Marching Forward into the New Century: 1997-2002

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Time: 2002-05-01
Features: Facing the changes in the international economic environment and the new situation of China's entry into the World Trade Organization, Huangpu District, stepping into the new century, will further enhance its agglomeration and innovative capacity, strive to achieve the first-mover effect after entering the WTO, strive to take the lead in the development along the Huangpu River, and strive to become a pilot area for informatization. Unfurling the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and adhering to the requirements of "Three Represents," it will insist on "development being the hard truth," ensuring the sustainable, rapid, and healthy development of the district's economy; adhere to system innovation and technological innovation, deepening the economic structure adjustment in the process of accelerated development; adhere to doing what is necessary and avoiding what is not, actively seizing the commanding heights of economic function expansion and urban construction; adhere to the path of sustainable development, promoting the coordinated development of economy, society, and environment; adhere to the principle of "gripping both hands tightly," comprehensively improving the comprehensive service function of the citizens and the civilized level of the district, making the comprehensive service function of Huangpu District continuously flourish and strengthen, fully embodying the guiding ideology of the prosperity and vibrancy of the central city. Strengthen the commercial sector, expand the tourism industry, optimize the real estate industry, vigorously develop the modern service industry, further cultivate the cultural and entertainment industry, focus on the development of the riverside area, accelerate the construction of modern residential areas, explore the formation of new mechanisms for economic growth, urban construction, urban management, and social development, and further enhance core competitiveness. Strive to preliminarily build Huangpu District into a modern central city of a large-scale international metropolis with a developed economy, prosperous culture, vibrant urban area, beautiful environment, high degree of openness, and complete functions, making it an important part of the central business district of a modern metropolis, a representative shopping center of Shanghai, a tourist and cultural area that condenses the civilization and Huaihai culture of Shanghai, a landmark modern residential area in the city center, and a civilized district with coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization.
Xujiahui, as a commercial center, has maintained a strong momentum in commercial sales, with a gathering of people and a vibrant atmosphere. The Xujiahui business circle, with its differentiated competition, has become a distinctive feature of Shanghai's commerce. Not only do residents from Songjiang, Qingpu, Baoshan, and other areas come to Xujiahui for shopping and leisure with ease, but tourists from Jiangsu and Zhejiang also consider visiting Xujiahui a must. On ordinary days, there are 700,000 to 800,000 visitors, and on weekends and holidays, over a million. Today, the Grand Gateway Square, a shopping center with an investment of $500 million, an construction area of 130,000 square meters, a retail area of ? square meters, spanning seven levels, advocating "one-stop services for leisure, tourism, sightseeing, and shopping," and being the largest shopping center in Shanghai, has been built; among the top 10 commercial enterprises in the city, there are 4 large and medium-sized commercial enterprises: Pacific Department Store, a profitable and tax-paying national commercial joint venture; Dongfang Department Store, renowned in Shanghai; Li600 Industrial Company, with the highest per-capita sales and unit area profit in the city; and Huijin Department Store, with the highest sales growth among the top department stores in 2001. There is also Shanghai Silk Department Store, known as the "King of Silk," which has opened branches in other districts. In 2001, the commercial area's revenue from finance, department stores, construction materials, catering, communications, and entertainment exceeded 10 billion yuan.
As a business center, Xujiahui is one of the most concentrated areas for financial institutions in Shanghai, with over 40 banks, securities, insurance, and other financial institutions and branches. The developed financial industry has promoted the development of various economic activities in the area. The Xujiahui customs supervision station under Shanghai Customs provides convenient customs declaration services for businesses. The completion of numerous business buildings has created conditions for various enterprises to enter Xujiahui. The beautiful environment, convenient transportation, fast communication network, and excellent services have attracted numerous domestic and foreign companies. The numerous hotels, catering businesses, and entertainment venues have created conditions for the business center. Among the 100+ business buildings in the business circle, 8 high-end business buildings are home to over 120 financial, consulting, legal, and accounting firms, as well as marketing branches of enterprise groups. In Meiluo Building alone, there are 9 Fortune 500 companies.
As a public activity center, Xujiahui has the Shanghai Sports City in the south, the Shanghai Library in the north, the Shanghai Social Science Activity Center and Meiluo Cultural and Entertainment Center in the west. Relying on informatization to promote regional economic development and boost the prosperity of Xujiahui. Xujiahui is one of the central cities in Shanghai that has planned and launched a district-level Internet website. In 2001, the Shanghai Informatization Office was the first to approve Xuhui District as a pilot area for "Shanghai's E-commerce Development Zone." In the Xujiahui area, the fiber optic communication rate in business buildings is 100%. Today, the Guangyuan Road IT Street is home to hundreds of IT companies and information product specialty stores, while Caoxi North Road has the Brain Hopper Information Plaza, Pacific Computer Plaza, Hongtu Three Brothers, Yinghe Computer Supermarket, and Pacific Digital Plaza, among other IT enterprises, with annual sales exceeding 1 billion yuan. A preliminary "cluster" center for the western computer market has formed, attracting over 300 famous domestic and international companies, including the Microsoft Asia headquarters, 3M, Kelihua, Compaq, and AIA.
