Tangshan: Fulfill the Century “Blue Ocean Dream”

--Interview with Mr. Huang Huikang, Vice Mayor of Tangshan

Tangshan is in China’s Hebei Province in northern China. It can be said to be the cradle of modern China industry due to the fact that it is always entitled to be “China’s Capital of Coal and Steel” and “Northern China’s Capital of China”. It was born with God’s gift of rich resources and serves as the emerging key engine of Bohai Bay region in China. In terms of location, Tangshan neighbours Beijing and Tianjin and is a hub between East China, Northeast China and Westeast China. It is directly connected to Northeast Asia and can efficiently reach the overseas region.  

The financial storm has an adverse effect on the whole world. Tangshan also faces this severe situation. However, it makes breakthroughs to consolidate during the economy flattening and continues to develop amongst crisis. Despite the fact that the world trade volume was sharply reduced and port throughput shrinks, Tangshan Port’s throughput double increased continually in the past 9 months. What you can feel in Tangshan is not the effect of world crisis but opportunity and wealth.
 

Beautiful Tranfer From “Development by Steel” to “Development by Port”

One boss of Steel Factory in Tangshan once said in a relaxed way: If you want to set up a steel factory in Tangshan, it is easy to have all the proficient staff members from managers and workers available over one night. One third of Tangshan’s financial revenues come from steel factories.  

Today, Tangshan has changed from “Development by Steel” to “Development by Port”. Today’s Tangshan integrates high technologies and is supported by various industries including first-class steel, machine manufacture, chemical industry, modern logistics and high technology. 

Journalist: In the past Tangshan is a resource-oriented inland city. Now it is on its road features modernization and open-up based on ocean economy. What are main positionings of Tangshan in terms of “Development by Port”?
Huang Huikang: In 2007, Tangshan City popularized “Scientific Outlook on Development” among all citizens. Based on this outlook, Tangshan government made new development strategy for Tangshan city. Generally speaking, we will make a transfer from “Development by Coal”, “Development by Steel” to “Development by Port”. We focus on three words: future, ocean and open” and aimed to create a world-class deep water port. The port radiates Northern China, Northwest China, Northeast China, and Northeast Asia and will become a window to the outside world. Taking the port as the base, we will develop steel, oil& chemical industry, machine manufacture and modern logistics as the support and achieve city renovation. In the meantime, we will develop environment protection industry, high tech industry and modern agriculture to realize modern industrialization. We will create a modern industry base with fewest resources and best environment. 

Journalist: What are “Two Dreams” and “Two Transfers” of Tangshan City in following sustainable development?
Huang Huikang: Firstly, we will transfer to be the leading city of China in green growth by saving energy, reducing emission and developing circular economy, low-carbon economy and green economy. The second transfer is to follow the sustainable development road, create an ecological city and “City of Happiness” for Tangshan citizens.

As to two dreams, the first dream is “blue dream”. It is to build a world-class port so that Tangshan can be transferred from the “inland resource city’ to “Open Ocean City”. The second dream is “green dream”. We will transfer from industry civilization to ecological civilization to realize blue sky and green mountain and create a modern and clean city. By realizing these two dreams, we will improve the happiness index of Tangshan citizens. To make a conclusion, the focus is the transfer of development mode.

Hundred Million Ton Port –From “Tokyo Bay” to “Tangshan Bay”
In the narrow belt between Yokohama Port and Tokyo Bay established more than 200 giant enterprises of over 1000 staffs with their overall revenue amounting to 40% of the total Japan. Whereas in the central belt of China Bohai Bay located a marvelous island with attractive scenes, rich resources and beautiful futures. This island is named Caofeidian Island, which is praised by Chinese president Mr. Hu Jintao as “Precious and Golden Place”. Now Caofeidian region has become the leading point of Tangshan with its fixed asset investment in 2008 accounts for more than half of Tangshan. Presently taking the good experience of “Tokyo Bay” economy development, Tangshan city endeavors to develop portal economy in “Tangshan Bay” region. 
Journalist: What is the competitive advantage of Caofeidian Port and its future industry position?
Huang Huikang: Caofeidian Port is sitting in the central location of Bohai Bay. It is next to Beijing and Tianjin, and has 170 km distance from Qin Huangdao. It has an advanced multi-modal transportation network. Its rail network connects all other parts of China directly. The airport will start operation at the end of 2009. At that time, Caofeidian will have a comprehensive logistics system in air, sea and land transportation. 

Now Tangshan city has Jingtang Port and Caofeidian Port. Jingtang Port has already gone through more than 10 years development, and its annual throughput has exceeded 100 million tons already. Caofeidian is an emerging port, with 60km available coastal line. We are constructing 16 docks currently and also 200 docks with the capacity from 50,000 to 80,000 tons. These docks are designed to deal with various cargos, like ore, coal, crude oil, LNG, break-bulk and container. After finishing all infrastructures, the annual throughput of Caofeidian will exceed 500 million tons. We Tangshan city will create one of the largest ports in the world within 10 years. 

Journalist: By looking at Caofeidian Forum 2009 held in last Month, we have noticed that Tangshan City Government has invested a lot on the development of Caofeidian. Could you please tell us what the strategic meaning Caofeidian has on the economic increase of Bohai Bay?
Huang Huikang: We believe Caofeidian will lead the economic increase of Bohai area. Caofeidian has various advantages in itself in terms of resource, location, industry and potentials. It is easy to find a place with only one advantage, but it is very rare that Caofeidian has all advantages a port could have. Meanwhile, its strategic plan is to establish modern industrialized base, national level economy circling zone and international standard deep water seaport. As a result, Caofeidian will become the essential and powerful engine for the development of Bohai area in near future. It will cover all markets in North China. In addition, PRC government has assigned another challenging task, which is to make Caofeidian become the first economy circling zone in China.
There is an attitude that all people hold in Caofeidian, which says that natural resource and environment is the most valuable asset for business. Ecology is the permanent fortune. In the blueprint of Caofeidian development, we should input the most innovated and beautiful elements. We plan to devote ourselves to demonstrating how to create ‘Green Economic Increase’ for other cities in China. 

Journalist: What will Caofeidian look like in future?
Huang Huikang: In 10 years, Caofeidian will become a first-class international green city. There will be 1 million populations in this modern city, and it will become an international port city. Presently, People in Tangshan are studying the state documents, enhance the concept of ‘Port Leads City’ and accelerate the process of constructing Green Port. We plan to establish an international port first, then it will lead Tangshan city to the international market. We believe Tangshan will become a bright star in Bohai area in short future.

Journalist: In the perspective of creating modern logistics system, do you have any idea or experience to share with others?
Huang Huikang: Modern logistics system as one of the most important elements in service sector, is one important field that Tangshan city plan to develop in future. First, we need to make full use of advantages in location and infrastructure. We will effectively combine seaport with solid road and rail transportation network, meanwhile expand our large marketing coverage in the northern part of China, to become strategic gateway connecting inner-land of China, Bohai area and international regions. In this process, Tangshan city government will fully support the project in terms of policy, planning, personnel, service and other aspects. Of course, modern logistics system is one of the perspectives.