CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, March 8, 2019 | 3 TWO SESSIONS HK’s NPC deputies urge Northeast support for young scientists provinces By HE SHUSI [email protected] to improve The scientific and The nation’s science and tech­ nology development requires industrial resources stronger support in terms of poli­ of the region should commerce cies and funds, especially for young researchers and their pro­ be fully utilized to By XU WEI and HOU LIQIANG jects, national legislators from strengthen basic Hong Kong said on Thursday. Officials from China’s north­ They made the remarks during research.” east provinces have vowed to an open­door meeting of the Hong Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, NPC deputy heighten their efforts to improve Kong delegation to the National and member of the Chinese the business environment and People’s Congress, the country’s Academy of Sciences further boost the private sector. top legislature, in Beijing. They Speaking in a panel discussion were deliberating on Premier Li during the ongoing 13th National Keqiang’s latest Government All the above measures are to People’s Congress, Zhang Qing­ Work Report. ensure young scientists focus on wei, Party secretary of Heilong­ Wong Yuk­shan, a Hong Kong their research, without worrying jiang province, said the province deputy and a biological scientist, about their academic careers and will strive for breakthroughs in said he was delighted to see that putting excessive effort on net­ its business environment and the report stressed the importance working, Wong said. improvements in the work style of basic research to the nation and Basic research refers to scientif­ of officials this year. pledged to increase the proportion ic activities focused on the nature Zhang said during the discus­ of indirect funding for basic of the universe and relevant theo­ Premier Li Keqiang learns about the latest development in online services from Pony Ma, chairman and sion, which was open to the research projects. ries. It provides the basis of CEO of Tencent and an NPC deputy, during a panel discussion on Thursday at the ongoing NPC media, that the province is faced Detailed policies should be in applied research. session. WU ZHIYI / CHINA DAILY with problems such as a predom­ place to encourage young teachers The Guangdong­Hong Kong­ inantly heavy industry structure, and post­doctoral graduates to Macao Greater Bay Area has every sluggish private sector and lack participate in projects at other uni­ element needed for sci­tech devel­ of talent for innovation. versities; they should not spend opment. Another Hong Kong dep­ The private sector contributed their entire academic careers at uty and member of the Chinese more than half the province’s one institution, said Wong, who is Academy of Sciences, Nancy Ip Li: Make Guangdong GDP last year, and the authorities also president of the Open Univer­ Yuk­yu, also stressed the Bay Area’s will boost support for the sector sity of Hong Kong. sound foundation in science and so that it could grow to as much This would help unleash young technology. as two­thirds of GDP in a few researchers’ creativity and pas­ “The scientific and industrial years, he said. sion, he added. resources of the region should be Bayanqolu, Party secretary of And it will also minimize the fully utilized to strengthen basic world class in business Jilin province, said the province possibility of projects being devel­ research and also achievements in will endeavor to build an e­gov­ oped by personal networks rather the laboratory,” she said. ernment as part of efforts to than the ability of researchers, However, few universities in the Premier asks it to take necessary steps and is striving to become an innova­ improve the business environ­ explained Wong. mainland cities of the Bay Area tion center for science and technolo­ ment. Relevant government depart­ perform well in both comprehen­ to attract additional foreign investment gy. The city will focus on new energy The development of the e­gov­ ments should review the vetting sive rankings and specific subjects, vehicles and biomedicines going ernment will use some of the lat­ system of research fund applica­ said Ip, who is also vice­president By HU YONGQI development, opportunities forward, he said. est technologies for innovations, tions, he said. for research and graduate studies [email protected] brought by the Greater Bay Area, In the afternoon, Li joined a panel he said. The development of smart Young researchers should be at the Hong Kong University of Sci­ independent innovation, the manu­ discussion with deputies from Qing­ manufacturing will be prioritized entitled to a certain amount of ence and Technology. Premier Li Keqiang called on facturing sector, rural vitalization hai province, known as China’s in sectors such as auto manufac­ funds to initiate their research, She believes universities in Guangdong province on Thursday and traditional cultural heritage. “water tower”. Qinghai made nota­ turing and aerospace, he said. Wong proposed. Whether follow­ Hong Kong can serve as examples to further open up and build a Foreign investment in Guang­ ble progress last year and should He noted that Jilin has also up funds will be given can be to promote the development of world­class business environment dong reached 145 billion yuan ($22 coordinate economic development stepped up cooperation with decided in the following