I . Survey
(i) Geographical Position
This is the beautiful and
richly endowed Heilongjiang, a province named after its largest River, the Heilongjiang
River.
Heilongjiang faces Russia across the Heilongjiang River in the north and the
Wusuli River in the east, and shares a borderline of
over 3,045 kilometers with Russia, As China's sixth largest province, Heilongjiang covers 454,800
square kilometers, accounting for 4.7 percent of the nation's
total land area. Heilongjiang province exercises jurisdiction over 13 cities (prefectures),
65 counties (county-level cities) and ethnic autonomous counties, with Harbin as its
capital.
(ii) Natural Resources
The Province features a rigid
temperate continental monsoon climate with annual average temperature from
minus 4 to 4 degree centigrade. The frost-free period is 100-140 days, and its
precipitation is 450-650mm.
(iii) Population and
nationalities
As of 2005, the total
population of the province was 38.168 million. Besides Han, there are 48
minority groups, such as Manchu, Korean, Mongol and Hezhe.
(iv) Infrastructure Facilities and
Communications
Communications
In terms of communications and transport,
a comprehensive network of land, water and air, in parallel with the pipeline
system, has been established. At present, there are 5,464 kilometers of
railways in operation, making Heilongjiang one of the regions with higher
railroad density in China, The main road network has been formed linking up
major cities in the province with high-class roads in the shape of OK and featured
by one ring and five extensions. The total mileage of roads in Heilongjiang
is 67,076 km, including 958 km of highways, 1,118 km of first-class roads and
7,140 km of second-class ones, In terms of water transport, the water transportation
network have been established with Heilongjiang River, Songhua River as the
mainstay and open ports and with Harbin, Jiamusi, Heihe and Tongjiang and with
the key ports, with totally 5,057 km of navigation river way in the province. There
are 5 civil airports in Harbin, Qiqihar, Mudanjiang, Jiamusi and Heihe, with
all their flight zones above class 4c. To date, Heilongjiang has established 59
air routes, of which 7 are international air routes.
Telecommunication and
Internet
The telecommunication network
of Heilongjiang is up to the world advanced level, with Harbin as the hub
linking up the whole country and the outside world. At present, the total
length of the optic fiber cables is 42,663 kilometers in length. Hence, a
modern telecommunication framework has been formed, with the optic fiber
network as mainstay and microwave network as the auxiliary. Furthermore, the
services of program-communication and digitalized transmission have been made
available in areas above the township level.
Currently, the communication
network system in Heilongjiang is adequate to provide complete, multi-leveled
and high quality services, and materialize full coverage in terms of
population, territory, and service types. At the end of 2005, there were 10.822
million telephone subscribers, 11.323 million mobile phone subscribers and 1.659
million internet users.
Finance and Insurance
At present, there are over
6,000 banking outlets and 100,000 employees in banking industry in Heilongjiang province. A complete
financial service structure has been formed in the
province offering banking, security and insurance service and strongly support
the social and economic development in local areas. By the end of 2005, the
total deposit balance of foreign currency and RMB in Heilongjiang's financial
institutions amounted to RMB 625.64 billion while the total loan balance
amounted to 372.46 billion. Within the province, there are 38 public companies
in both domestic and foreign security markets which have totally raised RMB
20.5 billion.
There are 12 insurance
companies in Heilongjiang province. In 2005, the total insurance policy income
hit RMB 12.764 billion yuan.
Main Banking Institutions
Main Insurance Institutions
(v)Foreign Exchanges
Located in the center of Northeast
Asia and the s tarting point of Euro-Asian continental brige, Heilongjiang has
established river-sea and land-sea through transport leading to Russia, Japan, DPRK and ROK. The
province shares a common borderline of over 3,045 km with Russia and has 25 state first-class ports
and 3 mutual trading zones with Russia.
Ever since the reform and
opening-up of China ,Heilongjiang has formulated the strategy of allying with
the south and opening up to the north.Its opening-up keeps expanding and the
international exchanges are becoming more and more frequent. Up to now, Heilongjiang has established
twinning relationship with 16 provinces (oblasts, states,
counties and prefectures) and 51cities of 18 countries.
Table of Sister Relationships of Heilongjiang
Province
Convention & Exhibition
In addition to its bilateral
contacts, Heilongjiang is actively committed to multilateral exchanges and
collaboration. The province has organized 17 sessions of China Harbin International
Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation, and hosted the Northeast Asia Regional
International Seminar on Social Development & Soluition, International Workshop
on Skiing Industry, the Northern Forum General Assembly, the Northeast Asia Regional
Governments Conference, and other major international events.
