Jiang Chaoliang, governor of Jilin province, said at the third routine meeting of the Jilin provincial government in 2015 that construction of the Changchun-Jilin demonstration zone should focus on innovation and a solid foundation.

The zone will work on five aspects including innovation of development plans, management system and development patterns.

First, it will innovate in thoughts on development and build itself into a model for adjusting to the "new normal", the term used by President Xi Jinping in reference to economic conditions in China that differ from the former high-growth period. The zone will promote cooperation among government agencies, universities and research institutes to achieve innovation-driven development and put more emphasis on the environment while also greatly developing the economy.

Second, it will innovate in industrial form and be a demonstration zone that depends on science and technology.

The zone will fully use scientific and technological innovations from the Changchun National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, of which it is part, to develop advanced manufacturing, modern services and farming.

It will also accelerate construction of institutes and R&D centers for industrial technologies.

Third, as a key support of the Changchun-Jilin-Tumen strategy, the Changchun-Jilin demonstration zone plans to innovate in the management of economic and social development and ensure the zone adopts advanced management systems and development models.

The zone will also build a legal environment that is open and transparent and reduce the approval powers of government officials as well as approval procedures.

Fourth, it will innovate in development patterns and be an original model of the new urbanization road. The zone will carry out the central government's reforms on use and reclamation of land, population management and ownership of collective property in rural areas.

Fifth, it will innovate the win-win mechanism and be a demonstrative zone for opening-up and international cooperation.

The zone will promote cooperative development of the Changchun and Jilin cities, the hinterland in Jilin province and the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture on the border between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

It will help Jilin province become part of the "One Belt, One Road" strategy and the Changchun-Jilin-Tumen region become a new door in the northern part of the new Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.It will also facilitate economic cooperation among countries and regions in Northeast Asia.

(China Daily 03/12/2015 page7)