stages of higher education across the 11­city to attract more foreign investment. billion) last year while its GDP rose with ecological protection, Li said. leading private businesses such their research, he explained. cluster. He joined a panel discussion in 6.8 percent year­on­year to 9.73 tril­ He called on the province to develop as Huawei, Alibaba and Tencent, the morning with national lawmak­ lion yuan, said Ma Xingrui, gover­ a green economy and firmly protect and the province’s cross­border ers from Guangdong, which contrib­ nor of Guangdong. The province’s the country’s water resources. e­commerce has received a boost. utes about one­tenth of China’s GDP. imports and exports hit 7.16 trillion Local advantages should be used Tang Yijun, governor of Liao­ Praising the province’s achieve­ yuan, accounting for 23.5 percent of to develop industries that fit its con­ ning province, also pledged that Hainan looks at building ments last year, he said it should now China’s foreign trade, he said. ditions, the premier said. He urged provincial authorities will strive work with the Hong Kong and Last year, Guangdong signed an officials to make further efforts in to promote one­stop government Macao special administrative agreement with the German chemi­ poverty alleviation, since Qinghai services and streamline approv­ port as part of its FTZ regions to develop the Guangdong­ cal giant BASF to establish a new still has 77,000 people with incomes als to improve the business envi­ Hong Kong­Macao Greater Bay Area. chemical base in the coastal city of below the poverty line. ronment. By JING SHUIYU perity to places such as Singapore, Guangdong should also acceler­ Zhanjiang. It also inked a deal with Last year, 176,000 people were To further shore up economic and MA ZHIPING thanks to broad­based preferential ate the transformation of old drivers ExxonMobil of the United States to lifted from poverty in Qinghai. The growth, both Heilongjiang and trade and investment policies. into new ones to boost high­quality build a chemical plant. Both pro­ province aims to get the remainder Jilin provinces have vowed to Hainan province is continuing its Liu said Hainan started explora­ development and improve people’s jects are expected to cost $10 billion. out of poverty by the end of this year. make greater strides to boost efforts to promote the development tion the feasibility of a free trade livelihoods, Li said. Zhang Shuofu, Party secretary of The premier also called for fur­ tourism. Wang Wentao, Heilong­ of the free trade zone covering the port last year and has been trying Seven National People’s Congress Guangzhou, said his city aims to ther integration of the internet with jiang’s governor, said new high­ whole island, while exploring ways to figure out how to reflect “Chi­ deputies from the Guangdong dele­ build a modernized and interna­ education and healthcare to speed railways, better roads and to build a free trade port, provincial nese characteristics” in the port gation spoke about high­quality tionalized business environment improve locals’ well­being. more hotels will be built in the officials said on Thursday. and what specific steps are needed province, and the government Liu Cigui, Party secretary of to achieve the goal. will step up its oversight of busi­ Hainan province and a deputy to The government will further nesses overcharging tourists. the 13th National People’s Con­ improve the business environ­ The government will also gress, said the FTZ made substan­ ment and simplify administrative Focus of Winter Games shifts to venues introduce a special fund from tial progress last year as it pursued procedures, Mao Chaofeng, vice­ which tourists can claim their opening­up on all fronts. governor of Hainan province, said By ZHANG YU and CAO YIN to equip them with appropriate facil­ venues and supporting infrastruc­ losses immediately after finding The zone promoted one­stop ser­ on Thursday. ities and equipment,” he said. ture, said Wu Weidong, mayor of they’ve been overcharged, he vice for companies to facilitate Mao, who is also a deputy to the Preparations for the 2022 Olympic Meanwhile, the construction and Zhangjiakou and an NPC deputy. said, adding that the compensa­ international trade, and it gave NPC, said the government’s main and Paralympic Winter Games have renovation of venues will continue, To reduce the impact of changing tion will be delivered even green lights only to environmental­ achievement was setting up an reached a key phase in which the con­ including building ski runs and weather on competitions, especially before government investiga­ ly friendly projects such as tourism, international system to evaluate struction of most venues has started snow­making systems at an Alpine the ski events that are easily influ­ tions start. services and high­tech industries, the business environment and the focus has shifted to opera­ skiing center in Yanqing, a district enced by weather, authorities are Jing Junhai, governor of Jilin, Liu said at the plenary meeting of throughout the island. The prov­ tions and management of the venues. in the city’s northwestern suburbs, building multiple meteorological sta­ said tourism at Chagan Lake the Hainan delegation attending ince also rolled out measures to “Good operation of the venues is and renovating two major stadiums tions in Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, to expanded fivefold during the the annual