CHINA DAILY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 zhanjiangspecial 7 A huge wind farm in Xuwen, Zhanjiang, represents the city’s new orientation in developing environmental-friendly industries. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Guangdong’s new coastal star rochemical facility will be able Wang Zhongbing recently vis- mayor said. Hainan Island, Zhanjiang has Zhanjiang set to further drive to re ne 15 million tons crude ited the zone and promised Covering an area of more abundant resources in agri- oil and produce more than 1 to continue to introduce even than 496 sq km, the zone culture, aquatic production, growth in the bustling province million tons of ethylene a year more incentives to support includes the city’s Donghai, tourism, minerals, crude oil when operations begin by the development and help attract Naozhou, Dongshantou and and natural gas. By ZHENG CAIXIONG in five years and more than end of 2016. Some 2.77 billion Economic growth foreign investment. Nanping islands. It is a major sugar cane pro- zhengcaixiong 500 billion yuan in a decade, yuan has been invested to day, cannot be achieved It is now home to more than duction and seafood export @chinadaily.com.cn entering into the top 10 devel- 2 billion yuan of it in 2014. at the cost of Protecting ecology 2,500 foreign-funded com- center. opment zones on the Chinese Steel, petrochemicals and ‘‘ Wang told government panies. Investors have come In 2010, the zone was rated Construction on the Zhan- mainland. papermaking will become the ecology and departments to pay special from North America, Europe, as a province-level high-tech jiang Economic and Techno- A e zone is home to a mega pillar industries in Zhanjiang, environment. attention to protecting local East Asia, Northeast Asia, the zone and a province-level logical Development Zone is iron and steel plant and a pet- playing a big part in the city’s Zhanjiang’s ecology. Middle East, as well as Taiwan development zone for recycled making good headway, with rochemical project on Dong- economy in the coming years, “Economic growth cannot and Hong Kong. economy. its major projects in steel, pet- hai Island, the fifth largest local authorities said. environment and air be achieved at the cost of the Big-name foreign compa- In 2011 the zone was listed rochemicals and papermak- island in the country and the To support the industries, quality will remain ecology and environment,” nies including Coca Cola and by the provincial government ing on schedule, said local biggest in Guangdong. the city government has plans intact after the Wang said. PepsiCo have set up produc- as an important destination authorities. Construction on the iron for 50 sq km in petrochemical petrochemical project “Zhanjiang’s environment tion facilities in the zone. for the industries transferred Expected to become a new and steel project by Baosteel projects, a 30-sq-km indus- and air quality will remain In addition to steel and pet- from the Pearl River delta economic engine for Guang- Group is planned for comple- trial park for the iron and steel begins operation.” intact a er the petrochemical rochemicals, local authorities region. dong, the zone is playing a big tion in September 2015. It will industry and another 20 sq km WANG ZHONGBING project begins operation,” he particularly want more foreign part in accelerating the eco- have an annual production for papermaking. MAYOR OF ZHANJIANG added. companies to establish pro- nomic development in west- capacity of 10 million tons of Construction on a new air- In addition to further sim- duction facilities in high-tech, ern part of the province. steel. port will begin in 2015 and will plifying administrative pro- papermaking, ocean-derived According to its develop- More than 17.49 billion be completed in 2017 to help Zhanjiang, urged the govern- cedures, the city government biomedicines, machinery, gar- 300 ment plan, the zone is expect- yuan has been invested to further improve the city’s infra- ment to speed up construction will continue to introduce a ments, electric appliances and billion yuan ed have annual industrial pro- date in the project, 11.6 bil- structure and investment envi- of the zone in the following series of preferential policies beverages. the value of annual industrial duction worth more than 300 lion yuan of it this year. ronment, local authorities said. months. to encourage foreign compa- Located on Guangdong’s output projected in the zone in billion yuan ($48.78 billion) A e zone’s Sino-Kuwaiti pet- Liu Xiaohua, Party chief of Liu and Zhanjiang mayor nies to invest in the zone, the Leizhou Peninsula facing fi ve years Hometown hero in the Qing Dynasty By ZHENG CAIXIONG In 1870, Emperor Tongzhi attention to protecting over- Chen’s former residence has zhengcaixiong accepted Chen’s proposal to seas Chinese living there. now become a must-go tourist @chinadaily.com.cn send youth to the US to study Chen suggested the Qing destination in Wuchuan. It is Western military and political government send consuls listed as a key historical site Chen Lanbin, China’s rst sciences, as well as manufac- general to the United States to by the Guangdong provincial ambassador to the United turing technologies. After he retired help protect Chinese workers government. States, is still honored by the Chen then became the rst and returned to who were helping build rail- The 470-square-meter people of Zhanjiang, a port Qing o1 cial to lead students his hometown, ways as well as mining gold, courtyard dwelling now city in western Guangdong, to study in the US. ‘‘ coal and other minerals. attracts a large number of he still had many more than a century a er he The first group selected Due to his diplomatic skills, tourists from home and made a name for himself. included Liang Dunyan and valuable proposals Chen was also appointed abroad. Chen (1816-1895), a native Zhan Tianyou. They started to help the local ambassador to Spain and to Many overseas Chinese of Wuchuan in Zhanjiang, their overseas journey in government improve Peru by the Qing government. from the US, Canada and dedicated his life to the pro- August 1870. administration, After he returned home, South America pay a spe- motion of Sino-US coopera- Zhan, also known as Jeme Chen was highly esteemed by cial visit to Chen’s residence tion and protecting the legal Tien Yow, later became a top harness rivers, Empress Cixi and Prime Min- to honor the memory of the rights and interests of the large railway engineer and was construct coastal ister Li Hongzhang. He advo- renowned Chinese diplomat. number of overseas Chinese responsible for construction and river dikes and cated further raising the coun- Chen Yannian, Chen’s great in the US during the late Qing of Beijing-Zhangjiakou Rail- try’s comprehensive strength grandson, said Chen was Dynasty (1644-1911). way, the rst locally designed improve the livelihood to ght foreign invaders. indiG erent to fame and wealth, Chen also urged the Qing and constructed rail line. of locals.” Born in a poor village fam- instead concerned with his government to open the door Zhan, who began study- CHEN YANNIAN ily, Chen paid special attention country and people. to the outside world to learn ing in the US at the age of 12, GREAT GRANDSON to working people. “After he retired and from advanced countries to is regarded as “the father of Chen gave a range of valu- returned to his hometown, help develop the country’s China’s railways”. able advice to help harness the he still had many valuable Chen Lanbin: During the late Qing Dynasty, the Zhanjiang native economy. A e Qing government sent And the young people took Yellow River a er he toured proposals to help the local became China’s fi rst ambassador to the United States. He proposed a merchants a total of 130 young students the lead to import Western along the river and visited government improve admin- ‘department focused on com- to the US from 1870 to 1875. democracy, science and tech- local households. istration, harness rivers, con- give lectures in many places uan renovated Chen’s former merce with foreigners. His After they returned home, nologies into China. When Chen retired at the struct coastal and river dikes in Zhanjiang and wrote sev- residence to help keep alive proposal was praised and they played important roles in A er Chen was appointed age of 68, he returned to Zhan- and improve the livelihood of eral books on local economic the memory of the famous supported by the emperor and China’s social and economic China’s rst ambassador to the jiang and became a teacher. He locals,” said Chen Yannian. development.” Chinese diplomat regarded as many senior o1 cials. development. US in 1875, he paid special died at home at the age of 79. “He was still invited to A e government of Wuch- a hero by locals. .