The Australia-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South Wales

SICHUAN PROVINCE（四川省）

Sichuan is shown in black.

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General Profile:

Population: 83,300,000

Provincial Capital: Chendgu

Average temperatures: Lowlands: 3 deg C to 8 deg C in January and 20 deg C to 29 deg C in July. Plateau: -9 deg C to 3 deg C in January and 11 deg C to 17 deg C in July. South: 8 deg C to 13 deg C in January and 22 deg C to 26 deg C in July.

Physical features: The Sichuan basin in the eastern part of the province is crossed by the Yangtze River and has a rich, red soil, boasting the most densely population rural area in China. A plateau exists in the west and mountains dominate the central south. The central north has highland swamps. The total land area of the province is 485,000 square kilometres.

Rivers: The Yangtze River is the dominate waterway in the central part of the province, with its many tributaries (including the Min, Tuo and Wu Rivers). The western plateau region contains the Yalong River.

Administrative divisions: 19 cities, 3 autonomous prefectures, 165 counties, 8 autonomous counties and 1 industrial/agricultural district.

Historical significance: The spectacular landscapes and remoteness of many parts of the province firmly established it within Chinese folklore. Over the centuries it became a home for a number of breakaway kingdoms. In more recent times, however, it was the fertile soil of the Sichuan Basin and the water supply that made it the most heavily populated province in China.

Natural Resources:

Sichuan is rich in mineral resources. Large deposits of coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore and salt contribute to the industrialisation of the province. Sichuan also has more than 132 mineral resources including vanadium, titanium, lithium and cobalt.

Economic Profile:

	1999		2000
Economic Indicators	Value	Growth	Value	Growth
		(% p.a.)		(% p.a.)
Gross domestic product (RMB bn)	371.2	5.6 *	401.0	9.1 *
Per capita GDP (RMB)	4,452	5.2
Income per capita
- urban (RMB)	5,510	6.8	5,894	7.6*
- rural (RMB)	2,697	-1.5	2,768	3.9*
Fixed asset investment (RMB bn)	88.6	2.6	101.6	14.7
Value added by sector
- primary (RMB bn)	94.9	0.8	97.8	3.1
- secondary (RMB bn)	155	1.4	172.4	11.2
- tertiary (RMB bn)	121.3	9.2	133.7	10.2
Retail sales (RMB bn)	138.3	6.5	152.4	10.2
Inflation (CPI, %)	-1.5		0.1
Exports (US$ bn)	1.2	-4.1	1.4	23.1
- by FIEs (US$ bn)	0.16	26.7	0.25	55.1
Imports (US$ bn)	1.6	33.2	1.3	-14.3
- by FIEs (US$ bn)	0.27	43.9	0.37	36.2
Foreign direct investment
- number of projects	195	-12.2
- contracted amount (US$ bn)	0.5	3.6
- utilised amount (US$ bn)	0.3	-8.4	0.4	28.1

Notes: *In real terms
Sources: Sichuan Statistical Yearbook and National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2000.

Infrastructure:

Railways － Chengdu is a major railway hub in China's central and western regions, major railway lines such as the Baoji-Chengdu（寶成線）, Chengdu-Chongqing （成渝線）and Chengdu-Kunming（成昆線）. In the 10th Five-Year planning period (2001-2005), railway transport in the province will further improve as two arterial railways -- the Shanghai-Chongqing (via Sichuan) line and the Sichuan-Beihai line -- are expected to be complete.

Roadways － At the end of 2000, the total length of roadways in Sichuan reached 1,000 kilometres, the longest among the western provinces. The provincial government intends to spend more than RMB 60 billion in further roadway development within the next several years. This will include the construction of the Chengdu-Shanghai National Trunk, Chengdu-Beihai National trunk and roadways linking Chongqing-Changsha and Chengdu-Tibet.

The total length of roadways is expected to increase to 1,700 km by 2005 while the travel time between Chengdu and all other adjacent provinces (excluding Tibet) will be reduced to less than 8 hours.

