Heze City

I. Facts about Heze
Heze city (N30°39′-35°53′E114°48′-116°24′), historically called Caozhou, lies in the west of Shandong province, bordering Jiangsu, Henan and Anhui three provinces Heze is composed of one district, eight counties and a developing zone i.e. Peony district, Dingtao county, Cao county, Chengwu county, Shan county, Juye county, Yuncheng county, Yancheng county and Dongming county. Heze city has a population of 8.6 million and covers an area of 12,228 square kilometers.

Heze has a long history, brilliant culture and honest custom, and its excellent traditional culture and folk art can be traced back to ancient times. It has been called the hometown of peony, calligraphy and painting, opera and martial arts. Heze is the world’s largest base for the production, scientific research, export and sightseeing of peony of diversified varieties. With a plantation area of 33.3 hectares, 600 kinds of peony of 9 color families are sold to more than 100 middle and large cities and exported to over 30 countries and regions. In 1999 Kunming World Garden Exhibition, Heze peony won 83 honors out of the total 101 awards.

II. Natural Resources
Heze enjoys a favorable climate and abundant natural resources, and Heze has the warm temperate monsoon continental climate with four distinctive seasons. The rain and hotness are in the same season. Heze lies on the Yellow River alluvial plain with a broad hypsography and thousands hectares of fertile soil, which is an ideal production place for planting of agricultural and byproducts. At present, Heze has become a national famous production base for commercial grain, cotton, oil, forest and livestock. It is rich in mineral resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, underground heat and mineral water etc.

III. Development Advantages
Since the reform and opening up, especially in recent years, Heze adheres to making use of the external forces to engine the internal force, catches the opportunities and quickens the developing steps. The new effective ways have been successfully explored in terms of eliminating losses and increasing profits of state-owned enterprises agricultural industrialization, attracting foreign capitals and developing private economy. It shows a new trend of political and social stability and inspires upward feeling of people. In 2002, the GDP of Heze increased by 10.2% over the previous year. So far, Heze has formed the comparative advantages of speeding up the development: firstly, the geographical advantages. Heze was historically called “Middle of the Country”, sharing boundaries with four provinces with a large population and huge market potential. It is the connecting link and bridgehead between the west and east while the south and the north. Secondly, Heze enjoys convenient transportation. The Beijing-HK railway crosses 5 counties from north to south, and the New Asia-Euro Continental Bridge crosses 4 counties from east to west; the four national roads crisscross and the province and county-level highways go to all the directions. Thirdly, Heze enjoys exceptional advantages in agricultural resources. Heze lies in the Yellow alluvial plain with a broad hypsography and fertile soil of thousands of hectare, which is an ideal production place for planting of agricultural and sideline products. The annual output of grain is 4 million ton, with cotton 200 thousand ton, oil seeds 500 thousand ton, fruits and vegetables 8 million ton, nuts 800 thousands million ton, sea products 100 thousand ton and meat 400 thousand ton. The three national treasures of “Scalper of Western Shandong Province, Small tail cold sheep and Black Goat” are all cultivated and bred in Heze. The nation-level fine breed base and quick breeding center has been formed in Heze. Fourthly, Heze is rich in water resources. The annual rainfall of Heze is 680 millimeter. 1.6 billion cubic meter water was taken from Yellow River, with a total flow of is 4.3 billion cubic metre in Heze. The east line of “Divert Water from the South to the North project” is only 20 kilometers far from Heze city. Fifthly, there is plenty of mineral reserves in Heze. The total coal reserve is 281.4 billion ton, in which Juye coal field accounts for 5.6 billion ton. The oil reserve totals to 52.65 million ton, and the promising reserve of natural gas will be 300 billion cubic meters. Sixthly, the complete industrial system has been formed with 8 main pillar industry including power, machinery, textile, light industry, papermaking, food industry and medicine in 38 fields. Eighthly, the service and facilities for opening up are perfect. Customs, “Three Checks”, railway, road ports and container transportation center etc are very convenient. The ports have been directly led to the main ports in the world and will benefit the export of commodities greatly. Heze set its goal as “One Center, Two Bases” in southwest Shandong province to make Heze the biggest trade and commercial center, energy and chemistry base, production and processing base for high quality agriculture.

IV. Opening up
In addition to national policy, Heze provides local preferential regulations and rules to attract foreign investment. Projects could obtain land through ways of equity transfer, shares or rent. With large investment projects or hi-tech investments, local government provides loans or free land use. The local government provides one station administrative service. In addition, foreign investors are granted “National Treatment” in respect to water and power, transportation, communication, financial loans, the school enrollment and their children employment. A large number of prestigious enterprises have settled down in the city. The city has approved over 600 foreign invested projects with actually utilized US$ 400 million from 30 countries and regions, covering over 20 fields. More than 100 enterprises are export oriented, with products of furs, vegetables, textile and tung trees. Heze has established trade and economic relationships with over 90 countries and regions.

Encouraged areas are hi-tech, industry, agricultural comprehensive development, infrastructure and industrial project construction.

Heze is a promising land full of commercial opportunities, an ideal place for all investors from home and abroad. We cordially welcome all the domestic and international investors and friends come to Heze and cooperate with us together and make joint efforts for the glorious future.

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