Shanghai
Background
Profile:
Shanghai, known as "Hu" or "Shen" in short, is one of the largest economic centers of China and a gate to the Yangtze River delta. It is a municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government of China.
Shanghai lies on the west bank of the Pacific and the east coast of the Asian continent and halfway along China's coastline, with an area of 6,340.5sq.km. It enjoys four distinct seasons, abundant sunshine and rainfall.
By the end of 2007, the city had a permanent population of 18,580,000 and a population with registered permanent residence of 13,788,600.
Shanghai became a town in 1292, when the central government in the Yuan Dynasty established Shanghai County. It was once the largest economic center in the Far East. Since the founding of New China in 1949 and, in particular, the start of reform and opening-up in 1978, Shanghai's economy and society have undergone historic changes and the city has become one of the largest economic centers of China. Today, it is striding toward an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center.
Shanghai, one the most attractive cities of China, is a melting pot with all-embracing tolerance of cultures and a fascinating metropolis blending dynamic fashion and graceful nostalgia. Just like someone has said that, it is where old people can cherish their memory of the past and young people can find fashion to follow, foreigners feel very Chinese and Chinese feel very foreign, which is indeed the true essence of Shanghai culture.
Thanks to its rich history, attractive culture and special geographical location, Shanghai boasted a lot of charming scenic spots including landscape, historic sites as well as modern architectures, which attract an increasing number of tourists at home and abroad.
Travel in Shanghai, you can experience the elegance of old Shanghai by roaming along the Bund, feel the dynamic fashion by shopping in the Nanjing Road, as well as enjoy the romantic mood in mixed style of Shanghai and the west by seating in the Xintiandi. You can experience the folk atmosphere of bustling ancient town in Yu Garden as well as enjoy a bird's eye view of modern Shanghai from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You can review the yesterday of Shanghai in Shanghai Museum as well as preview its tomorrow in Shanghai City-Planning Exhibition Hall. You can feel the magic power of science in the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum as well as experience the charm of arts in Shanghai Grand Theatre. Shanghai, also known as the ideal paradise for shoppers and gourmets, has much more attractions waiting for you.
On Dec. 3, 2002, Shanghai succeeded in winning the bid for the sponsorship of World Expo 2010. The theme of the Shanghai Expo is"Betty City, Better Life"and the mascot is"Haibao".
It is worth mentioning that Shanghai Expo will be the first expo hosted by a developing country, the first expo with city as its theme and the first expo with the largest participation countries and regions of the world. Shanghai will surely host a successful, wonderful and impressive Expo in 2010 and the people of Shanghai warmly welcome visitors from home and overseas!
Beginning from the 1990's, Shanghai has been actively exploring a development path with"Chinese characteristics, identity of the time and peculiarity of Shanghai". As a result, its social productivity level and overall economic power have been improving steadily. The city realized a total industrial output value of 2,300 billion yuan in 2007, a hike of 15.7% over 2006; the total industrial added value reached 529.59 billion yuan, a rise of 12.3%. The city, whose population accounts for a tiny portion of 1% and land area 0.06% of the national totals, achieved a fiscal income as large as 1/9 of that of the whole country. In addition, its total import/export value accounted for 1/4 of the national total while cargo throughput for 1/10, earning it a significant position in the economic and social development of the nation.
Shanghai has persisted on scientific advance and informationalization to drive the optimization and upgrade of industrial structure and promote the development of both the 2nd and the 3rd industries. Notably, electronics, automotive, petrochemical and fine chemical refined steel, equipment set and bio-pharmaceutics have been 6 pillar industries with significant roles.
The six priority industrial sectors of iron & steel, automobile, petrochemicals & fine chemicals, electronics, complete sets of equipment and biopharmaceuticals contributed 38.1% of the output value of the secondary industry, and large industrial enterprises generated total profits of 132.678 billion yuan, 20% higher than that of 2006.
The high-tech industry contributed 560.663 billion yuan in output value, or 26.7%, higher than that of 2006. And total input in research and development reached 31 billion yuan, up 20% year-on-year.
Shanghai's financial market got further open. Shanghai has also witnessed unprecedented development in the area of foreign trade. In terms of foreign capital absorption, Shanghai also maintained a satisfactory momentum. Shanghai has also enhanced its port functions. Today, Shanghai port has 125 deepwater berths capable of anchoring ships over 10,000 tons and 24 international container docks, and its capacity of container shipping is 11.28 million international standard containers. The port accommodates 500 international sea-lanes reaching 144 cities of 30 countries/regions and has connections with 275 ports in 96 countries/regions. With a multi-functional and multi-tier aviation service network coming into being, the two major airports, i.e., Pudong and Hongqiao accommodated 244,000 aircraft takeoff/landing times, increasing by 6.8% over the previous year and helping 24.74 million passenger times to transit the customs.
In 2010, Shanghai will host the World Expo to demonstrate the achievements made by mankind in social, economic, cultural and science-technological areas. The theme, "Better City, Better Life" will make Shanghai a more charming metropolis. With superior environment to start business, profound cultural tradition, ideal infrastructure and numerous business opportunities, Shanghai is attracting more and more investors from all over the world.
During "the Eleventh Five-year Plan" period, the development targets for the outsourcing industry in Shanghai are as follows:
1. By 2010, the gross value of the outsourcing industry shall reach RMB 120 billion, including outsourcing export US$ 2 billion, double of the value in 2005.
2. The outsourcing industry shall attract 100 thousand college graduates, train 50 thousand graduates, and provide job vacancies for 100 thousand. At that time, the working staffing in this industry will be over 200 thousand.
3. By 2010, 500 companies both at home and abroad will have been attracted to set up enterprises of service outsourcing in Shanghai.
Shanghai Government attaches great importance to the development of the service outsourcing industry, and has enacted the following laws and regulations to foster the servicing outsourcing industry, including Notice of the Shanghai Municipal Government's Opinions on Printing and Distributing Several Policies for Encouraging the Development of Outsourcing Industry, Notice on Forwarding and Implementation Opinions of the Circular of the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and the General Administration of Customs on the Issues Concerning Tax Incentives for the Development of Software and Integrated Circuit Industries, Regulations on Promoting the Transformation of Highly New Techniques in Shanghai and Shanghai Talent Development Fund Measures. At the same time the software parks has launched new policies promoting the development of the outsourcing industry, including Financial Supporting Policies to Promote the Development of the Modern Service Industry in Pudong New Areas, Financial Supporting Policies to Promote the Development of the High and New Technical Industry in Pudong New Areas, Financial Policies to Promote the Development of the Economy in Zhangjiang High-tech Park in the Eleventh five-year Period.
