Guangxi
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Elevation extremes Situated in the southeast ring of the Yunnan-Guizhou
Plateau, the highest point of Guangxi stands at 2,141 above sea level. (1) Water resources Thickly crossed by rivers, Guangxi is rich
in water resource. It is estimated that the surface water flowing in the
province amounts to 188 billion cubic meters, accounting for 6.9 percent
of the nation??s total and ranking fourth among the provinces. The per
capita possession of water resources in Guangxi is 4,101 cubic meters,
nearly double the national average. The three largest water systems running
through the province are Zhujiang (Pearl River), Yangtze and Duliu rivers. Guangxi is known for having various mineral
deposits, and it serves as one of the 10 important production bases of
nonferrous metals in China. The number of proven mineral resources comes
to 96, including 53 of which the deposits ranks 10th or above
among provinces. The region has especially abundant reserves of manganese
and tin, which amount for one third of the national total. In addition,
Guangxi takes a leading role in having the reserves of vanadium, tungsten,
antimony, silver, aluminum, talcum and so forth. What makes the province
a favorite place for mineral development and production is that the mineral
resources are found relatively concentrated lying beneath the earth. The picturesque scenic spots in Guangxi
are famous worldwide, symbolized by Guilin, a natural beauty produced
by unique karst geography. At present, the province has established several
tourist attractions including three state-level natural scenic spots,
six state-level natural reserves, 30 provincial-level natural scenic spots,
15 state-level cultural and historical relics, 221 provincial-level cultural
and historical relics, 19 forest parks and 10 summer or winter resorts. The southern section of Guangxi is ringed
by seacoast. Becaust of the geographical location, the region has every
reason to develop fishing, marine chemistry, marine resources and ocean
tourism. By now, 929 kinds of land-based vertebrate
animals are found in Guangxi, accounting for 43.3 percent of those found
in China. Among these wild animals are 149 kinds which are rare species. Among the 670 species of fruits growing
in China are110, which at present take their roots in Guangxi. As the
tropical or sub-tropical fruits account for 80 percent of the total growing
there, Guangxi is regarded as a leading province in China to produce and
export the delicacies. The region is well known for high-quality shaddock,
banana, pineapple and orange. The year 1999 saw Guangxi putting out a
total fruits of over 4 million tons, ranking first among the Chinese provinces. The survey made in 1999 showed that that
forests in Guangxi occupied a land of 10.6 million hectares, the rate
of forest cover was 39.26 percent, and that the accumulation of growing
woods totaled 277 million cubic meters. Good climate and geographical
location enables Guangxi to have as many as over 8,000 tree species, including
more than 1000 kinds of arbor. Most of the precious forest resources are
seen concentrating in the northeast section and Baise area, where about
39 percent of the province??s timber products are put out. A record of 1999 showed that 12 major pollutants
coming from the industrial discharges were put under well control in the
region according to state statute in environment. In Nanning, Guilin and
Beihai, three cities subjected to intense environmental care, the environment
quality has reached the national standard for important cities and scenic
spots. The air quality in major cities and towns in the province have
all reached the second level. About 80 percent of the local rivers are
maintained clean or basically clean.
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II. Population
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Total population: 47.13 million (1999) Guangxi is multi-ethnic region, where a number of ethnic groups live, including the largest groups such as the Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Dong, Mulam, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Yi, Shui and Gelao, and some 25 smaller ones. The people of ethnic minority groups came to 17.956 million by 1999, accounting for 38.1 percent of the region??s total. The Zhuang is the largest ethnic minority group in the region, which has a population of 15.38 million. The statistics available in 1999 showed
that Guangxi had 157 primary schools, 36 middle schools, 22 polytechnic
schools and three colleges specially for the students of minority nationalities.
This enables the ratio of the schooling students of minority nationalities
to exceed that of the population in the region??s total. |
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III.