Air Transport － Chengdu Shuangliu Airport（成都雙流機場）is now the largest international airport in Southwest China. At present, it has scheduled international flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Japan and the Republic of Korea. While the Shuangliu Airport is currently being modernised and expanded into a major hub airport, four new domestic airports are or will be built in Guangyuan, Mianyang, Panzhihua and Jiuzhiguo.

Telecommunications － As with most of China’s provinces, Sichuan has a fairly advanced telecommunications network comprising digital microwave, optical fibre, satellite, program-controlled telephones, pagers and mobile phones. By the end of 2000, the number of fixed line telephones in Sichuan reached 8.23 million. The telephone penetration rate is 10 per cent for the province as a whole and 47 per cent for the urban areas. The number of mobile phones users increased to 2.63 million in 1999.

Hydropower － Sichuan’s water supply and high elevations provide the province with a significant hydropower potential, estimated to be more 110 million kWh. The Ertan Hydroelectric Project, with an installed capacity of 3.3 million kWh, began operation in 2000.

Agriculture:

Sichuan is one of the major agricultural production bases in China. Grain, including rice and wheat, is the major product with output that ranked first in China in 1999. Commercial cash crops include rapeseeds, citrus fruits, peaches, sugar canes and sweet potatoes. Sichuan also had the largest output of pork among all provinces and the second largest output of silkworm cocoons in China in 1999.

Industry:

Sichuan is one of the major industrial bases in Western China. In 2000, value added from industrial activities totalled RMB 189.4 billion, an increase of 13.5 per cent over 1999.

In addition to heavy industries such as coal, energy, iron and steel industry, the province has established a light-manufacturing sector comprising building materials, wood processing, food and silk processing. Chengdu and Mianyang are the production bases for textiles and electronics products.

Deyang, Panzhihua and Yibin are the production bases for machinery, metallurgy industries and wine respectively. The wine production of Sichuan accounted for 22 per cent of the country’s total production in 2000.

Sichuan exports increased by 23 per cent to US$1.4 billion in 2000. Major exported items included chemicals and industrial raw materials, steel products, clothing and textiles, silk yarn and fabrics, electronics and power generation equipment. Major exports markets were Hong Kong, Japan, the US, Iran and Russia.

Imports dropped by 14 per cent to US$1.3 billion in 2000. Major imported items included aviation equipment, electronic components, electrical appliances, motor vehicle parts, chemical raw materials, steel products, non-ferrous metals, electronics and machinery. Major import sources were Japan, Hong Kong, the USA, France and Germany.

Science and Technology:

With 43 universities, 184 state-owned science and technology research institutes and more than 1.2 million scientists and engineers, Sichuan holds a leading position in scientific research. Areas of expertise include molecular chemistry, leather, nuclear technology, technology of aerospace and aviation, medicine, genetic engineering and optical fibre communication. Xichang is the high-tech research centre in rocket launching.

The West Software Park, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1997, is one of the four state-level computer software centres to develop the domestic computer software industry. The park focuses on developing applied software for key industries, providing specialised product training program for users and cultivating small and medium-sized software firms.

With a rich endowment in herbs (around 4,500 species), many senior Chinese medical researchers work in institutes like Chengdu University of Tradition Chinese Medicine. Sichuan is also strong in research and development of modern Chinese medicine. Ranked the top in China, the total amount of output from medical and pharmaceutical industry in Sichuan reached RMB 8.7 billion in 1999.

Sichuan currently has 50 development zones, which specialize in new and hi-tech and service sector. There are 2 state-level ETDZs which are located in Chengdu and Mianyang.

Consumers’ Market:

Sichuan's retail sales of consumer goods reached RMB 152.4 billion in 2000, an increase of 10.2 per cent over 1999. The largest consumer centre is located in Chengdu, which accounted for 36 per cent of the province's total sales.

