March 23-Pan Jianguo, Director of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangzhou Municipality, stated in his report to the Fourth Session of the Guangzhou People's Congress, that this year Guangzhou plans to invest RMB 32.3 billion to construct 74 major projects, RMB 25.368 billion of which will be invested in fixed asset construction.

Mr. Pan also stated that Guangzhou would ensure the completion and opening of Metro Line 3 linking Kecun with Panyu Square and Tiyuxi Lu with Tianhe Station.

In his report, Pan Jianguo introduced 74 major projects that are planned for this year. 25 infrastructure projects, including airport, port, urban rail transport and expressway projects; 3 environment protection projects, including wastewater treatment and green hill and grass projects; 32 projects in pillar and hi-tech industries, including the Toyota Motor Project, Toyota Factory II, and Guangzhou Biomedicine Industrial Base; and, 14 social utility projects including the Guangzhou Opera House and the Guangzhou New Library.

This year, Guangzhou will further develop its transport system, water, power and gas utilities and its information network. Mr. Pan proposed speeding up the construction of sections of the transport network, such as those of the city's central district expressway system, to eliminate traffic jam black spots. In addition, Guangzhou will press ahead with its natural gas utilization project aiming to achieve natural gas service by June this year.

Editor: Yan