Economy
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The year 1999 witnessed a rapid development
of the tertiary industry in Guangxi, the added value of it stood at 71
billion yuan, accounting for 35.48 percent of the GDP. In comparison with
the booming of the second and tertiary industries, the rate of the first
one in GDP was declining, which accounted for 28.99 percent. The population living under the state-regulated
poverty line was 15 million in the region in 1984, sharply reducing to
1.69 million in 1999, accounting for 4 percent of the region??s total. The total foreign trade volume reached US$17.53
billion in 1999. Guangxi had attracted foreign investors
from over 100 countries and regions by the end of 1998, investing in 8,802
overseas funded projects, with the actual-used capital totaling US$8.003
billion. In 1999, 223 projects with foreign investment were registered,
with the actual-used capital being US$921 million. (1) Power
industry with the hydropower as the mainstay; (2) Nonferrous
metal industry (The output of 10 leading products came to 523,100 tons,
worth of 10.37 billion yuan.); (3) Building
materials industry (cement, plate glass, ceramic, granite and marble);
and (4) Machinery
industry (automobile, internal-combustion engine, engineering machines,
agricultural machines, electric devices, petrochemical equipment, heavy-duty
machines for mining, packaging equipment, equipment for sugar producing,
power-generating equipment)
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IV.
Telecommunications
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Telephones In 1993, program-controlled telephone system
was available in every county in Guangxi. By 1999, the telephone network
in the region was enlarged to a great extent, providing service to 1.89
million customers of telephone, 750,000 customers of mobile phone, 1.92
million customers of pager and 35,100 customers of IP card. In 1999, telephone
was available in 13,037 villages, accounting for 87.7 percent of the region??s
total; the local post offices had a turnover totaling 6.46 billion that
year, up 23.5 percent over 1998. In 1999, the region had 26 TV stations,
22 radio stations and 13 cable TV stations, totally covering 88.3 percent
of the region??s population. |
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V.
Transportation
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By the end of 1999, the total rail line
on operation had stretched to 3,120 km. By the end of 1999, the total highways open
to traffic was as long as 51,378 km. Guangxi has a coastline stretching for 1,595km,
along which 21 sea ports have been established, including 18 large-capacity
and deep-water berths. Guangxi is believed to be the best place in south
China to do sea transportation because of its geographical location. By the end of 1998, Guangxi had build five
airports respectively in Nanning, Beihai, Liuzhou and Wuzhou, which link
with 109 air routes (including 99 domestic, five regional and international
ones) operated by 12 airlines. |
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VI.
Projects wanting foreign investment
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The sectors that local government encourages
foreign investment include infrastructure, basic industries, high-tech industry,
export-oriented production bases, comprehensive agriculture projects and
technical innovation of old enterprises. |
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VII.
Favorable policies for foreign investment
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A) The
policies applicable to the whole region ----
More rights are given to the local government in approving foreign investment
projects which are in accordance with state policy in construction,
production and operation, which do not need extra state support in foreign
currency use, which have nothing to do import and export quota and license
and which involve a total investment lower than US$30 million. ----
The foreign-invested projects, which are in accordance with the Guidelines
for Industries with Foreign Investment and which involve technical transfer,
should be exempted from paying custom duties and import added-value
taxes. ----
The custom duties and import added-value taxes on some self-used equipment
may be exempted for the projects with domestic investment, which are
in accordance with the Guiding Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment. ----
Those productive projects with foreign investment, which are designed
to have a business period of over 10 years, will be exempted from paying
enterprise income tax in the first and second profit-gaining year and
enjoy a reduction of enterprise income tax by half during the period
from the third and fifth year. ----
Since 1994 when the taxation reform was introduced, the added-value
tax, consumption tax and business tax have been applicable to all the
overseas-funded and foreign-invested business. However, those foreign-invested
enterprises, which were established before December 31, 1993, are permitted
an exception. These enterprises are allowed to enjoy a drawback to some
extent for five years starting from 1994. ----
The foreign-invested enterprises are exempted from paying custom duties
and the import added value tax for importing spare parts and raw materials
for production of export-oriented goods. ----
The foreign-invested enterprises are exempted from paying custom duties
and the import added value tax for importing fuel (not including auto-used
gas), grinding materials, catalytic agent and so forth necessary for
the export-oriented production. ----
Starting from January 1, 1998, the foreign-invested and domestic-invested
