Current affairs commentator Einar Tangen on China to revitalize northeast rustbelt

Global Business

The northeast region of China including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, used to be the driving force for the country’s economy. It was among the first regions in China to become industrialized.

However, as China shifts its economy to rely more on the services sector, the industrial base took the brunt.

In 2015, Liaoning Province was at the bottom in terms of GDP growth, which rose 3 percent.

Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces rank the third and fourth from the bottom, with growth lower than the national level of 6.9%.

Beijing recently unveiled its plan to rejuvenate the region. Measures include infrastructure construction, private sector development and industry upgrade.

It aims to transfer the region into a base for advanced equipment as well as modern agriculture and innovation.

For more on China’s Northeast provinces and some of the changes expected there, CCTV America’s Karina Huber spoke to current affairs commentator Einar Tangen.