(vi)Higher Education and
Scientific Research
Recent years have witnessed
constant uplifting of scientific and technological innovative capabilities and
rapid development of the hi-tech industry, which has gradually constituted a
new force in promoting social development of the whole province. Heilongjiang
ranks among the top places in the nation in terms of regional innovative
capabilities and comprehensive scientific technological string and the seventh in China in human resources of science
and technology.
Heilongjiang possesses a number of research institutes
with great technological strength in petrol-chemistry, bio-pharmacy, information
technology, electromechanical integration, new materials and new energy, crops
breeding and cultivation, dairy processing, as well as aerospace industries. Up
to 2005, there are 605 scientific research and development institutions in Heilongjiang province
with 1,009 major scientific achievements, 6,050 applied patents 2,906
authorized patents. Some of the scientific achievements have been applied in China's key projects
such as the three-gorges power plant, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,
Qinghai Tibet railroad, the West-to-East Gas Transmission project, South-to-North
water transmission project and Shenzhou Spaceship building. Some of the achievements
hold leading position in China even in the world.
Currently, there are over
100,000 scientific research personnel in the province, of which 71,000 are
scientists and engineers working in universities, research institutions and
industrial enterprises. In addition, there is a large number of well- trained
works as well.
(vii)Tourism
As one of the national
ecological model provinces, Heilongjiang has in place 9 national nature
reserves, 16 provincial nature reserves and 37 national forestry parks,
Heilongjiang boasts abundant and unique tourist resources with clear seasonal
distinction and is reputed as cool Province in china. It is renowned for immense
ice and snow, large forests, vast wetlands, big border rivers, large lakes, modernized
farming as well as volcanic landscape, urban sceneries, minority folkways and
cross-border tourism. Namely, the Jingbo Lake, Wudalianchi
(Five-Connected-Lakes), Xingkai Lake, Yichun National Forest Park, Yabuli Ski
Resort, Longzhu Erlong Mountain Ski Resort, Jihua Changshou Mountain Ski
Resort, Harbin Grand World of Ice and Snow, Ice and Snow Sculptures Show and
Ice Lantern Show have all become the renowned summer and winter tourist
attractions in China.
II. Economy
(i)GDP Data
In 2005, total GDP in Heilongjiang province reached
RMB 551 billion Yuan. The GDP per capita in the province is
RMB 14,430 Yuan, equivalent to USD 1,762. The proportions of its primary,
secondary and tertiary industries are respectively 12.2%, 54.9% and 32.9%.
Composition of the Primary, Secondary and
Tertiary Industries of Heilongjiang Province(%)
(ii) Data on Resources,
Industry and Agriculture
Land Resources
Heilongjiang currently possesses 9.905 million hectares
of cultivated land, with higher soil organic substances than other provinces
since it is located in one of the three world-famous dark soil belts. The main
crops are soybean, wheat, corn, potato and rice, while the main cash crops
include sugar beet, flax and tobacco, etc.
In the province there are 65
million hectares of grassland, growing high quality and nutritious grass, which
is ideal for developing animal husbandry; the Songnen plain is ranked among the
three largest sheep pastures in the world.
Forest Reserves
As one of the country's largest
forestry provinces, Heilongjiang is an ecological demonstrate province, which
is being constructed by Chinese government. With its forest coverage rate at
43.6 %, the province has a forestry operation area of 31.75million hectares,
accounting for 69.8% of the province's land areas. Heilongjiang's reserves of
living trees are up to 1.5 billion cubic meters, ranking the first place in China in terms of total
forest-covered area, total timber reserves as well as wood output
volume. Heilongjiang is the nation's major state-owned forest region and the
largest timber production base with up to 100 species of trees, of which about
30 are of higher value.
Water Resources
There are many rivers and lakes
within the territory of Heilongjiang province. Its five major water systems
include Heilongjiang river, Wusuli River, Songhua River, Nen River and Suifenhe river. In addition,
there are over 6,000 lakes and reservoirs, and the total
water surface area is up to 800,000 hectares. Heilongjiang is abundant in water
resources, with 70 percent of rainfall concentrated in the growth period of
crops, thus, sufficient precipitation plus proper heat constitute a favorable
climate for plants.