There are about 60 shopping malls in the province. In addition to local departments stores and shopping centres like Chengdu Renmin Department Store （成都人民商場集團股份有限公司）, Chengdu Department Store（成都百貨大樓）and Chengdu Hualian Commercial Building（成都華聯商廈股份有限公司）. Foreign investors have also entered the retail market to tap the vast markets of Sichuan and Chengdu in particular. Foreign retailers in Chengdu include Yokado Department Store, Lafayett Department Store and Carrefour.

Key Cities in Sichuan Province:

Northern industrial zone – this includes the region around Chengdu.

Ø Chendgu

Ø Mianyang

Ø Deyang

Ø Zigong

Southern industrial zone – this includes the cities that are closer to Chongqing.

Ø Yibin

Ø Neijiang

Ø Panzhihua

Chengdu 成都:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Industrial Output	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
10,036	119.0	44.1	50.0

Chengdu is situated in the centre of the province and is about 275 kilometres for Chongqing, which, though physically contained within the province, is now a municipal government that comes directly under the State Council, and hence, in terms of government administration, is equal to a province.

The city of Chengdu existed 2,500 years ago and became prominent as a silk weaving centre during the Eastern Han period (25-220 AD). Over the centuries it had a varied history as a result of its remoteness and a strong sense of independence of its inhabitants. For example, Chengdu resisted the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and was virtually destroyed.

It is the leading industrial complex of the province, by a substantial margin, but has nevertheless retained much of the early greenery. Many tourists consider it to be one of the most intriguing cities of China.

Mianyang 綿陽:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Industrial Output	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
5,202	31.1	5.5	9.4

Mianyang is on the northwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin, and is about 110 kilometres for Chengdu. Although the city is the second largest in terms of population, it ranks fifth in terms of industrial production. Electronics and silk weaving are the main industries.

Yibin 宜賓:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Value added from secondary industries	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
5,041	17.9	7.5	6.2

Yibin is on the southern edge of the Sichuan Basin, about 210 kilometres for Chongqing. It is noted for its wine production.

Neijiang 內江:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Industrial Output	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
4,186	13.3	4.5	4.0

Neijiang is about 150 kilometres directly west of Chongqing and is surrounded by agricultural land, with food processing as a major activity.

Deyang 德陽:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Industrial Output	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
3,758	24.3	9.2	7.2

Deyang is roughly midway between Chengdu and Mianyang, though slightly closer to the latter. The machinery industry dominates.

Zigong 自貢:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Industrial Output	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
3,148	14.3	5.6	3.9

Zigong is about 40 kilometres southwest of Neijiang and is also surrounded by agricultural land.

Panzhihua 攀枝花:

1999 data:

Population	GDP	Value added from secondary industries	Retail Sales
('000)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)	(RMB bn)
1,018	10.8	7.6	3.6

Panzhihua is about 550 kilometres southwest of Chongqing and about 200 kilometres northwest of Kunming in Yunnan Province. It is noted for both agriculture and manufacturing.

Traditional agriculture in the surrounding region consists mainly of vegetables, with more than 100,000 tons produced annually. This is attributed mainly to favourable weather, with good rainfall and sunny days.

Metal production is enhanced with nearby deposits of iron ore, coal, vanadium and titanium, giving the city one of China’s largest iron and steel plants.

Information Sources:

Information contained in this page was obtained from:

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (http://www.tdctrade.com)

Additional Information:

Austrade Office in Chengdu:

James Zhan, Manager: james.zhan@austrade.gov.au
Mobile: 13980922760

Stephanie Zhou, Business Development Manager: stephanie.zhou@austrade.gov.au
Mobile: 13980672220

Rm408 Holiday Inn, 31 Zongfu St.
Chengdu China 610016

Tel: (86 28) 6786 128
Fax: (86 28) 6786 228

The Chamber is in the process of maintaining regular contact with organisations in the cities listed. Please contact us if you require additional information about Sichuan Province or any of the cities listed.

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