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Shanghai 'thriving on unity'

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SHANGHAI Mayor Xu Kuangdi has pledged a 'unified' approach will reap economic success for the city.

The assurance, given in an interview with the semi-official China News Service, was apparently made in response to reports he had been at loggerheads with the city's party boss Huang Ju .

'The leadership of our municipal Government is unified and strong,' Mr Xu said.

'Shanghai is like a car which can perform well. Even if I'm not good at driving, the car can help me very much.' The 59-year-old mayor, who assumed the position in February last year, said Shanghai had a 'good foundation' and could become the economic and financial hub of the Yangtze River Basin as laid down in the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000).

'The key theme is to achieve this vision in a realistic way,' said Mr Xu, widely regarded as a reformer by foreigners.

Under a development blueprint laid down by the municipal government, the city will pump more resources to develop hi-tech industries, reform state enterprises, develop Pudong district and improve its infrastructure.

Mr Xu said Shanghai would no longer depend so much on increasing investment to boost economic growth.

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