Mineral Resources
Heilongjiang is a major mineral resource-based
province, with 132 varieties of minerals found and the reserves of 78 kinds
verified. The reserves of oil, graphite, Sillimanite, basalt, marble, potassium
feldspar ranks the first place in the nation. The coal reserves take the lead
among the three provinces in Northeast China. 62kinds of minerals have been
developed and utilized.
Resources of Wild Lives and Native Produce
There are 476 species of wild
animals in the province, of which 17 species are subject to state first-grade
protection such as Siberian tiger, red-crowned crane and white crane; 66
species like red deer, black bear and swan fall under the nation's second-grade
protection. There are 105 species of aquatic produce in the province, like the
dog salmon, a kind of unique produce in the frigid region. And there are over
1,000 varieties of local products and mountain produce. Local growing plants
for medicinal usage are of 856 species, 387 genus and 108 families, of which
famous medicinal herbs inclued ginseng and acanthopanax, etc.
Industry
As one of China's old industrial bases, Heilongjiang
is the country's major producer for energy, timber,
industrial equipment and chemical raw materials. Along with the deepening of
industrialization process, a relatively complete industrial system has been
established, with heavy industry as the mainstay, with large enterprises as the
backbone. The system focuses on industries such as machinery, metallurgy,
power, petrol-chemistry, coal mining, forestry, construction materials,
pharmacy, food processing, light-industry, and textile. The system plays a
significant role in China's industrial layout. Heilongjiang takes the leading position
in the country in manufacturing of large pressure vessels, large mining equipment,
complete sets of large power plant equipment, heavy-duty tandem rolling and
continuous casting equipment, nuclear power facilities, heavy-duty NC machine tools,
large combined harvesters, freight trains, automobiles and engines,
multipurpose aircrafts, helicopters, regional aircrafts, large castings' forgings, precision
bearings and NC machine tools and measuring tools. The output volume of major products such as
timber, crude oil,
natural gas, raw coal and dairy products ranks among the first in the country.
Industrial Data
In the year of 2005, profit and
tax created by industrial enterprises above designated size was 146.77 billion
Yuan. The comprehensive index of industrial economic efficiency was 333.2.
The accelerating development of
the six major bases contributes over 95% of total industrial economic growth
in the province. The total industrial output value of the six bases, namely,
assembling industry, petrol-chemistry, energy, food, pharmaceutical and wood
processing has reached 438,38 billion Yuan.
Output Value of the Six Major Bases
Output of Main Industrial Products of Heilongjiang Province in
2005
Agriculture
Heilongjiang is the nation's major grain producing area
and commodity grain base, with years of development, five major agribusiness
industries have come into being.
Grain Production
Heilongjiang is characterized by vast concentrated
farmland and fertile soil. Its grain production has always been the fundamental
industry of the province. The plantation area and yield of soybean, corn and
rice rank the top places in the country. In 2005, Heilongjiang enjoyed another
bumper harvest, with the total grain yield up to 36 million tons, creating
another historical high.
Animal Husbandry
With large prairies and rich
resources of crops straws, and with dairy cattle as the mainstay, animal
husbandry in Heilongjiang is developing rapidly and has a tremendous potential
for further development. The dairy cattle in stock and fresh mild output rank the
first place in the country. The production of meat, eggs and milk keep
increasing by a big margin. The output value of animal husbandry alone was 46
billion Yuan in 2005, accounting for 40% of total output value of agriculture,
animal husbandry and fishery, making Heilongjiang a major province of animal
husbandry in China.
Green Food Industry
Featured by green mountains,
clean waters and unpolluted land, Heilongjiang is quite suitable for developing
green food, organic food and pollution-free food. Green food has become the top
image of new industries in Heilongjiang province. 324 green food production
bases have been established in the province. The total plantation area of green
food amounts to 2.327 million hectares while that of organic food amounts to
120.7 thousand hectares. The breeding volume of green livestock and poultry
amounts to 12.86 million heads and the total production amounts to 15.81 million
tons. With a total output value of 40 billion Yuan and 900 authenticated
products, the province has become the largest green food production base in China.
Agricultural products
processing
There are 1,050 enterprises
specializing in the processing of agricultural products, which have benefited
1.6 million households of farmers as well as plantation bases with total area
of 3.533 million hectares. The number of backbone processing businesses is
still growing.
Development of Mountain
Specialties
Great efforts have been made in
developing mountain specialties such as pine nuts, hazel nuts, black fungus,
hazel mushroom, ginseng, antler, acanthapanax, wild vegetables like brake
tender leaves and vetch. The annual output of these specialties is more than
600,000 tons.
