Sansha introduces experts to boost development

China's youngest city of Sansha in the South China Sea has introduced 13 experts with doctoral degrees to work in the city to boost its economic and social development.

The doctors, who are mainly from the State Oceanic Administration, universities and renowned research institutions, will work in Sansha for one year.

Their research areas include South China Sea studies, marine biology, environmental protection, land planning and fisheries. They will work as assistants to the heads of various government departments in Sansha City, according to Xiao Jie, mayor the city who gave them letters of appointment on Sunday.

The doctors, who have sound professional backgrounds and rich experience in practice, will give intellectual support to the social and economic development of the city, said Zhang Geng, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Sansha Municipal Committee.

Zhang said more talented people will be introduced to Sansha in coming years.

Home to about 1,000 residents, Sansha was officially set up in July last year to administer about 2 million square km of islands, coastal areas and territorial seas in the South China Sea.

The city of Sansha gets its name from three island groups under its jurisdiction -- Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha -- and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea.

The Sansha city government is seated on Yongxing Island.