By Yang Chonghao and Liu Xiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-18 15:22

As a top national-level development zone, the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area (TEDA) has plans to meet the call for a new economic approach, Li Yong, chairman of the Administrative Committee of the TEDA, said during a recent session of the 2008 Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

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Established in December 1984 and approved by the State Council, TEDA was one of the first national-level development areas formed after the nation's opening-up. Twelve years later, national strategy established the Tianjin Binhai New Area as a pilot area for implementing deepening reform and opening up.

In 2007, the Binhai New Area had a total output value of 236.4 billion yuan, accounting for 47.1 percent of the total in Tianjin. It is now one of the most active investment destinations for investors from home and abroad.

TEDA officials believe the measures are an evolution of the successful development mode of the past.

Developed provinces and cities in China, such as Guangdong province and Shanghai, have begun a new campaign to "emancipate the mind" to consider new ideas and approaches to further development. Tianjin has also joined the effort.

The city held a conference in March this year to discuss emancipating the mind and deepening reform and opening up, requesting municipal officials to lead the way in developing Tianjin into a first-class developed city.

The plan to establish a new economic approach put forward by TEDA is seen as a response to the campaign. Deng Xiaoping, overall designer of China's reform and opening policy, often visited Tianjin and presented to it an inscription on "Tremendous Hopes in Development Zones".

As a pilot area spurring China's reform and opening up, TEDA has ranked at the top for 10 consecutive years on a list from the Ministry of Commerce for its "comprehensive investment environment in China's State-level economic and technological development zones".

As the nation's economic boom continues, Tianjin faces many new challenges, Li says. He is concerned about the sharp competition among development areas in China.

Li noted it is not only Tianjin - other areas have similar challenges - but TEDA will shoulder the burden to establish a new economic approach in China, developing an integrated environment to attract and work with various advanced economic entities to the area.

The Tianjin plan to establish a new economic outlook will include accelerating industrial improvements, enhancing innovation in science and technology, greater development of modern service industries, promoting development of the domestic economy, upgrading the overall service of the city, and people - oriented and harmonious.

The development area will also promote innovation and deepen reforms in executive management, social affairs and State-owned enterprises, as well as implementing reforms at the Binhai New Area.

In the past 20 years, the area has attracted globally known multinationals that have invested modern manufacturing facilities, including Motorola from the US, Toyota from Japan and Samsung from South Korea.

In 2007, the total output value of the telecommunications, manufacturing and automotive industries exceeded 260 billion yuan, accounting for 80 percent of the total.

In more recent years, modern service industries have moved into the area, including foreign banks, investment companies, and software outsourcing enterprises.

TEDA administrators say they will strive to explore a new path for development zones and continue to lead the way as they have for the past 20 years.