(iii) Data on Commerce
Import and Export Business
In the year of 2005, total
import and export volume of Heilongjiang province reached USD 9.57 billion,
increased by 40.9% over the precious year. The export volume was USD 6.07
billion while the import volume was USD 3.5 billion, increased by 64.9% and
12.6% respectively over the last year. The export volume to Russia market amounted to USD 3.84
billion. At the same time, export to Korea, USA and EU also enjoyed increase at different
rate.Depending on its unique
geographic advantage, Heilongjiang province has made great achievements in
opening up to the outside world with Russia, Japan and Korea as key trade and cooperative partners.
Heilongjiang province has kept the top
position for many years among provinces in China in term of trade with Russia. Up till now,
Heilongjiang has established trade ties with more than 130 countries
and regions in the world with export commodities reaching over 4,000.
Utilization of Foreign Direct
Investment
In 2005, total FDI in Heilongjiang province amounted
to USD 1.52 billion. The newly approved foreign direct
investment projects reached 266, contracted foreign direct investment reached
USD 1.975 billion, and FDI actually used reached USD 1.447 billion. 23 of the
Fortune World Top 500 businesses have their investment in Heilongjiang.
Foreign Economic Cooperation
In 2005, Heilongjiang province
singed 185 contracts on foreign economic cooperation projects including
contracting engineering project and labor service projects with total
contracted value of USD 450 million. For direct investment abroad, 54 new
contracts were signed with total investment of USD 430 million including USD
390 million Chinese direct investment and 30 projects over USD 1 million.
Helongjiang's investment covered 38 countries and regions.
Commodity circulation
III. Investment
(i)Policy and Administrative Rules
Catalogue of Related Laws
Foreign Trade Law of the People's
Republic of China
Customs Law of the People's
Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Foreign-Capital Enterprises
Company Law of the People's
Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of
China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens
Law of the People's Republic of
China on the Control of the Exit and Entry of Citizens
Securities Law of the People's
Republic of China
Income Tax Law of the People's
Republic of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign
Enterprises
Individual Income Tax Law of
the People's Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of
China on the Administration of Tax Collection
Environmental Protection Law of
the People's Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Evaluation of Environmental Effects
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Promotion of Cleaner Production
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Prevention and Control of Desertification
Marine Environment Protection
Law of the People's Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of
China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Prevention and Control of Environmental Noise Pollution
Law of the People's Republic of
China on Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution
Frontier Health and Quarantine
Law of the People's Republic of China
Labour Law of the People's
Republic of China
Trade Union Law of the People's
Republic of China
Searching Website for the
Related Laws
1. Searching System of Laws and
Regulations of China (website of National People's Congress of China)
http://law.npc.gov.cn:87/home/begin1.cbs
2. China Legislative Information
Network System
http://www.chinalaw.gov.cn/jsp/jalor/index.jsp
3. Ministry of Commerce
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn
The above-mentioned websites
are for reference only.
(ii) Key Industries with Priority
1. Linen textile industry.
2. Development of subsequent
industries after adopting the nation's key ecological projects such as
returning farmland to forestry and protection project of natural forests.
3. Development and utilization
of water-saving irrigation technology.
4. Research, development and
utilization of coal processing technology.
5. Intensive processing of
graphite products.
6. Production of Chinese
traditional pharmaceuticals in forms of frozen dry powder preparation.
7. Manufacture of electrical
instruments and intelligent management and controlling system of power grid.
8. Build and operation of urban
gas, heat and water supplying (drainage) networks.
9. Development of winter
tourism resource and forest resource.
10. Development, construction,
protection and operation of tourism scenic spots & facilities.
11. Highway passenger
transportation.
(iii) Procedures for Establishing foreign funded
enterprises
(iv) Rules of Employment
Foreign funded enterprises are
free to decide on the organization structure the and the size of human resource
as well as time, number, condition and methods for recruitment. In line with
the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China as well as other relative laws
and regulations, Foreign funded enterprises should sign contract with employees
and register in Labor and Social Security Department. Enterprises are obligated
to pay social insurance and other social welfare fees for their employees.
Enterprises are free to fix the salary standard for their employees. However,
it should not be lower than the minimum local standard. It is forbidden to
recruit child worker or to arrange female worker to conduct illegal work.
Employees of FFEs enjoy leaves for festivals, vacations, public holidays,
visiting parents or spouses and handling marriage or funeral affairs.
