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Speakers:

Mr. Wang Kai, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Henan Provincial Committee and governor of Henan province

Mr. Sun Shougang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Henan province

Ms. Zhang Min, vice governor of Henan province

Mr. Ma Jian, director of the Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission

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 9, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we are holding the 15th press conference in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." We have invited Mr. Wang Kai, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Henan Provincial Committee and governor of Henan province, to brief you on fostering new growth drivers and strengths and striving to build a splendid Henan in the rise of central China in the new era, and to take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Sun Shougang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Henan province, Ms. Zhang Min, vice governor of Henan province, and Mr. Ma Jian, director of the Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

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

Wang Kai:

Thank you. Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! It's a pleasure to meet you and discuss Henan's advancements towards high-quality development. First, on behalf of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and the Provincial Government, I extend my sincere gratitude to the media and all sectors of society for your consistent concern and support for Henan.

Henan province stands out as a key economic hub with a large population, abundant grain production and rich cultural heritage, playing a pivotal role in the historical development of Chinese civilization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Henan five times, delivering important speeches, issuing crucial directives and expressing his sincere hope that Henan would "strive to be excellent and achieve even greater splendor." We have always remembered his instructions, anchoring our efforts to ensure the building of a modern Henan in a high-quality and high-level way. Through our commitment and hard work we have achieved three major transformations, namely from a traditional agricultural province to an emerging industrial province, from a traditional transportation hub to a modern transportation hub and from a traditional inland province to an inland open highland. The regional GDP has surpassed the three-trillion-yuan mark.

We emphasize innovation-driven development, accelerating the creation of a national innovation hub and a significant talent center. We have prioritized strategies such as innovation-driven development, promoting science and education and strengthening talent, forming a major innovation framework centered around a science and technology hub, a medical science hub and an agriculture hub in China's central plains. We have 13 national key laboratories, 172 national-level innovation platforms and 20 provincial laboratories. The national supercomputing internet core node project has commenced construction. We have 12,000 high-tech enterprises and 72.7% of industrial enterprises above the designated size are engaged in research and development activities. We have attracted 390,000 high-level talents. In 2023, the number of invention patents granted in Henan increased by 20.3%. Technological innovation has become the primary driving force for Henan's development, leading to changes in development momentum, structure and quality.

We prioritize the real economy, accelerating the development of a strong manufacturing province. The high-quality development of the manufacturing industry is our main direction. We have implemented 11,000 key industrial projects with a total investment of 7.9 trillion yuan. In 2023, investment in high-tech manufacturing grew by 22.6%, 12 percentage points higher than the national average. There are over 11 million business entities, ranking fourth in the country, and 25,000 industrial enterprises above the designated size. Strategic emerging industries such as advanced equipment, electronic information and biopharmaceuticals are the main drivers of industrial growth. Products such as optical communication chips, sensors and superhard materials hold leading market shares nationwide. Yutong's buses, China Railway's shield machine, and xFusion's servers have become shining examples of Chinese manufacturing.

We are committed to accelerating the development of agriculture in the rural revitalization strategy. We prioritize national food security, maintaining a stable grain planting area of over 160 million mu (about 10.7 million hectares), with grain output exceeding 65 million tonnes for seven consecutive years. The wheat output has remained stable at over 35 million tonnes for nine consecutive years, with more than 30 million tonnes of raw grain and finished products being transported out annually. The production of oilseed crops and edible fungi ranks first in the country, while the production of vegetables and poultry eggs ranks second. Companies like Muyuan Foodstuff and Shuanghui Group lead globally, while rising stars like Mixue Ice Cream & Tea and Guoquan Shihui are emerging, with the modern food industry cluster exceeding one trillion yuan in scale.

We prioritize efficient transportation arteries and channels, accelerating the development of a province strong in transportation. Building a modern, comprehensive transportation network is a strategic support for integrating into the new development pattern. The high-speed rail network, resembling a radiating star pattern, has been fully completed. Zhengzhou Airport ranks among the world's top 40 cargo airports while Zhengzhou International Land Port can handle 10,000 trips of China-Europe freight trains annually. Highway freight turnover ranks second nationally. We have constructed six inland ports and nine functional ports. A multi-modal transport system integrating air, land, road, water and ports is rapidly forming, with logistics costs lower than the national average. Our strategic location connecting east and west, and linking north and south, is transforming into an advantage in the hub economy and comprehensive competitiveness.

