On March 6, 2006, a meeting was held in Beijing to evaluate the research project "Approaches and Strategies to Economic Integration in Northeastern China", which was funded by the Office of the Leading Group for Revitalizing Northeast China and Other Aging Industrial Bases of the State Council and presided over by Professor Chen Cai from NENU. Liu Tienan (Director of the Department of Industry of the State Council's National Development and Reform Commission) and Jiang Siqing (Division Chief of the Policy and System Division of the State Council's Office of the Leading Group for Revitalizing Northeast China and Other Aging Industrial Bases) attended the meeting. Five appraisal experts from Liaoning Normal University, Pecking University, Beijing Normal University and the Chinese Academy of Science debriefed the report given by Professor Song Yusiang from NENU's Northeast China Research Institute.
Members of the Appraisal Committee held that the research team had thoroughly analyzed the general trend of economic development in northeast China and the relationship between industrialization and integration; analyzed the reconstruction and improvement of the transportation infrastructure, energy resources, ports, etc., the integrated construction of ecological environment, the cooperative exploitation of water resources, and the contents and models of industrial integration distribution, etc. The research team had proposed main strategies and suggestions on economic cooperation and integration in northeast China. The results of this research are of great foresight, creativity, strategic significance, and valuable as general guidance. It has momentous practical significance in promoting the adjustment of industrial structures and reasonable distribution, integrated development of cities and conurbations, environmental protection and harmonious development of different regions. In addition, the results have enriched the theories on regional integrated development and would be relevant to other regions' integration practices.
(From Social Science Department, translated by Zhu Feifei, and revised by DAI Lihong)