(v) Living Environment
Visa and residence permit
Senior foreign talented persons
and investors, by submitting relevant certificates, can obtain F visa valid for
2-5 years with multi-entrance or residence permit for 2-5 years. Foreigners who
are in important position of Chinese key enterprises or organizations, who have
made outstanding contribution to China and who have great investment in China, his/her spouse and
unmarried children under the age of 18 can also apply for
permanent residence permit. Residence permit or permanent residence permit
bearers are exempted from going through visa formalities.
Directions for Foreigners
Employed in Heilongjiang
In accordance with Stipulations
and regulations for foreign employees in China, the government applies
employment permit administration over foreigners employed in Heilongjiang
province. The procedures for applying such permit are as follows:
1. The employer when intending
to employ a foreignerstall fill out the Application Form for the
Employment of Foreigners and submit it to its competent trade authorities at
the same level and the labor administrative authorities together with the
following documentations
1 the curriculum vitae of the foreigner to be employed
2 the letter of intention for employment
3 the report of reasons for employment
4 the credentials of the foreigner required for the performance of the
job
5 health certificate of the foreigner to be employed;
6 other documents required by regulations
2. The labor administrative
authority should take into consideration of the opinions of the competent trade
authorities and the demand and supply of labor market and issue the Employment License to the employer after
examination and approval.
3. Employers with permission to
employ foreigners shall not send the Employment License nor the letter of visa
notification directly to foreigners to be employed and they must be sent by the
authorized unit in our province.
4. Foreigner with permission to
work in our province should apply for Employment Visas (Z) at the Chinese
embassies, consulates and visa offices,
bringing with them the Employment License issued by the Ministry of Labor and
Social Security the letter or telex of visa notification
sent by the authorized unit and the valid passport or Travel Document.
5. The employer should, within
fifteen days after the entry of the employed foreigner take to the original
Certificate Office the Employment License the labour contract with the said
foreigner and his passport or Travel Document to receive his Employment Permit
while filling out the Foreigner Employment Registration Form.
6. Foreigners who received
their Employment Permit should within thirty days
after their entry apply for the residence certificate with
the public security organs bringing with them their Employment Permit. The term
of validity of the residence certificate may be determined in accordance with
the term of validity of the Employment Permit
7. Foreigners who have not been
issued residence certificate (i.e. holders of F LC or G-types visas) and those who are
under study or interim programs in China and the families of holders of Employment Visas shall not
work in China In special casesemployment may be
allowed when the foreigner changes his status at the public security organs with the Employment
License secured by his employer in accordance with the clearance procedures. Under these Rules
foreigners changes his status at the public security organs with the Employment License and receives
his Employment permit and residence certificate.
Urban living environment
Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang, is the political,
economic and cultural center of the province. At the beginning of last century,
more than 200,000 foreign immigrants used to live in the city. So the
townscape, architectural style and living custom are deeply influenced by
western culture. So it is also called "Oriental Moscow" and "Oriental Paris". Harbin is quite
developed in trade and commerce. World retail giants such as Wal-Mart,Carrifour, Metro and some
other well-known retail chain businesses at home and abroad have settled in the city serving
thousands of commodities with convenient shopping facilities. So far as catering industry is
concerned, one can enjoy authentic western food, Russian food and Chinese cuisine from different
provinces with different tastes. As for the cultural, sport and entertainment facilities, cinemas,
concert halls, theatres, museums, Libraries, gyms, golf club, caf, pubs can be found everywhere in
the city, meeting most of the entertainment and recreation demands. In Harbin there are 56 hotels
above three-star grade and many other high and medium grade recreation and holiday inns.
Heilongjiang enjoys convenient transportation system composed of airway, railway, highway and
waterage networks. From Harbin to Beijing, it takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes by flight and 10
hours by train.
Education and Health Care
There are 62 higher education
institutions, 56 secondary specialized schools, 2,587 high schools and 9,995
primary schools in the whole province. The number of medical institutions is
8,230 with more than 120,000 beds, which sufficiently meet the demand in educational and health care
aspects.
Driving license
Expatriates/foreigners who
holds foreign driving license (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) or international driving
license may apply Chinese driving license or provisional
license.
Local transport administrative
authority will issue driving license or provisional license to applicants who
have passed theoretical test and practice test.
(vi)Reference Prices of Basic Elements
Gas price in different cities in Heilongjiang
province
Power price in Heilongjiang Province
IV. Development Zones
Organizations Concerned
Useful Websites
Appendix
Hotels in Harbin
Telephone Numbers for Public Service
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