A very charismatic Bo Xilai, Governor of Liaoning Province,
impressed the audience with his eloquence and esprit at a Chamber luncheon on November 20.
Weaving his way from table to table in the Ritz Harbour Room to talk to guests before and
after his speech, the governor even took time out of his luncheon to exchange witticisms
with the pack of photographers covering the event.
During his brief speech, Mr Bo
told members that private investment will drive economic growth in Liaoning Province under
the Central Government's policy to revitalise the Northeast of China, once the industrial
heart of the country.
Foreign direct investment in
Liaoning grew by 25.8 percent from 2001 to US$3.92 billion last year, and Mr Bo said he
expects that figure to reach US$5 billion this year. Much of that growth will come from
Hong Kong and Taiwan investors. Private sector investment in the province, once the
stronghold of China's state-owned enterprises, now comprises about 40 percent of the local
economy, he said. |