A foreign expert visits a mushroom factory of Heilongjiang Bingrong Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in Zhaodong County in Suihua, Heilongjiang Province, on Jan. 13, 2016 [Courtesy of Christopher Georgiou / China.org.cn ]

Focus on competitive sectors

Heilongjiang must focus on its competitive advantages, while retaining and attracting talent, broadening opportunities for trade such as with the Belt and Road initiative and marketing itself to the world.

A key focus is on agricultural development and the utilization of local competitive advantages. Heilongjiang is ranked first among all provinces for agricultural output. Branding and marketization should be improved with a focus on the quality of local produce, such as organic dairy and grain products. China wants to retain a very high self-sufficiency rate in grain. However, farmers may create more economic value if allowed to plant cash crops and import cheaper grain from abroad.

The tourism sector is growing rapidly, both in summer and winter, with a total of 103 million people visiting in the first three quarters of 2016 - up 15.6 percent year-on-year.

Heilongjiang should work to encourage more foreign enterprises to invest in the province, to boost innovation and competiveness while increasing employment. Following President Xi's guidance to allow a greater role for market forces would mean reducing subsidies for electricity and water, and allowing enterprises to find value where they see it.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.