Xujiahui has expanded from the 1.2-kilometer core area around Xujiahui Center Square to the Shanghai Sports City, Guangyuan Road IT Street, Huashan Road Luxury Street, Chengshan Road Leisure Street, Tianyue Bridge Road Food Street, Caoxi North Road Computer Street, and Yishan Road Building and Furniture Street. Today, Xujiahui is a dazzling spectacle by day, with bustling streets and vibrant crowds, and a colorful display by night, with a continuous stream of people, making it one of the four major scenic spots in Shanghai.
(1) Adhering to the Fundamentals
Deng Xiaoping Theory is contemporary Chinese Marxism, the correct theory guiding the Chinese people to achieve socialist modernization through reform and opening up. Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out: "In contemporary China, only by combining Marxism with the practice and characteristics of our times can Deng Xiaoping Theory solve the issue of the future and destiny of socialism." At the turn of the century, Shanghai's reform and opening up and modernization construction have achieved historic achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. The fundamental reason is the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has always focused on arming the cadres with Deng Xiaoping Theory, with an eye to consolidating the ruling position of the Party. It has placed learning and mastering Deng Xiaoping Theory, especially the series of instructions of Comrade Deng Xiaoping on Shanghai's work, in a prominent position, and has systematically and step-by-step carried out in-depth study, research, and publicity of Deng Xiaoping Theory and Jiang Zemin's "Three Represents" important thought throughout the city, guiding cadres and masses to enhance their determination and consciousness in implementing the Party's basic line. Continuously unifying the thoughts of cadres and masses with Deng Xiaoping Theory and "Three Represents" important thought is the fundamental guarantee for Shanghai to continuously achieve new victories in its stride toward the new century.
After the political line is established, cadres are the decisive factor. Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out: "Whether China's socialist cause can be consolidated and developed, and whether China can remain prosperous and strong in fierce international competition, depends on our ability to continuously train and cultivate a large number of high-quality leadership talents." Over the past five years, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has closely linked the situation and tasks of Shanghai with the actual conditions of the cadre team, adhering to the principles of "revolutionarization, youth, knowledge, and professionalism" and "merit and virtue," and has effectively strengthened the cadre team through measures such as in-depth study of "dual learning" (learning theory and the Party Constitution), patriotic education, "three lectures" education, the "July 1st Speech," and especially the study and education of the "Three Represents" important thought. This has provided a solid organizational guarantee for Shanghai's reform and opening up and modernization construction. Comrade Jiang Zemin often reminds: "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked; if the middle beam is not straight, it will collapse." Over the past five years, the Shanghai Municipal Committee and various Party organizations have, on the one hand, taken various measures to educate Party members and cadres to remember the Party's purpose and strictly require themselves to be public-oriented and people-oriented, and on the other hand, continuously established and improved various regulations to restrain and standardize the behavior of cadres in office from a institutional perspective, emphasizing that leaders should set an example by leading a clean and honest life and strictly self-discipline. At the same time, they have taken preventive measures in advance, moved the checkpoint forward, and prevented and punished corruption from the integration of system, mechanism, and legal measures, seriously investigated and handled illegal cases of Party members and cadres, and promoted the continuous deepening of Party and government integrity construction, winning the trust of the people with a good Party and government style.
(2) Forming a Collective Effort
Facing the new situation of reform and opening up and the new tasks of modernization construction, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has actively explored and given full play to the core leadership role of local Party committees in peer organizations, exploring and practicing the guiding principle and leadership style of overall coordination and coordination. In terms of leadership mechanisms, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has streamlined the relationships among the three CPC branches of the Municipal Committee, the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal People's Government, and the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, giving full play to the roles of various departments such as discipline inspection, organization, publicity, united front, and law and politics. Efforts have been made to achieve a combination of collective leadership and individual division of responsibility in terms of system construction, ensuring the leading core position of the Municipal Committee while fully playing the functional roles of the People's Congress, government, political consultative conference, working departments, and other organizations. This has enhanced the overall strength of advancing work. In terms of working methods, the Municipal Committee takes the whole picture in hand but does not micromanage, coordinates all parties but does not replace them. The Municipal Committee focuses on the direction, principles, and major issues of the overall situation, providing ideological and organizational guarantees for advancing the overall work. The Municipal People's Government focuses on plans, methods, and specific implementation. The leadership of the Municipal Committee over the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal People's Government, and the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference is achieved through the three CPC branches. The three CPC branches of the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal People's Government, and the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference are responsible to the Municipal Committee. All matters that should be submitted to the Municipal Committee for discussion are reported to the Municipal Committee in the name of the CPC branches. In this way, the Municipal Committee has strengthened its leadership over the People's Congress, government, and political consultative conference through scientific, standardized, and institutionalized mechanisms, while ensuring that Party members and cadres holding leadership positions in the CPC organizations of the People's Congress, government, and political consultative conference strictly implement the Party's line, principles, and decisions of the Municipal Committee in their duties.
