In 2001, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the zone was 9.772 billion yuan (US$1.18 billion), 13.3 percent of the GDP of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province and the largest city in Northwest China, according to Zhang Longhu, assistant mayor of Xi'an and director of the administration committee of the zone.

"Over the past four years, the zone has contributed 4 percent annually to Xi'an's increasing rate of economic development, and still shows great potential for economic growth," Zhang said.

Construction of the Xi'an high-tech Industrial Development Zone began in 1991 and took nearly 10 years to build after it was granted approval by the State Council. The zone is currently one of the best-developed zones in China.

"Our target is for the zone to become a high-tech town, which will include 10 industrial parks, photoelectronic engineering, new materials development and bio-medicines and one software research and development base," Zhang said.

With rapid development, the zone has attracted international enterprises. Last year, a number of large projects funded by international firms such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW were constructed in the zone, according to Zhang.

Currently, some 4,000 firms, of which 488 are foreign firms, are operating in the zone, and are mainly engaged in electronics and information, optics and electronics, bio-medicines and software industries.

(China Daily February 20, 2002)