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Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Mr. Jin Xiangjun, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanxi Provincial Committee and governor of Shanxi province
Mr. Wu Wei, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Shanxi province
Mr. Tang Zhiping, vice governor of Shanxi province
Ms. Zhao Hongyan, vice governor of Shanxi province
Chairperson:
Mr. Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
May 15, 2024
Chen Wenjun:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 17th press conference in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today we are pleased to invite Mr. Jin Xiangjun, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanxi Provincial Committee and governor of Shanxi province, to brief you on Shanxi's efforts in pursuing high-quality development and advancing all-round transformation, and to engage in dialogue and answer your questions. Also present at today's press conference are: Mr. Wu Wei, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Shanxi province; Mr. Tang Zhiping, vice governor of Shanxi province; and Ms. Zhao Hongyan, vice governor of Shanxi province.
Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Jin for his introduction.
Jin Xiangjun:
Ladies and gentlemen, members of the media, good morning! I'm very pleased to meet you all. First of all, on behalf of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee and the provincial government, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your long-term attention to and support for the economic and social development of Shanxi.
On May 16, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping made his fourth inspection and research trip to Shanxi since the 18th CPC National Congress. On this first anniversary since his visit, it is very meaningful to have the opportunity to share new changes in Shanxi's pursuit of high-quality development and its comprehensive transformation through this press conference, an important platform provided by the SCIO.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has urged us to focus on transformation with extraordinary efforts and enduring achievements, and encouraged us to take the lead in forging a new path in transformational development. Bearing in mind his expectations, we have forged ahead with gratitude along the path of Chinese modernization.
We remain committed to moving toward a new future and accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system that reflects the unique advantages of Shanxi. "New" refers to aiming for new quality productive forces as a fundamental task, with a focus on making efforts and seeking breakthroughs in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, new industrialization and new-type energy system. Scientific and technological innovation leads the way. We have been gathering all the innovative elements in the province to build the Jinchuang Valley , an innovation-driven platform, and have achieved new breakthroughs in a number of important core technologies, such as high-speed maglev trains that run in a low-vacuum pipeline and furnaces to grow 8-inch silicon carbide crystals. New industrialization is the main direction. We are focused on advanced manufacturing, laying out and developing 71 industrial development zones, expanding and strengthening 16 provincial key industrial chains, creating a tiered cultivation system for 18 provincial towns with distinctive features, and launching 79 Shanxi-made premium products and services. A batch of new products are popular nationwide and already enjoy a global reputation. For example, we have produced the world's thinnest stainless steel foil , which is only 0.015 millimeters thick. To give you an idea, that's about one sixth of the thickness of a piece of regular A4-sized paper. During his inspection trip at Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group, General Secretary Xi Jinping praised them for "making refined steel so soft that it can even be wrapped around fingers ." Another example is the world's largest ladle crane with a lifting capacity of 550 metric tons, which is manufactured by Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group, demonstrating the excellence of made-in-China products. The new-type energy system plays a supportive role. We shoulder our responsibilities to ensure national energy security and promote comprehensive pilot reform in energy revolution. The number of intelligent coal mines, the output of unconventional natural gas, and the installed capacity of wind and solar power all rank among the top in the country. We have taken solid steps in trying out policies for the country and finding the right paths, and in facilitating transformation and gathering momentum in Shanxi.
We remain committed to striving for efficiency and fully stimulating the internal driving force and innovation vitality of business entities. Our main approach is to promote the benefits of business entities by enhancing the efficiency of the government, making the effective market more effective and the proactive government more proactive. We have deepened the reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and the main indicators of provincial enterprises are among the top in the country. We have worked to increase the proportion of private investment in fixed assets and the proportion of the added value of the private economy in GDP by more than 1 percentage point each year. We have accelerated the construction of a high-standard market system. For example, Shanxi is a pioneer in the national power market reform. Last year, Shanxi's electricity spot market officially started operation, becoming the first in the country. The China Taiyuan Coal Transaction Center is the largest coal spot trading market in the country. The China Price-Xinhua Coking Coal Price Index released in Shanxi is the only national-level coking coal index in the country and has become a barometer of the industry. We are striving to create a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. We have taken the lead nationwide in many reforms, such as the "one seal for administrative review and approval" practice, and expanded the coverage of one-stop government services to improve efficiency.
We are committed to pursuing green development and accelerating the construction of a beautiful Shanxi. We have initiated greening programs in the Taihang Mountains and Lyuliang Mountains, promoted ecological improvement for seven rivers including the Fenhe River and Sanggan River, and enhanced ecological conservation for five lakes, including Yanhu Lake and Jinyang Lake. We have made substantial progress in the battle against pollution along the main branches of the Yellow River. According to evaluations by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Shanxi's pollution prevention and control efforts have ranked excellent for two consecutive years. Notably, in Shanxi, a heavy industrial hub in north China, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 has decreased to 37 micrograms per cubic meter. As the eco-environment continues to improve, Shanxi now boasts the highest population of North China leopards in the country. The number of brown-eared pheasants, a species under top-level state protection and selected as Shanxi's provincial bird, has grown significantly. Yuncheng Wetland Nature Reserve along the Yellow River has become a major winter habitat for wild white swans from Siberia. This year, black-headed gulls were spotted at the Taiyuan Fenhe Wetland Park for the first time. These changes have significantly enhanced people's sense of gain and earned praise from visitors to Shanxi.
