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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Mr. Ye Jianchun, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiangxi Provincial Committee and governor of Jiangxi province

Mr. Ren Zhufeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Jiangxi province

Mr. Song Dexiong, director of the Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province

Mr. Ying Jiong, director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Jiangxi Province

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

May 16, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 18th press conference in the series "Promoting High-quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Ye Jianchun, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiangxi Provincial Committee and governor of Jiangxi province, to brief you on continuing Jiangxi's revolutionary glories and striving ahead in promoting high-quality development of its old revolutionary base areas. He will also take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Ren Zhufeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Jiangxi province; Mr. Song Dexiong, director general of the Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province; and Mr. Ying Jiong, director general of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Jiangxi Province.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Ye for his introduction. 

Ye Jianchun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I'm very glad to brief you on Jiangxi's efforts in promoting high-quality development. First of all, on behalf of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee, the Jiangxi provincial government and over 45 million Jiangxi residents, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your long-term interest in and support for Jiangxi's economic and social development. 

Jiangxi, with its naturally endowed abundance and talented people, is rich in revolutionary history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed great importance on Jiangxi's development and has shown deep care for people living in the old revolutionary base areas. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, he has inspected Jiangxi three times, charting the course and steering the direction of development for us. During his inspection last October, he assigned us a new position and mission: striving to lead both the promotion of high-quality development of old revolutionary base areas and the rise of the central region, and making sound efforts in advancing the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This has greatly boosted the confidence and morale of the entire province. Always bearing in mind his expectations for us with gratitude, we have pressed ahead with concrete steps, securing solid progress in promoting the building of a modern socialist Jiangxi in all respects. My introduction will involve six aspects:

First, Jiangxi's comprehensive economic strength has notably improved. We have consistently clung to the top priority of high-quality development, leading to an overall improvement in the province's comprehensive economic strength. Currently, Jiangxi has caught up in development. The province's GDP increased from 1.28 trillion yuan in 2012 to 3.22 trillion yuan ($444.2 billion) in 2023, crossing two trillion-yuan thresholds. Per capita GDP grew from 28,600 yuan in 2012 to 71,200 yuan in 2023, exceeding $10,000 if calculated at both the exchange rate on Dec. 31, 2023 and the current exchange rate. 

Second, Jiangxi has grown to be one of the provinces strong in industry. We have steadfastly implemented the strategy of building up the province's strength through industrial development, striving to enhance and expand the manufacturing sector as a crucial instrument to empower the province. As a result, Jiangxi has transitioned from a traditional big agricultural producer to a strong emerging player in industry. In 2023, our industrial value-added output reached 1.12 trillion yuan; the value added of manufacturing remained at around 33% of the province's GDP, ranking among the top nationwide; the total number of industrial enterprises above the designated size exceeded 18,000. Jiangxi now boasts one industry with an annual output of more than 1 trillion yuan and 14 industries each with an annual output of at least 100 billion yuan. Among them, the revenue of the electronic information industry reached 1.08 trillion yuan in 2023, ranking fourth nationwide; the revenue of non-ferrous metals and equipment manufacturing sectors approached 800 billion yuan and 700 billion yuan, respectively. The non-ferrous metals and equipment manufacturing sectors have continued their strong growth momentum this year, with the value added increasing by 20.5% and 17.1%, respectively, year on year in the first quarter. Both sectors are developing rapidly toward an annual output of 1 trillion yuan. 

Third, Jiangxi has deepened its reform and opening up. We remain committed to promoting reform and development through opening up, with reforms in key areas such as green finance and rural residential land leading the country, effectively tackling some deep-seated obstacles to high-quality development. Fully leveraging Jiangxi's unique geographical advantages in connecting China's eastern and western regions, linking its northern and southern regions and having access to both rivers and the sea, we have further advanced the establishment of an inland open economy pilot zone and actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, we have aligned with major national strategies such as the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Such in-depth opening up and cooperation have gathered more resources and factors for production, creating broader prospects for development.