We are dedicated to improving people's well-being and accelerating the building of happy communities. Guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods has always been our work's starting point and ultimate purpose. Over 78% of our budget is allocated to fiscal expenditure on livelihoods. Last year, we created 1.19 million urban jobs and 490,000 nonagricultural employment opportunities for the rural workforce. Our compulsory education completion rate reached 96.3%. We have 168 institutes of higher learning, accommodating 3.055 million students. We have built 12 regional medical centers , and elderly care services are now available in all communities. We strive to ensure that children have access to better education close to their homes, older people receive professional rehabilitation and care services within their communities, and everyone benefits from higher-quality medical services without needing to leave the province.

This March, General Secretary Xi Jinping chaired a symposium on further energizing the central region in the new era, aiming to navigate a new journey and chart a new blueprint for its rise. We will continue to implement the important speeches and directives made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to Henan, put into practice the series of policy measures made by the Party Central Committee in promoting the rise of the central region, develop new quality productive forces according to our local conditions, foster new driving forces of development, and create new comparative advantages. These will contribute to our goal of charting a new course for the splendid development of the Central Plains in the new era, building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. 

That's all for my opening introduction. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Wang, for your introduction. Next, we will move on to the Q&A session. Please identify the media organization you represent before raising your questions.

Science and Technology Daily:

We've noticed that Henan has introduced new measures to boost scientific and technological innovation. Could you share more details about this with us? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Thank you for your question. Faced with a complex external environment and a new round of technological and industrial revolution, the CPC Henan Provincial Committee has taken a forward-looking approach to planning and decision-making for the next 30 years. We have established the pioneering Science and Technology Innovation Committee, with the Party secretary and the governor of Henan serving as its chairs. This committee has systematically planned and advanced the construction of an innovation system and comprehensive reform. We are striving to accelerate scientific and technological innovation, which can be seen in four main aspects.

First, we have built a "three-pillared" innovation platform. To better align with national strategic technology initiatives, we have developed the Zhongyuan Science and Technology City, Zhongyuan Medical Science City, and Zhongyuan Agricultural Valley as a three-pillared innovation framework. Within a year, Zhongyuan Science and Technology City has risen to 19th among 348 similar cities nationwide, climbing 12 spots. Zhongyuan Medical Science City is now home to eight research institutes and 54 biopharmaceutical companies. It has also translated 55 research outcomes into practical applications. Zhongyuan Agricultural Valley has attracted 53 research platforms and 74 seed companies, cultivating the development of 122 new varieties. These areas have become magnets for Henan's innovation resources, talent, and driving forces of innovation.

Second, we have fostered dynamic forces for innovation development. Henan has continually strengthened the role of enterprises as the main drivers of innovation, facilitating the convergence of various innovation elements toward enterprises. We have provided comprehensive services for science and technology-oriented small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and high-tech enterprises, leading to the cultivation of 116 leading innovative companies, 454 high-growth gazelle companies, and 26,000 science and technology-oriented SMEs. For instance, DFD Group from Jiaozuo produces key materials for new energy batteries, while Autobio in Zhengzhou manufactures reagents and instruments for extracorporeal diagnosis. Their unique technologies have positioned them at the forefront of market competition.

Third, we have created an environment conducive to attracting and retaining talent. Henan prioritizes talent attraction and cultivation as a fundamental and strategic initiative. We have implemented comprehensive policies and measures to attract, nurture, employ, and retain talent. Over the past three years, we have attracted 28 top experts, 369 pioneering talents, and 16,000 individuals with doctoral or postdoctoral degrees. Currently, the province's total number of talented individuals exceeds 14.1 million, with an increasing number choosing to work in Henan and fulfill their dreams there.

Lastly, we have achieved outstanding innovation results. Henan has vigorously promoted collaborative innovation between industry, academia, and research institutions. We have encouraged enterprises above designated size to collaborate with universities in establishing 1,503 research and development centers. These efforts have led to 76 projects receiving national key research and development funding and the implementation of 78 provincial-level key scientific and technological projects. For instance, Songshan Laboratory in Henan is a provincial facility focused on researching and applying next-generation information technology. They've developed an endogenous cloud-native security platform , creating a robust cybersecurity shield for protected entities. This platform shifts from the traditional reactive defense method of "closing the barn door after the horse has bolted" to a proactive defense system with built-in immunity. The world's first endogenous cloud-native security platform is now up and running in Zhengzhou.

Henan will continue to build top-notch innovation platforms, foster leading innovation entities, and construct an exceptional innovation ecosystem. We aim to make innovation a defining feature of Henan in the new era. Thank you. 

