Guangdong Province should reorganize its cities in the Pearl River Delta area to achieve more efficient use of local resources and to become one of the first modernized provinces in the country.
Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC provincial committee, made the remark during his meeting with visiting Minister of Construction Wang Guangtao.
Zhang briefed the visitor on Guangdong's rapid development over the past two decades and on its transformation from an agriculture-based province into a relatively developed economic powerhouse.
Development characterized by poor planning and coordination is hindering the future development of the delta area, Guangdong's economic and industrial center, the official said.
He pointed out that the existing administrative structure has given rise to protectionism, which has, in turn, led to the inefficient use of resources, overlaps in construction and environmental pollution. He stressed the importance of urban planning.
The minister was visiting the delta region to assess the progress in urban development. The rapid development of cities in the delta area has contributed a great deal to the country as a whole, Wang noted.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2003)
