new progress in the campaign of building a city
of industry, a city of culture and a modernize metropolis.
It is a year when construction was carried out in an
all-round way. Over last year, the city went all out,
striving to achieve the objective. While economic and
social development made new progress, Foshan takes on
a lovely look of prosperity with joy and peace. In 2004,
the city's GDP was estimated to top 165.37 billion Yuan,
up 16.3% year on year. GDP per capita came to 47500
Yuan, an increase of 14.5%. With foreign economy further
expanding last year, gross import and export volume
exceeded 20 billion US dollars, rising 31.7% to 21.69
billion dollars, among which, gross export volume increased
35.3% to 13.83 billion dollars. Contractual overseas
capital amounted to 1.8 billion US dollars and overseas
capital in place realized 1.7 billion dollars, an increase
of 42.2% and 38.7% respectively. 29 of the Fortune 500
have made investment in Foshan, among which 9 are newly
established. The construction of a modernized metropolis
has been in full swing. Total investment in fixed assets
reached 56.54 billion Yuan. A number of infrastructure
projects have been pushed forward including the construction
of a group of trunk roads and expressways, the new urban
area, sports facilities for the Provincial Games, Media
Center, Shunde Performing Center, etc. The construction
of a culturally famous city has started an upsurge.
The city has successfully held series of cultural events
such as Cantonese Opera Festival, China (Foshan) Martial
Art Festival, China (Shiwan) Ceramic Art Festival, etc.
Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theater was introduced to
Foshan. The city's cultural taste is further upgraded.
Over last year, the city of Foshan enjoyed economic
growth, in-depth reform, improved environment, scientific
and technological progress. People's comprehensive quality
and social civilization was further improved. Exciting
progress has been made in the construction of modernized
metropolis and the development of a well-off society.
For a long time, the overseas Foshanese and Foshan
Honorary Citizen love their country and hometown. They
are active in public welfare, making investment and
starting business in Foshan, which makes great contribution
to the city's economic development. Foshan's economic
advancement and social progress embodies their love
and support to the hometown. On this occasion, I would
like to express our gratitude and considerations to
you and through you to all overseas friends who support
and care Foshan's construction and development.
After entering into 2005, along with the continuous
growth of the global economy and further improvement
of the domestic environment for development, Foshan's
economy is at a new blooming period. The deepening implementation
of various plans, the initiation of "2+5"
City Group, the proceeding of all pivot projects, and
the establishment of Model City for Environmental Protection
at National Level and Sanitary City at National Level,
as well as the 7th Asian Art Festival and Culture Ministerial
Forum which will be held in Foshan, mark a strong signal
that, Foshan's development has entered into a new stage
and has ushered in an important period of opportunity.
Tremendous opportunities come with tremendous development.
In 2005, guided by the scientific outlook on development,
based on the coordinated and integrated development
of Pearl River Delta, we seize the opportunity of CEPA
implementation to actively integrate to Guangzhou-Foshan
Economic Circle and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region.
Foshan will take part in the Pan-Pearl River Delta cooperation
and development, to enhance its competitiveness in all
areas, enabling the city to grow with greater potential.
Currently, Foshan leads its comprehensive development
by means of planning. Industrial foundation has been
consolidated and enhanced. Industrial structure is under
optimization and upgrade. Hi-tech industry, modern logistics
and burgeoning economy are blooming in Foshan. In light
of the goal of city group planning, we will spare no
efforts to build Foshan into a modernized metropolis
with highly developed manufacturing industry and unique
Southern Chinese Culture.
We are of one heart and one mind to build up Foshan,
and her prosperity is not far away. Development in Foshan
needs unswerving and gracious supports from all the
overseas Foshanese and Foshan honorary citizens. After
years of development, Foshan has boosted its strength
in industry, with competent supporting capacities and
high industrial cluster. A manufacturing base with vigor
and potential has taken shape. The city is an ideal
region for global industrial transfer and overseas investment.
Overseas Foshanese, honorary citizens, and compatriots
from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, are warmly welcome
to start their business and invest in Foshan. At the
same time, we warmly welcome overseas Foshanese to visit
hometown more often. Let's join hands to make a promising
future of Foshan!
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