People's Daily:

Henan is a populous province with rich human resources. Recently, it has implemented a vocational certification and skills enhancement initiative. Could you provide an update on its progress and discuss the next steps for its expansion? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

I'd like to ask Mr. Sun Shougang, our executive vice governor, to answer this.

Sun Shougang:

I'd like to thank People's Daily for its long-standing interest in and support for Henan's development. As the saying goes, "A skill in hand is a passport to the world." Henan's rich human resources are its most prominent advantage and the source of its vitality. In 2021, we introduced a vocational certification and skills enhancement initiative, aiming to enhance our workforce's vocational competence and professional skills through vocational training, evaluation, and certification and to transform our population dividends into talent dividends.

First, the skilled workforce is rapidly expanding. We have improved the evaluation system and conducted large-scale skills training covering the entire labor cycle and all types of occupations for workers. Over the past three years, we have trained 13.43 million people. The province now has 18.17 million skilled workers, including 5.5 million high-skilled professionals. Both of these indicators rank among the top in the country, with the number of newly added skilled workers and high-skilled professionals ranking first nationwide.

Second, skills brands continue to shine. We are guiding various regions to build one human resources brand for each county, achieving standardized training, large-scale output, and comprehensive services. Over the past three years, we have delivered more than 13 million skilled workers. Time-honored human resources brands, such as "Civil Engineering and Architecture of Linzhou" and "Waterproofing Skills of Pingyu," and in recent years, we have also cultivated new human resources brands such as "Digital Craftsmen" and "Henan Agricultural Technicians."

Third, skills competitions are widely held. We benchmark against the WorldSkills Competition and the national vocational skills competition, hosting 100 vocational competitions and 1,000 event sessions annually, enabling tens of thousands of participants to obtain skill certificates. We successfully held two provincial competitions and won the right to host the third national competition in 2025, greatly inspiring enthusiasm for skill training and competitions across various job positions.

Fourth, skilled workers are gradually becoming high-quality technical professionals. Here, I will give you two examples. The first example is students majoring in Electron Microscopy from Henan Chemical Technician College, who have secured jobs at research institutes of top universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. The second example is Jiang Yuhe, a girl from Henan born after 2000. She dropped out of school to work, but, after systematic training, won the championship at the WorldSkills Competition. She is now a senior lecturer at a technical school. Her remarkable life transformation is inspiring more and more young people to develop their skills and contribute to the country. There are many examples like Jiang Yuhe in Henan.

We will continue to make dedicated efforts, focusing on cultivating new quality productive forces and modern industrial systems, optimizing the structure, and improving quality. This will enable more Henan craftspeople to show their skills across various industries and more Henan young people to develop their talents and realize their dreams. Thank you.

Economic Daily:

I learned that Henan has introduced a series of policy measures to optimize the business environment, such as establishing a platform for "enjoying enterprise-friendly policies without application" and establishing a provincial business environment complaint and reporting center. What other measures has Henan province taken to optimize the business environment? What are the next steps? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Mr. Ma Jian, please answer this question.

Ma Jian:

Thank you for your question. To judge the quality of the ecological environment, just see if the birds fly here to vote. To judge the quality of the business environment, watch if enterprises come here to invest. In recent years, Henan has continuously treated the optimization of the business environment as a major project and strategic foundational work, achieving significant results. Our efforts can be summarized in four areas:

First, we are enhancing systematic planning and leadership capability. We closely follow the needs of enterprises, continuously deepen reforms, and push for policy iteration and upgrades on an annual basis. We have launched more than 1,000 reform measures in total. Last year, the CPC provincial committee held a plenary session and made special arrangements for comprehensive reforms to support the business environment. We established the pillars to optimize the business environment, using stable policy support to guide corporate expectations, boost corporate confidence, and ensure that enterprises truly benefit from these policies.

Second, we are building the foundation by combining both soft and hard environments. We are committed to simultaneously promoting and improving the soft and hard environments for investment. For instance, we have spent more than a decade turning Henan's star-shaped high-speed rail network from a "paper blueprint" into a "land thoroughfare." The China (Zhengzhou) International Mail Distribution Port has officially opened, becoming the fourth of its kind in the country after Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. We continue to deepen reforms such as "handling matters in one go," addressing complaints immediately, and implementing policies for enjoying enterprise-friendly policies without application. Our integrated government service capability has ranked in the top group nationwide for two consecutive years. We regularly conduct the "Ten Thousand People Assisting Ten Thousand Enterprises" initiative, which has helped solve over 110,000 problems for enterprises. We are striving to create an environment where businesses can "stay and thrive" by optimizing the hard environment and overcoming soft environment barriers.

