Mayor looks beyond the economy and focuses on livelihoods
Guangzhou has set a goal for gross domestic product to reach 1 trillion yuan in 2011, giving a per capita GDP of US$13,000.
The goal was announced by Mayor Zhang Guangning in his annual work report to the Guangzhou People's Congress, which opened yesterday.
Mr Zhang said that this year alone, GDP was targeted to grow by 12 per cent from the 'more than 600 billion yuan' recorded last year. Fixed-asset investment was expected to grow by 8 per cent, exports by 12 per cent and farmers' incomes by 7 per cent.
Guangzhou's economy grew 14.7 per cent last year, while per capita GDP was US$7,800. Farmers' incomes rose 10 per cent to 7,788 yuan, while overall wages rose 7 per cent to 36,221 yuan.
Shifting from his usual focus on economic development and infrastructure projects to support growth, Mr Zhang highlighted problems directly affecting the livelihood of residents this year and dwelled on measures to address them.
