Along with its nearby cities, Shenyang is an important industrial center in China,[9] and serves as the transportation and commercial hub of China's northeast—particularly involved in links with Japan, Russia and Korea.[10] A center of heavy industry in China since the 1930s, and the spearhead of the Chinese central government's Northeast Area Revitalization Plan,[11] the city has been diversifying its industry, including expanding into the service sector. Growing industries include software, automotive and electronics.