Third, we are promoting practical results through evaluation and improvement. We consider enterprise satisfaction to be the golden standard for the business environment. For five consecutive years, we have conducted business environment evaluations, assessing the effectiveness of reforms, identifying problems, proposing policy recommendations, and implementing targeted reforms from the perspective of enterprises, ensuring that they truly feel the benefits. The vitality of business entities has significantly improved. As the governor just mentioned, the number of business entities in the province has exceeded 11 million, ranking fourth nationwide.

Fourth, we are responding to appeals and solving difficult issues. We insist on taking the rule of law as the core focus of optimizing the business environment. We actively explore new models for responding to enterprise demands, establishing the provincial business environment complaint and reporting center, opening complaint and reporting channels, setting up an online platform for complaints and reports, and issuing measures for investigating and handling business environment complaints and reports to form a closed-loop resolution mechanism for corporate complaints, allowing enterprises to "have somewhere to file a complaint and have a solution if they have a complaint." We sincerely stand up for companies, help them resolve issues, and effectively safeguard business entities' legitimate rights and interests. 

There is always room to optimize the business environment. We will make persistent efforts and continue to promote the development of a market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment that meets high standards. This will make enterprise investment more convenient and efficient and public services more comfortable and convenient.

Thank you.

Red Star News:

Henan's annual grain output has remained above 130 billion jin, or 65 billion kilograms, for several consecutive years, accounting for a significant portion of the country's total. What will Henan do to maintain its advantage?

Wang Kai:

Thanks for your question; I will address it. Henan is known as the "granary of the Central Plains ," meaning the province's harvests could guarantee the whole country's grain supply. This season, you can see endless wheat fields along the roads when traveling through Henan by high-speed railway. Whenever I see such a scene, I feel immense gratitude toward this land and its people. Covering one-sixteenth of China's farmland, Henan produces nearly one-tenth of the country's grain and one-quarter of its wheat. Grain production is Henan's trump card, which we cannot and will not lose under any circumstances. To maintain our advantage, we must integrate the use of fertile farmland, good varieties, advanced machinery, and suitable methods.

First, an increase in grain production relies on fertile farmland. Work should be focused on turning farmland into modern fertile land. In 2022, besides over 850 billion mu (about 57 billion hectares) of high-standard farmlands, we established a demonstration zone with 150 billion mu of high-standard farmlands, investing an average of 4,000 yuan per mu in line with the principles of standardization, modernization, intellectualization, large-scale operation, normalization, and environmental protection. Upon completion, grain yield per mu will increase by 220 jin, worth an additional 330 yuan. Meanwhile, the yield of the entire zone will increase by 3.3 billion jin with an added value of 4.9 billion yuan. Henan's grain output in 2022 reached 136 billion jin and is expected to increase by 10 billion jin, aiming for at least 140 billion jin by 2025.

Second, the increase in grain production relies on good varieties. Farmers always say that "all your endeavors will come in vain without good varieties." Henan vigorously initiated a campaign to revitalize the seed industry and became the top province with the most selected varieties in the national list in 2023, holding 12 leading varieties. At present, more than 97% of Henan's farmland is sown with improved varieties , contributing over 45% to the increase in grain output. The annual output of wheat seeds reached 3.6 billion jin, accounting for 38% of the country's total. The province also maintains a nationwide leading edge in the sectors of corn, peanuts and sesame breeds.

Third, the increase in grain production relies on advanced equipment. Currently, Henan has 3.19 million tractors and 7.28 million pieces of supporting agricultural machinery and tools, ranking first in the country. The entire process of wheat and corn production is essentially mechanized.

Fourth, the increase in grain production relies on suitable methods. To ensure high yield, efforts should be made to apply good methods, besides using good varieties. In 2023, Henan carried out a batch of technical models, such as reasonable plant density for corn production, the integration of water and fertilizer, and multi-functional pesticide spraying. As a result, the per unit yield of many high-yield corn demonstration zones in the province exceeded 2,000 jin. The yield per mu increased by an average of 25 jin, and the total yield increased by 1.96 billion jin.

In conclusion, the key to fully leveraging the above-mentioned four advantages is to protect and mobilize farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain. We will consistently make efforts to reinforce agriculture and benefit farmers, enabling grain growers to earn higher incomes and embrace a brighter future. Thank you.

