Guangdong reacher than some contries

An increasing number of provinces in China are richer than some countries, according to a blue paper published Sunday by China's top think tank. China's Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) published its annual Economic Competitiveness Report of China's Provinces and Regions (2008-2009). For the first time, CASS compares the overall GDP and per capita GDP of Chinese regions with 18 G20 members excluding China and the European Union (EU), said Li Jianping, editor of the blue paper. Guangdong province, China's economic powerhouse neighboring Hong Kong, led Chinese regions in overall gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008, followed by Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in east China, said the blue paper. Compared to the 18 G20 nations, Guangdong ranked 16th in terms of overall GDP, surpassing Saudi Arabia, Argentina and South Africa. Shandong and Jiangsu surpassed Argentina and South Africa, and Zhejiang topped South Africa. In terms of per capita GDP, Shanghai ranked 12th in comparison with the 18 G20 countries, better than Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and India. Tianjin ranked 15th and Beijing 16th. China is now a big industrialized nation and should try to become an industrialized power in the next step, Huang Qunhui, a researcher with CASS, said Sunday. G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, the European Union, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.