In terms of working systems, the Shanghai Municipal Committee, following the requirements of Jiang Zemin that "collective leadership, democratic centralism, individual deliberation, and meeting decisions" should be followed, has clearly stated that before decisions are made, there should be "a cacophony of voices," and after decisions are made, there should be "a unified voice." Gradually, a working norm and system that can both benefit from collective wisdom and unify thoughts has been formed. This is not only conducive to enhancing the collective leadership awareness and overall awareness of team members but also creates conditions for the initiative and enthusiasm of each member of the team, and is conducive to forming unity and vitality between the upper and lower levels, maintaining a good situation of unity and vigor, thus ensuring the sound momentum for the sustainable development of Shanghai's economic construction and various undertakings. On the other hand, Shanghai has always adhered to playing the "Yangtze River card," "China card," and "world card," focusing on creating a sound system and policy environment, providing high-quality and convenient comprehensive services, and attracting domestic and foreign enterprises and individuals to actively participate in Shanghai's construction, forming an overall advantage in advancing Shanghai's modernization construction, thus providing a reliable foundation and driving force for Shanghai's modernization construction.
The seventh Party Congress of the Municipal Committee clearly pointed out that the primary Party organizations are the foundation of the Party's entire work and combat effectiveness. According to the different characteristics and specific conditions of primary Party organizations, it is necessary to adhere to the combination of overall advancement and classified guidance, comprehensively strengthening the construction of primary Party organizations. Under the guidance of the spirit of the seventh Party Congress, Shanghai has adhered to using a reform-oriented spirit to study and solve new situations and problems in primary Party construction, while vigorously strengthening the construction of primary Party organizations in reform communities, towns, schools, government agencies, and state-owned enterprises, while also actively exploring ways to strengthen the construction of Party organizations in "new economic organizations and new social organizations" in the new situation, and exploring new paths for the construction of primary Party organizations that suit the management system characteristics of megacities, fully playing the role of the battle fortress of primary Party organizations and the exemplary role of Party members, achieving remarkable results and consolidating the Party's ruling foundation.
(3) Keeping Pace with the Times
Emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, is the essence of Deng Xiaoping Theory, while keeping pace with the times and developing innovation is an important quality of Deng Xiaoping Theory. In the great process of advancing reform, opening up, and modernization construction, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has always emphasized firmly grasping the essence of seeking truth from facts and the quality of keeping pace with the times, requiring cadres and masses to bravely and skillfully carry out theoretical innovation, institutional innovation, and technological innovation according to new practice and development, firmly abandoning the dogmatic understanding of certain principles and certain texts of Marxism, abandoning the unscientific or distorted understanding of socialism, abandoning outdated concepts, practices, and systems, and boldly exploring development paths that conform to the characteristics of Shanghai and the requirements of the times.
Shanghai is a megacity, and to become one of the international economic, financial, trade, and shipping centers with Chinese characteristics, there are no ready-made models to copy. Shanghai was once a typical planned economy area, with deep imprints of the old system and strong inertia. Without the courage to take the lead, it would have been difficult to take the first step in reform and opening up. Over the past five years, the Shanghai Municipal Committee has led the Shanghai people under the guidance of the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, and under the inspiration of Deng Xiaoping's "think more freely, be bolder, and take bigger steps" and Jiang Zemin's "think deeper, have a broader vision, and set higher requirements," according to the new trends of the development of the domestic and international situation and the new problems in the practice of reform, development, and stability, consistently strived to take a higher, broader, and deeper stance in work, adhering to the organic unity of pioneering spirit, tenacity, and operability, with the pioneering spirit of being the first in the world, continuously proposing and implementing new ideas and methods to solve problems, and actively exploring the reform to establish the market economy operation mechanism first, continuously promoting mechanism transformation and institutional innovation. Adhering to the strategic thinking of taking the lead has not only enabled Shanghai to accomplish in a few years the things that could have taken ten, twenty, or even a hundred years under the planned economy system, ensuring that Shanghai continues to lead the country in reform and opening up, but also has given Shanghai the initiative in its own development and revitalization, making it unique on the road of national and world modernization, and exploring a development path with Chinese characteristics, the characteristics of the times, and the characteristics of Shanghai. Practice has proven that without the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and "Three Represents" important thought, without emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and keeping pace with the times, it would not have been possible to solve the long-standing problems and constraints on Shanghai.
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