Beijing Youth Daily:

Currently, there are numerous popular cultural and tourism projects across the country. Could you give us an introduction to Henan's unique tourism resources? What measures will the province take to improve the tourist experience and tourism services? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Ms. Zhang Min will answer your questions.

Zhang Min:

Thank you for your concern and support for Henan's culture and tourism. Henan enjoys a rich history and abundant cultural heritage, including the culture of the Central Plains , the Yellow River culture, Chinese root-kin culture, and culture related to early CPC history. I would like to give a brief introduction from three aspects.

First, we step up efforts to bringing cultural relics back to life. We have created new scenarios of demonstration platforms to highlight cultural relics in museums, heritage sites, and ancient texts. In recent years, the Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital and Zhengzhou Archaeological Park of the Shang Dynasty have showcased their cultural heritage in better and more vivid ways through digital displays, immersive experiences, and mobile communication. Archaeological "blind boxes," ancient-style beauty model kits, and other creative cultural products sold in Henan Museum have become very popular. This year, nearly 3,000 precious cultural relics are on display for the first time in Yinxu Museum, providing tourists with more opportunities to connect with history through tortoise shells, animal bones, and bronze ware.

Second, we work hard to make traditional Chinese culture thrive. Henan always adheres to maintaining the right orientation while pursuing innovation, using modern elements to enrich cultural heritage and make traditional culture relevant to contemporary trends. In recent years, a series of dance shows like "Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace " and "The Prayer ," inspired by ancient poems, songs, and figurines, have gained widespread acclaim. Programs presented by Henan Radio and TV Station to celebrate the Spring Festival have become internet sensations. Tourists flock to Henan to learn Tai Chi, practice Kung Fu, listen to Yu Opera, taste tea, wear Hanfu, a traditional clothing of the Chinese in ancient times, watch peonies, and appreciate the culture of the Tang and Song dynasties in Henan cities. We are currently working on themed routes featuring Yangshao Culture, the Xia and Shang civilizations, and ancient Chinese capitals to better showcase the profound, time-honored, and unique charm of Chinese culture.

Third, we strive to enrich the cultural and tourism market. Cultural tourism allows people to experience daily hustle and bustle and explore idyllic, distant horizons. We're actively shaping the "Walking in Henan, Understanding China " cultural tourism brand, showcasing our essence. We boast traditional attractions like the Longmen Grottoes , Shaolin Temple , and Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden , as well as new landmarks like Luoyi ancient city and the "Unique Henan, Land of Drama " theatre complex, inviting everyone to immerse in the beauty of our heritage. We emphasize green initiatives by developing iconic sites like the Yuntai Mountain and Laojun Mountain . We are also promoting the high-quality development of the Yellow River Cultural and Tourism Belt to showcase our natural splendor. Furthermore, we're dedicated to carrying forward our revolutionary traditions and heritage, inspiring the youth with the spirit of Jiao Yulu, Hongqi Canal , and the Dabie Mountains .

We welcome our friends from the media to explore the rich history and culture of Henan province, and experience the warmth of our people, the beauty of our landscapes, and the dynamism of our development. Let's journey together toward a brighter future. Thank you.

Jinan Times APP: 

The Yellow River is one of the mother rivers of the Chinese nation, and Henan province holds a crucial position in the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. What measures has Henan taken to protect the Yellow River? What are the next steps? Thank you.

Sun Shougang:

Thank you for your question. In 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping chaired a symposium in Zhengzhou and urged continuous efforts to ensure the Yellow River benefit the people . Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin have since become a major national strategy. Over the past five years, Henan has pursued the strategic direction of "working together to protect and harness the Yellow River," achieving significant progress in ecological protection of the river. I will summarize our efforts with several keywords.

The first keyword is "tranquility." "With the Yellow River being calm, peace reigns throughout the land." We have constructed 501 kilometers of standardized embankments, completed 98 control and diversion projects, and resettled 300,000 residents from the Yellow River flood plain. Additionally, we have digitized Yellow River management, implementing intelligent prewarning systems and precise scheduling, coordinating flood control and prevention measures in upstream and downstream areas, on both banks and along main and tributary channels, efficiently handling various risks. In 2021, we successfully fought off the most severe autumn flood in the Yellow River since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), ensuring the safety of people's lives and property and the long-term stability of the river.

The second keyword is "water quality." We actively promote the protection and governance of water environments in the main trunk and tributaries of the Yellow River, intensifying efforts to address pollution sources. Currently, 94% of the river's nationally monitored sections in Henan reported water quality of above Class III, and the quality of Yellow River water entering Shandong remains above Class II, achieving the effect of "the Yellow River flowing through the Central Plains region and winding its way into the ocean with much cleaner water."