projects, which were approved by the government during period from April
1, 1996 to December 31, 1997 or were purchasing equipment from overseas
by using the loans provided by foreign governments or international
organizations, are exempted from paying custom duties and import added
value tax. ----
After the regulated duty-exemption period for foreign-invested enterprises
expires, those investing in agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry
and those based in remote and under-developed regions are permitted
to enjoy amount of tax exemption for some years to come, with the approval
of the taxation department under the State Council. ----
The Chinese-foreign joint ventures, which are devoted to the construction
of ports or wharfs, are permitted to enjoy a total exemption of enterprise
income tax during the first five-year period of profit earning and half
reduction in the following five years. ----
The foreign-invested enterprises with a business period of over five
years, which decide to increase their registered capital by using the
profit derived from the investment or investing in new projects to contribute
to the local economy, are permitted to enjoy a tax reduction by 40 percent. ----
Foreign-invested enterprises devoted to high-tech production are permitted
to enjoy tax reduction for a longer period than others. ----
After the state-regulated tax-exemption period, foreign-invested enterprises
devoted to export-oriented production whose annual export output value
exceeding 70 percent of the annual total are entitled to half reduction
of enterprise income tax at the present tax rate. ----
Except for state insurance premium, welfare and housing subsidies, foreign-invested
enterprises devoted to high-tech and export-oriented production are
exempted from surrendering various state-to-employee subsidies. ----
Foreign-invested enterprises are exempted from investment-oriented adjustment
tax on fixed assets, added educational tax and urban maintenance tax. B) The policies applicable
to special zones: ---- Those productive
projects with foreign investments in the following areas are eligible
to an reduced income tax rate of 24 percent. These areas include Beihai,
Nanning (excluding Wuming and Yongning), Gangkou District of Fangchenggang,
Wuzhou, Yulin, Qinzhou (excluding Pubei and Lishan), Cangwu County,
Hepu County, Fangcheng District, Pingxiang and Dongxing. A reduced tax
rate of 15 percent is allocated to projects in the fields of energy,
transportation, port, dwarf and technology and knowledge-intensive projects
utilizing direct foreign investments, or projects with a foreign-invested
volume exceeding US$30 million and with a long investment-returning
period. ---- For foreign
investors, dividends, interests, rents, monopoly-right fees and other
proceeds gained from Beihai, Nanning and Gangkou District of Fangcheng
without correspondent organizations can enjoy a reduced 10 percent income
tax rate together except those enjoying legal tax exemption. The municipal
government withholds the power to grant further preferential policies
to projects involving favorable capital conditions or advanced technological
transfers. ---- Under State
ratification, the costal open cities can delineate definite area to
establish new economic and technological development zones, where the
joint ventures with productive projects are allowed a reduced 15 percent
income tax rate. ---- Export-oriented,
inland-related productive enterprises in the boundary economic cooperation
zones are entitled to a reduced 24 percent income tax. But once the
profit is surrendered to the inland area, the investor-based area will
over-impose a 9 percent tax. ---- Cross-border
enterprises are allowed to set up. Those with investment volume below
US$ 1 million can be examined and ratified by the Guangxi government
and can receive charters authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade
and Economic Cooperation. ---- Commodities
exchanged on the boundary markets by local residents, so long as they
value less than RMB1,000 per day per person, are exempted from custom
duties and import added value tax. ---- Between 1996
and 1998, for boundary small-volume trading enterprises that imported
commodities from neighboring countries via designated ports, half custom
duties and import added value tax were granted, excluding commodities
under State tax and duty regulations such as cigarettes, liquor and
cosmetics. ----Import-duty
policies for boundary small-volume trade are executed for commodities
imported through economic cooperation with the neighboring countries
by those boundary companies with foreign-related economic and technological
operational rights. Within a reasonable range, export quota and operational
division do not apply to equipment and materials under project contracts
and labor cooperation with neighboring countries and necessities used
by the workers themselves, and export permits are also exempted for
these products. ---- Hi-tech enterprises
in the Nanning and Guilin hi-tech development zones are entitled to
an income tax rate of 15 percent. Those whose export output value exceeds
70 percent of the annual total can enjoy a 10 percent tax rate after
the audit of bureau of taxation. After application and ratification,
newly-established hi-tech enterprises are entitled to two-year exemption
of income tax as of its year of production. After application and ratification
by the taxation bureau, the newly-established joint ventures within
the development zones whose cooperation period is up to 10 years can
enjoy two-year income tax exemption as of the year of gaining profit.
