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By 2010 Guangdong's economy will be twice the size it was in 2000, while unit energy consumption will be slashed by 13 percent in the next five years.

These are part of an ambitious plan outlined by Governor Huang Huahua in the provincial government's work report addressed to Guangdong¡¯s legislators yesterday.

The Fourth Session of the 10th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress opened yesterday morning, a day after the provincial committee of the Chinese People¡¯s Political Consultative Conference convened.

In his report, Huang said the provincial government supports Shenzhen's bid to be designated by the Central Government as the country's laboratory for technological innovations, seen as essential for sustainable economic growth.

His report also expects the average income of urban residents in Guangdong to rise 7 percent in 2006 on the back of economic growth of 9 percent.

During the six-day session, 747 lawmakers will review the province's 11th Five-Year Program from 2006 to 2010 and the government's budget and work reports, and reports of the provincial court and procuratorate.

A total of 100 residents and 24 diplomats from 18 foreign consulates in Guangzhou joined the lawmakers as observers.

Editor: Yan