The third keyword is "green." We have led the way in completing ultra-low emission transformations of enterprises in key industries in the basin, establishing 185 green factories at or above the provincial level and 13 green industrial parks. In 2023, energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial value-added decreased by 23.5% from 2019, and water consumption decreased by 40.8% compared to 2020. This resulted in a more robust green orientation in industry and significantly improved resource and energy utilization efficiency.

The fourth keyword is "beautiful." Through the implementation of ecological protection and restoration projects, we have built over 1,200 kilometers of ecological corridors along the Yellow River, afforested more than 4.6 million mu of land, and controlled water and soil erosion over an area of 9,600 square kilometers. With the improvement of the environment, this area has become an important wintering ground for the whooper swan s, and rare species such as the Baer's pochard , known as the "giant panda of birds," breed and inhabit here. Currently, the Henan section of the Yellow River offers enchanting sights of an abundance of spring blossoms and picturesque scenery. We welcome everyone to take a road trip along the Yellow River No.1 Tourist Highway to experience the magnificent spectacle of the Yellow River.

Next, we will prioritize ecological protection and green development, continuing our efforts to protect the "Mother River." We will focus on ecological sustainability, promote Yellow River culture, develop digital management systems, and create a river that enhances people's well-being. This will allow people along the Yellow River to share more benefits and enjoy its beauty. We aim to share the stories of the Yellow River in the new era and demonstrate Henan's greater responsibility. Thank you!

Nanfang Metropolis Daily:

Henan is a populous province with significant healthcare needs. What measures has Henan taken to make it easier and more affordable for people to access medical treatment ? What are the considerations for the next steps? Thank you.

Ma Jian:

Thank you for your question. As you mentioned, Henan is a populous province, and no issue is small when it comes to the livelihoods of 100 million people. Healthcare and medical treatment are especially issues that concern the people the most. In response, we adhere to a problem-oriented approach, systematically strengthening medical services at three levels to comprehensively improve the quality of healthcare.

First, we have exerted efforts to improve primary-level medical services to ensure that quality treatment services for minor ailments are accessible at community-level medical institutions. In recent years, Henan has focused on promoting the development of county-level medical consortia to enhance the primary-level medical institutions' capacity. We have established 172 medical consortia, achieving full coverage at the county level. We have implemented an initiative to reform and improve the rural medical and healthcare system, providing subsidies for the basic operation of 59,000 village clinics across the province, comprehensively enhancing the service capabilities of township and community-based health service centers. We have also ensured that "every township has a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic" and "every village has TCM services," thus strengthening the foundation of primary-level medical and healthcare services.

Furthermore, we have focused on attracting high-end medical resources to make medical treatments of serious diseases convenient and cost-effective for patients within the province. Seizing the historic opportunity brought by the national initiative to expand high-quality medical resources to lower-tier cities, we have targeted medical branches with a large patient base and urgent demand, such as oncology, cardiovascular, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. We have established 12 national and regional medical centers and introduced 392 new technologies and services, with 98 filling gaps in domestic and international markets. This has achieved our initial goal of ensuring that patients do not need to leave the province to seek treatment for serious illnesses. For example, since the establishment of the Beijing Children's Hospital Zhengzhou Branch, from 2019 to 2023, outpatient visits of children from Henan at Beijing Children's Hospital decreased by 58%, and inpatient admissions decreased by 66.8%. This has significantly reduced medical expenses for patients and greatly alleviated the burden on family members.

Third, we have cultivated top-notch medical expertise to develop a strong and technology-powered medical sector. Since last year, we have accelerated medical and technological innovation efforts, introducing a series of measures and integrating provincial resources to promote the reconstruction of the Henan Province Medical Sciences Academy and the integrated development of the Central Plains Medical Sciences City. We are comprehensively reshaping the medical scientific innovation system in Henan. At the same time, we are establishing a national traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical center and building the TCM Academy, as we are striving for new accomplishments in medical science and the biopharmaceutical industry.

We will always prioritize people's concerns, focusing on public health. We will accelerate the development of a hub for medical and health innovation, expand and promote accessibility of high-quality medical resources, and strive to ensure that people receive timely, affordable, and effective medical treatment when needed. In particular, we will leverage Henan's TCM resources, strengthen collaboration between TCM and Western medicine, and emphasize both prevention and treatment. Our goal is to minimize the occurrence of illnesses and keep people as healthy as possible.

Thank you.