Foreign-invested hi-tech enterprises within the economic and technological
development zones are still eligible to special taxation policies. After
the exemption period expires, preferential tax reduction in a certain
period can be granted to those enterprises with difficulty in surrendering
taxes. ---- Products
developed by hi-tech enterprises in the Nanning and Guilin hi-tech development
zones are entitled to export duty exemption, excluding State qualified
and specially-regulated items. ---- After ratification,
Nanning and Guilin hi-tech development zones can set up technological
import and export companies and can grant export operational rights
to high-tech enterprises with good export business records. ---- Foreign-invested
enterprises in the Beihai Yintan State Tourist Resort are eligible to
a reduced 24 percent tax rate. Sino-foreign tourist auto companies employing
domestic autos can be set up. Sino-foreign travel agencies can be set
up handling overseas travel operation. Foreign exchange shops may also
be established. (2) Local
Preferential Policies of Guangxi A) Tax Reductions ---- Exemption of local
income tax Local income tax
exemptions are granted to the following foreign-invested enterprises
in Guangxi: export-oriented and state-of-the-art technological enterprises;
enterprise with export output value exceeding half of the annual total
and audited by the city and county taxation bureaus; enterprises engaging
in infrastructure construction including energy, transportation and
port construction; enterprises set up in coastal open cities and zones,
boundary open cities and towns, high-tech development zones and 48 mountainous
districts and counties; enterprises dealing in agriculture, forestation,
livestock raising and fishing; profit gained from conveyance of scientific
and technological fruits; enterprises with a total investment volume
over US$3 million, exceeding tax exemption period, with annual profits
below RMB 1 million and ratified by city or county taxation bureaus. ----Real Estate Tax Reduction Tax is imposed
on the remaining value after a 30 percent reduction of original face
accounts of self-owned real estate, with an annual rate of 1.2 percent
and rent income tax rate of 12 percent. Enterprises that have difficulty
in handing in the real estate tax may apply for ratification of the
local taxation bureau for partial or all remission. ---- Reduction in Vehicle
License Tax The tax volume
for passenger cars is RMB140 or RMB160 annually whereas that for load-carrying
vehicle is RMB40 per ton annually. Motorboats taxed by the custom offices
are exempted from such tax item. B)
Tax Remission ---- A two-year exemption of income tax
as of the year of gaining profit is granted to foreign-invested productive
projects set up in coastal open cities, coastal economic open zones,
boundary open cities and towns, Nanning City and economic and technological
development zones under the ratification of the region??s government
and having an operational period over 15 years. Between the third and
the fifth year, they enjoy half reduction of income tax and full remission
from the local financial department. Between the sixth and the 10th
year, after a full surrender of income tax, they will be granted a 30
to 50 percent remission from the local financial department. Foreign-invested
enterprises engaged in infrastructure construction such as transportation
and energy that are in the above-mentioned areas and with an operational
period over 15 years are eligible to two-year income tax exemption as
of the year of gaining profit. They will also enjoy a full remission
of income tax from the local financial department from the third year
to the 10th year, and a 30 to 50 percent remission from the
11th to the 15th year. ---- Sino-foreign
port projects with a contract period over 15 years are eligible to income
tax exemption between the first and fifth year as of the year of gaining
profit. For the sixth to the 10th year, they will enjoy half
reduction of income tax and full remission from the local financial
department, and between the 11th and 15th year,
the local tax remission of 30 to 50 percent is available after tax surrender. ----For foreign-invested
export-oriented or state-of-the-art technology enterprises in other
areas that have difficulty in returning bank loans after taxation, a
