Gross domestic product (GDP) of east China's Jiangsu Province is expected to reach US$5,000 per capita annually within five years, up US$2,000 from last year, said Li Yuanchao, the secretary of the CPC's Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Longhoo.net, a key online news media in the province, reported today.

Li said the government will encourage four priorities to develop the province: improving living conditions, increasing spending on science and education, supporting environment-friendly projects and decreasing energy consumption.

The government will create more job opportunities for residents, especially for the weak, and ensure that residents have food, clothes and housing.

With its rich human resources, the provincial government will invest more in science and education to encourage innovation capabilities this year.

To develop the economy and environment together, the province will prevent pollution in a market-oriented way. Industry will have to pay to discharge pollution and will be rewarded for controlling pollution. The government will also support more environment-friendly subjects.

During the 11th Five-Year Program (2006-2010), Jiangsu will reduce energy consumption by 20 percent of its GDP figure by encouraging energy-saving industry, because using energy efficiently and economically is the priority in development, Li said.

(Shanghai Daily January 17, 2006)