CCTV:

Earlier, Mr. Wang mentioned that Henan will accelerate the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse in the province. Could you please introduce what advantages Henan has in the manufacturing industry and which areas will be the focus of future efforts? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Thank you to the journalist friend for the questions and to China Media Group for its continuous support for Henan. I will answer your questions. Henan has well-fledged industries with a well-established system. Of the 41 major industrial categories, Henan has 40, and of the 207 subcategories, Henan has 197. Henan's industries serve as the starting point, supporting point, and conjunction point for many industrial cycles. We aim to accelerate the building of a strong manufacturing industrycharacterized by high levels, streamlined structure, strong innovation, deep integration, and good resilience. Our focus can be summarized by the numbers "five," "six," and "seven."

"Five" refers to focusing on the five foundations: basic components, basic electronic components, basic materials, basic processes, and basic software. We will strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, research, and practical application, concentrating on breakthroughs in key core and bottleneck technologies and rebuilding industrial foundations. In 2023 alone, we achieved breakthroughs in 50 "five foundation" technologies, including the production technology of silicon carbide new materials, breaking foreign monopolies. By 2025, we expect to achieve breakthroughs in another 100 items, promoting more Henan products to enter the mid-to-high-end market.

"Six" refers to making breakthroughs in the areas of new infrastructure, technologies, new materials, new equipment, new products, and new business models. This is a strategic choice to seize opportunities and promote the high-end, intelligent, and green transformation of industries. Luoyang CITIC Heavy Industry , through its intelligent transformation, has achieved a 25% increase in production efficiency and a 10% reduction in energy consumption. It has been selected as one of the country's first batch of "digital leading" enterprises. Henan is accelerating the full coverage of digital transformation and R&D activities in industrial enterprises above the designated scale. By 2025, the coverage rate of intelligent application scenarios is expected to reach 100%.

"Seven" refers to leveraging seven trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters as the foundation and building the "7+28+N" modern industrial system. The "7" represents seven trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters, including new materials, new energy vehicles, electronic information, advanced equipment, modern medicine, modern food, and modern textile industries. The "28" represents 28 100-billion-yuan-level key industrial chains, including superhard materials. The "N" represents specialized and emerging sub-sectors such as nanomaterials and synthetic biology. The "7+28+N" industrial clusters have been at the forefront of promoting new industrialization in Henan. It is estimated that by 2025, the industrial scale will exceed 7 trillion yuan. 

Additionally, we have taken a project-oriented scheme in which we should sign a batch of projects, get a batch of projects off the ground, and put a batch of projects into operation each quarter. Under that scheme, we have implemented 17,400 projects in 12 quarters, over 60% of which were industrial ones. With an optimized and adjusted investment structure, traditional industries are accelerating their transformation, emerging industries are being nurtured faster, and future industries are rapidly developing. As a result, the overall quality of the economy has significantly improved. 

Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Two last questions, please.

China Daily:

We have noticed that Zhengzhou recently launched a direct flight to Luxembourg, which is Luxembourg's first intercontinental passenger route. Could you please share what initiatives Henan has undertaken to promote the construction of the Air Silk Road and support the Belt and Road Initiative? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Please let Ms. Zhang answer this question.

Zhang Min:

Thank you, China Daily, for your long-term interest in and support for Henan. I would like to give you an introduction here. First is about this air route. The Zhengzhou-Luxembourg Air Silk Road symbolizes Henan's commitment to promoting high-level opening-up. Since its opening in June 2014, with Zhengzhou and Luxembourg as "dual hubs," this air route has built a bridge to reach over 200 cities in 24 countries, known as "one point connecting three continents, one line connecting Europe and America." Salmon from Northern Europe, cherries from South America, and the latest Italian fashions can be distributed across China within 12 hours after entering Zhengzhou Airport. Our Henan-made smartphones, precision machinery, and beauty products can also reach the world through this Air Silk Road.

Second, we are reaching out to each other. Zhengzhou and Luxembourg leverage their geographical advantages and cooperate closely for mutual benefit. Their cargo and mail throughputs rank among the world's top 40 and top 20 respectively. Utilizing the Air Silk Road, Henan is also actively developing clusters of aviation-preferred industries such as electronic information, biomedicine, and modern services, gathering strong momentum to develop new quality productive forces. With the efficient operation of the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg tourism visa platform and the successful launch of direct passenger flight routes, connectivity and communication between Henan and the world have become more convenient and closer. Currently, 198 Fortune 500 companies have established a presence in Henan, and Henan's enterprises have also expanded their business to over 100 countries and regions globally. Not long ago, the "Small But Beautiful: Treasures of Cultural Heritage from Luxembourg" exhibition made a splendid debut in Zhengzhou, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral exchanges through cultural relics. Next month, the second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg Air Silk Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Luxembourg. All these efforts show that our relationship is moving from "hard connectivity" to a "heart-to-heart connection."

