The Shenyang experimental economic zone plan has been approved by the State Council for northeast China's Liaoning Province, making the Shenyang economic zone the eighth experimental reform region in China, the governor of Liaoning Province announced here Tuesday.

The theme of the zone's reform plan is "new industrialization," emphasizing information technology in the region's industrial upgrading.

The Shenyang economic zone, centered on Shenyang city, covers an area of 75,000 square kilometers and includes seven other cities, namely Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Yingkou, Fuxin, Liaoyang and Tieling.

The population of the economic zone is 23.59 million, with 65 percent residing in urban areas. The area's gross domestic product in 2009 was estimated at 998.47 billion yuan.