Editor's note: Central China connects the east with the west and links the south to the north, whose economic output accounts for one fifth of China, and enjoys great development potential. In the past five years, by implementing the new development concept, building the new development pattern, and continuously enhancing its comprehensive strength and competitiveness, Central China has opened up a new situation for the rise of China's central region. Starting on March 21, we, together with HICC, are launching a series bilingual coverage with the theme of "Striving to Create a New Situation inthe Rise of China's Central Region - Achievements of Central China in Pursuing High-quality Developmentin Past 5 Years". Here is the second episode: Build up new strengths through regional coordinated development.
"We will accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system featuring diversity development, complementary advantages, coordination and high efficiency not only to promote a comprehensive transportation network and a convenient and efficient modern logistics system, but also to boost the co-sharing of public services across cities and strengthen the coordinated management of eco-environment."The Plan for the Integrated Development of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan in 2024 introduces the development path of three important prefecture-level cities of Central China's Hunan province.
The geographical location of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan looks like a Chinese character "品". In recent years, they have become a core growth pole of Hunan's economy. With increasingly strengthened development momentum, their economic aggregate has occupied about 40 percent of the provincial total.
A China Railway Express freight train. [Photo/Henan Daily]
Currently, a coordinated development pattern featuring rational division of labor, complementary advantages and unique characteristics is taking shape at a faster pace in Central China.
Henan and Shanxi are deeply involved in the national strategy for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi are proactive in the green and low-carbon transformation of their industries, playing an important role in the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Relying on the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, Anhui is actively undertaking industrial transfer to achieve transformation and upgrading.A number of city clusters and metropolitan areashave been cultivated in Central China, such as Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster, Greater Nanchang Metropolitan Area, Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, Central Shanxi Urban Agglomeration, etc.
These city clusters and metropolitan areas are acting as "engines" promoting regional economic development. Statistically, the per capita GDP of Central China has jumped from 60 thousand yuan in 2019 to 74 thousand yuan in 2023, narrowing the gap with the national per capita GDP year by year.
Self-driving tractor made by YTO Group. [Photo/dahe.cn]
Let's review the development of Central China from a global view. In the past 5 years, Central China has not only actively integrated into the major national strategies based on its own positioning, but also created a new development pattern through opening-up and cooperation.
On the morning of March 1, fully loaded with cargo, a Boeing 747-400 plane arrived at Nanchang Changbei International Airport, the first flight after the resumption of the Nanchang-Liege air freight route.
According to Fang Lei, head of the Trade Division of Nanchang Airport Economic Zone Urban Construction Investment and Development Group, 4 round trips are scheduled on the Nanchang-Liege air freight route every week, which will further shorten the logistics period between Nanchang and Liege. With the enhanced air logistics service, the export of Jiangxi-made products to Europe will be more convenient.
With a global vision, Central China is actively building itself into a highland for opening-up. Now, Central China's opening-uplevel and quality have been enhanced significantly thanks to its improved opening-up system and mechanism.
A cargo plane of Cargolux. [Photo/Henan Daily]
In the past 5 years, Central China's air freight volume reached nearly 7 million tons, of which over 1 million tons were contributed by the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road". A total of 45 institutional innovations of Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Anhui pilot free trade zones have been replicated and promoted at the national level.
Central China'sdevelopment space is constantly expandingthrough integration, interaction and complementation within the region, and high-level opening-up and cooperation outside the region.
Chinese source: Henan Daily
Reporter: Chen Weiwei and Yan Fujing and Wang Yueyang
Translator: Yang Jiaxin
Proofreader: Chen Xingjie and Zhao Hanqing