lawmaking session. help address companies’ financing the key to ensure the Games go in Beijing, Zhang said. provide precise weather forecasts. National Day holiday period last The zone won’t approve any new difficulties and shortened the reg­ smoothly, ” Zhang Jiandong, a vice­ “The center for Alpine skiing will “The meteorological data will be year, and tourism revenues are projects that put pressure on the istration process for them last year. mayor of Beijing and executive vice­ meet the requirements for holding monitored every 10 minutes and up by 22 percent since the start of environment, Liu said. Last month, Hainan launched a president of the Olympic organizing test competitions in October, while every 100 meters,” Zhang said, add­ winter. Hainan received approval in 3 billion yuan ($447 million) fund committee, said on Thursday during other venues will reach that stage ing that the work is underway as The three northeastern provin­ April 2018 to build a pilot free for FTZ construction. The munici­ the ongoing meetings of the 13th next year,” he said. requested by the International ces saw economic growth pick up trade zone covering the whole pal government of Sanya, a popu­ National People’s Congress, the Starting in February 2020, a series Olympic Committee. last year, shrugging off the less island. China also plans to estab­ lar tourist city in Hainan, and country’s top legislative body. of 20 test events for the Winter All venues for the Games have rosy outlook of previous years. lish a free trade port in Hainan by Hainan Development Holdings Co Zhang sees 2019 as a key year to Games will be scheduled, running been ordered to use clean energy, Last year, GDP in Liaoning rose 2025, aiming for a “mature” sys­ each invested 1.5 billion yuan to set prepare for the 2022 Winter Olym­ through the first half of 2021. Seven “as we must fulfill our promise to 5.7 percent, 4.5 percent in Jilin tem by 2035, according to a gov­ up Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone pics for both Beijing and Zhangjia­ of those will be held in Zhangjiakou. host a green and sustainable Winter and 5.7 percent in Heilongjiang, ernment document. Opening and Development Fund. kou, Hebei province, the two co­hosts. Zhangjiakou, which will host Olympics”, Zhang said. according to government reports. Free trade ports are regarded as “In this year, we will operate the most snow events in 2022, has the world’s most open form of eco­ Contact the writers at venues on a trial basis to know its begun construction on 65 projects Contact the writers at Contact the writers at nomic zone and have brought pros­ [email protected] conditions and make plans on how related to the Games, including [email protected] [email protected]

The Ministry of Finance will also Salute to women Debts: Special bonds quota to grow by 60% increase infrastructure investment by 40 billion yuan year­on­year to 577.6 billion yuan this year, Liu said. From page 1 ministry said. It is lower than the worried, as the government cuts To improve debt management and European Union’s warning line of nearly 2 trillion yuan in taxes and fees maintain stable investment growth As of the end of last year, outstand­ 60 percent, beyond which debt risks and maintains a high level of infra­ this year, the National People’s Con­ ing local government debts stood at may become uncontrollable. structure investment. gress broke with tradition and 18.39 trillion yuan ($2.74 trillion), up “Financing through local govern­ “But the answer, given by the approved an order that had granted by 11.4 percent from a year earlier. ment financing vehicles is expected finance minister today, is no,” said authorization as of Jan 1 — instead of That accounts for 55.14 percent of all to become subject to increasingly Zhang Lianqi, an economist and later in March as in previous years — government debt, according to the strict regulation and more transpar­ consultant with the Ministry of to local governments to issue part of Ministry of Finance. ency” as the country strengthens Finance. their 2019 full­year bond quota. “China’s current risk level for risk controls, said Fu Yubin, a sub­ Liu conceded that it will be “very The early allocation was up to 60 local government debt is under con­ sovereign research analyst at challenging” to maintain the balance percent of the annual quota, mainly trol,” Liu said. “But we have to take Moody’s Investors Service. between fiscal income and expendi­ to support infrastructure spending measures to defuse potential risks to Some analysts had predicted that tures this year. To narrow the fund­ and bolster economic growth. maintain sustainable fiscal financ­ the government might ease regula­ ing gap, the authority has decided to The increased quota is expected to ing.” tions on debt financing given the eco­ increase the quota for local govern­ provide local governments with The country’s government debt­ nomic slowdown and trade tensions ment special­purpose bonds by much­needed funding to help meet Guests give a round applause to performers at a reception mark­ to­GDP ratio was kept at a stable lev­ with the United States. The funding about 60 percent over last year, to capital expenditure needs, analysts ing International Women’s Day in the Great Hall of the People on el of about 37 percent in 2018, the gap might be further enlarged, they 2.15 trillion yuan. said. Thursday in Beijing. ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY