Guangming Daily:

The unbalanced development between urban and rural areas and among different regions is a big challenge for Guangdong. Therefore, last year, Guangdong launched the "High-quality Development Project for Counties, Towns and Villages." How has it worked out in the past year? What’s the next step? Thank you. 

Wang Weizhong:

Thank you for your questions. I will address this issue. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has noted that the unbalanced development between urban and rural areas and among different regions is the biggest challenge of Guangdong's high-quality development, asking us to strengthen top-level design and make constant efforts to turn weak links into potential strengths. Successive CPC Guangdong Provincial Committees and provincial governments have undertaken extensive work in this regard, significantly improving the developmental conditions within eastern, western and northern Guangdong. 

Since the 20th CPC National Congress, based on the good foundation laid in the past, the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the provincial government have learned and applied the experience of the project "Green Rural Revival Program," and have proposed to implement the "High-quality Development Project for Counties, Towns and Villages" in Guangdong. We have made the project a top priority amid our efforts to promote Guangdong’s high-quality development. The project aims to coordinate the advantages of the county, the characteristics of the towns and the resources of the villages by pooling resources and strengthens of all sectors in order to promote the development of the county, the towns and the villages, and to achieve a good start to the 14th Five-Year Plan. The county GDP grew by 5.2% last year, 112 were included on the list of China’s top 1,000 towns, and the income ratio between urban and rural residents narrowed to 2.36:1. For example, Gaozhou, a county-level city under Maoming city, has driven county-wide revitalization by focusing on industrial development. Last year it attracted 74 new projects with a total investment of more than 8 billion yuan. This led to a 43.5% increase in industrial investment, driving the county's GDP to over 76 billion yuan.

Next, we will accelerate the construction of the "High-quality Development Project for Counties, Towns and Villages." Counties serve as the vanguard, with robust county economies bolstering city economies. We will accelerate new urbanization initiatives with a focus on county seats, and take tailored measures to cultivate industries that empower the county and enrich its citizens, such as food processing and culture and tourism sectors, thereby enhancing the county’s overall capacity to support development. Meanwhile, we will intensify efforts to improve county-level facilities and conditions for education and culture. Each county in Guangdong is distinct, necessitating a path of specialized and differentiated development. Whether it is industry, agriculture, commerce or tourism, we develop according to local strengths. For example, coastal counties with abundant marine resources are encouraged to develop the maritime economy, such as portside industries, marine pastures and seaside tourism. Towns act as nodal points, playing an important role in connecting cities and villages. We will speed up the creation of comprehensive service networks, thriving business hubs and convenient living environments, transforming towns into centers of rural governance, service and economic activity. Villages are the bedrock. We must give priority to developing rural industries and improving the living environment. In particular, we should better develop local specialties to create more renowned "Cantonese brand" agricultural products, boosting farmers’ incomes and wealth. For example, Maoming city has vigorously developed its distinctive agricultural sectors, including lychee, longan, and orange, with the total agricultural output exceeding 100 billion yuan for three consecutive years. We will continue to carry out projects that address weak links in rural areas, make great efforts to manage rural domestic wastewater and accelerate the construction of a beautiful and harmonious countryside that is ideal to both live and work in.

We believe that through continuous efforts, we will meet the target of realizing effectiveness in three years, significant changes in five years, and substantial transformation in 10 years, achieving a brand-new urban and rural landscape across Guangdong province and prosperity for all. Thank you.