Guangdong now stands at the threshold of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The blueprint for the province's 11th "Five-Year Plan" period (2006-2010) received the go-ahead in February 2006 during the Provincial People's Congress annual session.

Mid and long-term strategy

During the next five years, Guangdong will continue to focus on development of economy, cultural and legal systems and "harmonious society building" and "well-off society building" campaigns. The province will maintain an annual GDP growth rate of no less than 9 percent for the next five years. The per capita GDP will reach 34,400 RMB in 2010, doubling that of 2000. The Pearl River Delta area will take the lead in realizing modernization for the province and the western and eastern regions as well as the mountainous areas will speed up economic development.

Economic growth mode switch

Guangdong Province is expecting a nine percent year-on-year increase in its economy during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, down from the previous 13 percent annually. It is the first time for Guangdong to set a single-digit annual economic growth target since the late 1970s. It shows the province's determination to seek sustainable development. The province has been shifting from a labor-intensive economic development mode to a knowledge-worker economy.

Five targets of economic and social development in the 11th Five-Year Plan have been identified.

1. Steady economic development

The provincial GDP will reach 3.35 trillion RMB, with an annual growth rate of 9 percent; the agricultural sector's productive capacity will be enhanced while the industrial sector will continue to optimize their structure and achieve stronger international competitiveness. The service industry will be further developed and the proportion of the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors will be adjusted to 5:50.5:45. The added value of hi-tech industries will account for 22 percent of the provincial GDP and energy consumption per GDP unit will decrease by 13 percent.

2. Continued progress in social programs

Projects in science and technology, education, culture, health and sports are expected to make new progress. The children of schooling age will be covered by a nine-year compulsory education, all free of charge. Gross enrollment rate of higher education is to exceed 28 percent. Meanwhile, people aged 25 and above will have an average 10 years of schooling. The province will work to host a successful Asian Games in 2010.

3. Social and legal systems will be improved

Build up a complete market economic system in 2010. Establish an administrative system to ensure effective decision-making and smooth policy implementation and supervision.

4. Building a harmonious society

Urban and rural development will be more balanced with the proportion of non-agricultural employment increasing to 72 percent. Registered urban unemployment will be kept under 3.8 percent. Urban basic endowment insurance will cover 21 million people and a basic Medicare system will cover over 22 million people, with an annual growth rate of 7 percent and 13.8 percent respectively. A new rural cooperative Medicare system will cover over 85 percent of rural residents.

5. The general living standard will continue to improve

Urban per capita disposable income and rural per capita net income will grow by an annual rate of 5.5 percent and 6 percent respectively. The natural growth rate of the population will be kept to under 6 percent The death rate of infants will be under 10 percent and the province's average life expectancy will be 75 years.

Editor: Yan