Third, we are advancing on four roads. Henan is vigorously developing four "Silk Roads" — in the air, on land, at sea, and online — relying on the Air Silk Road. These efforts form a new pattern of multi-dimensional openness as part of the joint initiative to build the Belt and Road. The China-Europe freight trains are fully loaded both ways, creating an international logistics network that connects over 40 countries. Cross-border e-commerce operates under the principle of "buy globally, sell globally," with annual transaction volumes exceeding 230 billion yuan. We are currently constructing six modern ports, including Zhoukou Port, to enable inland river shipping routes to reach the sea, opening new channels for the Central Plains of China to have access to the ocean.

Moving forward, we will further expand the Air Silk Road from Zhengzhou to more cities in Europe and Southeast Asia, strengthen the hub economy, enhance high-level openness, and build a more competitive inland opening-up highland. Thank you!

21st Century Business Herald:

The Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone is the only experimental zone approved by the State Council that focuses on the aviation-related economy. How is it going? What are the development goals and measures for the next step? Thank you.

Wang Kai:

Mr. Sun is the secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. He will answer these questions.

Sun Shougang:

Thank you for your questions. In 2013, the State Council approved the establishment of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. It has developed from scratch for more than a decade, rapidly increasing its comprehensive strength. In 2023, it achieved a regional GDP of 129.5 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 14% over the decade.

First, we focus on the hub. As you know, Zhengzhou has a natural geographical advantage and serves as a major comprehensive transportation corridor in the country. Zhengzhou Airport has opened 49 international cargo flight routes, and its annual international cargo and mail throughput ranks among the top 40 globally. We are currently constructing the Zhengzhou International Land Port, which aims to be a modern, international, world-class logistics hub. It will be developed into a full-featured, high-capacity assembly center for China-Europe freight trains, connecting domestic and international routes and serving the eastern, central, and western regions of China. It will be capable of handling 10,000 China-Europe freight train departures annually. Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone Station was the first to launch high-speed rail express cargo services, and the number of vehicles monitored under the TIR (International Road Transport ) system accounts for over 70% of the national total. The Airport Economy Zone has established a major hub pattern integrating the airport, high-speed railways, the international land port, and highways.

Second, we focus on industries. In 2023, the total output of the electronic information industry in the Airport Economy Zone reached 533.4 billion yuan. It has established a complete industrial ecosystem from key core components to end products, essentially forming an airport-related industrial system led by electronic information. With a focus on promoting the high-quality development of manufacturing and accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, we will strive to build an electronic information industry cluster with international influence, which is expected to generate an annual output of 1 trillion yuan, an manufacturing base producing 1 million of new energy vehicles each year, a biopharmaceutical industry cluster with an annual output of 100 billion yuan, and an aerospace industry cluster with an annual output of 10 billion yuan.

Third, we focus on opening-up. The Airport Economy Zone has established a diverse, comprehensively functional, and highly efficient port system, becoming a vital gateway for inland regions to open up. The Xinzheng Comprehensive Bonded Zone has maintained an A-level ranking in performance assessments for four consecutive years. In terms of import and export, it has been consistently listed among the top of all comprehensive bonded zones nationwide, and it ranked first last year. We will leverage our position as a key node in the Silk Road Economic Belt, deeply integrate into the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and develop pioneering zones for the Air Silk Road. We will accelerate digital empowerment for "soft connectivity," advance institutional opening-up, create a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment, and establish high-level platforms for opening-up and cooperation.

In the first quarter of this year, the GDP of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone increased by 19.2% year on year, the added value of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 34.2%, and fixed asset investment grew by 10.2%. The Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone is gathering more factors of innovation at a fast pace, showing strong growth momentum. Its future is promising and full of potential.

That's all for my answer. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. Thank you to all the speakers. I also want to express gratitude to all journalists for your participation. Today's press conference concludes here. Goodbye, everyone.

Translated and edited by Wang Yiming, Yuan Fang, Guo Yiming, Ma Yujia, Wang Mengru, Lin Liyao, Wang Ziteng, Zhang Junmian, Liu Caiyi, He Shan, Zhang Rui, Wang Wei, Li Huiru, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Rochelle Beiersdorfer. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.