reasonable remission in a certain period from the local financial department
is available after ratification of various levels of the government. ---- State-ratified
foreign-invested enterprises in the high-tech development zones are
eligible to half reduction of urban maintenance fee and exemption of
securities of state key construction. They are also eligible to two-year
exemption of income tax as of the year of gaining profit. Starting from
the third year, a 15 percent income tax rate is granted to these enterprises
and full tax remission from the local financial department between the
third and the 10th year is available. ---- Foreign-invested
export-oriented or high-tech enterprises and productive projects set
up in coastal open cities and economic open zones, boundary cities and
towns and hi-tech economic and technological zones can perform accelerated
fixed assets depreciation under ratification of the city or county taxation
bureaus. C) Other Preferential
Policies ---- Production
and operational autonomy of enterprises are fully regarded. No unit
can charge extra fee items or overcharge foreign-invested enterprises
unless they have obtained ratification from the local government. ---- According
to different usage, region and period of utilization, foreign investment
in land development are eligible to a 10 to 30 percent discount in land-conveyance
prices, so long as the rate is above the local bottom line. Various
cities and counties can make their own specific regulations about exemptions
and reductions of land utilization fees and attached infrastructure
fees. ---- Foreign-invested
hi-tech and export-oriented enterprises are eligible to a 10 to 20 percent
discount in various fees. ---- Foreign-invested
enterprise employing domestic raw materials, and equipment, export-oriented
ones and those with an annual export volume over US$5 million (the figure
in poverty-stricken area is US$2 million) enjoy preemptive rights concerning
import quota and permits allocation. They will also receive aid in export
quota bidding held by the state. ---- Those foreign
investors with over 10 enterprises set up in China that engage in production
or infrastructure construction, and whose actual registered capital
exceeding US$30 million, are encouraged to establish investment companies
and comprehensive development companies within the region. ---- For those
foreign-invested hi-tech or import-substitute enterprises, their products,
excluding the ones under strict regulation by the state, domestic market
can be enlarged to achieve foreign exchange balance. ---- Enlarge the
examination and ratification powers for regions, cities and counties
to utilize foreign investment. Governments at the city level are granted
the power to examine and ratify joint ventures with total investment
volume below US$30 million, so long as these projects are in accordance
with state industrial policies, or has international market and construction
and operational conditions, or does not need the region??s comprehensive
balance of foreign exchange or quota and permits for export. Governments
at the city level in the coastal open zone, Pingxiang City and Dongxing
Town are allowed to examine and ratify projects with total investment
volume below US$20 million. Governments in other counties, cities and
regions are allowed to examine and ratify projects with investment volume
below US$5.99 million. Any solely foreign-funded enterprises complying
with the above-mentioned criteria and with total investment volume below
US$30 million are consigned to city and region governments for evaluation
and ratification, but they must be put on file at the Ministry of Foreign
Trade and Economic Cooperation. Government of the autonomous region
entrust the power of granting ratification certificates for the above-mentioned
enterprises to various city and county governments. Bureau for industry
and commerce of the autonomous region consign to such bureaus at the
city level the task of initial evaluation and registration procedures
needed for operational license. Any person that
has contributed to the introduction of foreign investment, including
foreigners, overseas Chinese, compatriots in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao
and various personages, will all be rewarded regardless of profession
or rank.
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