The ultimate goal of promoting high-quality development and advancing all-round transformation is to fulfill the people's aspirations for a better life. We have strived to promote people's well-rounded development and achieve prosperity for all. Each year, over 80% of Shanxi's government expenditures have been dedicated to ensuring people's well-being. Income growth for both urban and rural residents in the province has surpassed GDP growth. Shanxi has been ranked Level A for six consecutive years in a national evaluation for ensuring the timely payment of wages to rural migrant workers. All county-level general hospitals meet Grade 2A standards. The average length of education for people over the age of 15 ranks among the top in the country. Every year, we have delivered tangible benefits to the public, enabling the residents of Shanxi to enjoy increasingly better lives.
That concludes my brief introduction. Now, my colleagues and I will answer your questions.
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Chen Wenjun:
Thank you, Mr. Jin. Now, the floor is open for questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising questions.
National Business Daily:
We have noticed that in recent years, Shanxi has adopted many measures to promote scientific and technological innovation. Mr. Governor mentioned the development of Shanxi Innovation Valley , an innovation-driven platform, in his introduction. Could you please elaborate on this? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. I'll answer it. The CPC Shanxi Committee and the Shanxi provincial government place great importance on scientific and technological innovation. We have focused on the integrated development of innovation, industry, capital, and talent chains, gathering all available resources in the province to build Shanxi Innovation Valley, a high-level innovation-driven platform. We have developed a three-year action plan and implemented 26 policies and measures, some of which are unprecedented. For example, we have decided to provide 300,000 yuan to 1 million yuan ($41,412 to $138,039) as start-up funds for innovators establishing themselves in Shanxi. Additionally, we have introduced an equity investment error tolerance mechanism, allowing for a project failure rate of up to 80%. We have also allocated 2 billion yuan at the provincial level to set up angel investment funds for scientific and technological innovation projects. Currently, Shanxi Innovation Valley platform has established two sub-venues in Taiyuan and Datong. Other cities in Shanxi province are also gathering their innovative resources to build sub-venues based on their own distinctive features. We sincerely welcome talented teams from home and abroad to engage in innovation, start businesses, and realize their dreams in Shanxi Innovation Valley.
Next, we will continue to reinforce the principal role of enterprises in innovation. We will improve the technological innovation system, research planning methods, and service and security mechanisms, positioning enterprises as the primary actors. There are things we will do and things we won't do. Focusing on advancing all-round transformation, we will strive to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields such as cleaner and more efficient coal usage and coal-bed gas exploration and exploitation.
We will better stimulate the vitality of researchers. During our investigations, we discovered that researchers are often restricted by various barriers, such as burdensome processes for project applications, assessments, supervision, and evaluations, insufficient autonomy in research funding usage and management, and unclear distribution of research yields. We will establish working teams to delve into labs, enterprises, and higher learning institutions to provide policy guidance and services. Through this approach, we will develop a template for reform that is applicable to other areas in the province. Simply put, we will release researchers from the fetters of administrative chores, enabling them to freely and fully devote their time and energy to scientific exploration.
We will continuously improve the fundamental systems that support comprehensive innovation. We will establish an integrated mechanism for advancing education, science and technology, and talent, with a focus on reforming the evaluation system in the science and technology sector. Guided by innovation value, capability and contribution, we will accelerate the establishment of a talent evaluation system in the science and technology sector. Additionally, we will reform the evaluation system for scientific and technological achievements based on their scientific, technological, economic, social and cultural value. Over the next three years, we will invest 10 billion yuan in implementing the Higher Education 10-Billion-Yuan Special Fund Project, which began last year. We aim to cultivate and attract a number of national-level leading talents, innovative teams and young PhD graduates from high-level universities.
Thank you!
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People's Daily:
Shanxi is a major coal-producing province and was designated as a pilot province for comprehensive energy revolution reforms in 2019. Could you please share what progress Shanxi has made in transitioning to green and low-carbon alternatives ? What are the plans for the next step? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your questions. I will ask my colleague, Executive Vice Governor Wu Wei, to answer them.
Wu Wei:
Thank you for your questions. The CPC Central Committee has designated Shanxi as a pilot province for reform, providing us with a new path for green transformation. We have earnestly implemented the new strategy for energy security, taken bold steps to implement pilot reforms, strived to build a new energy system and worked hard to create a pioneering zone for the comprehensive energy revolution reforms in the country. Our goal is to take concrete actions to shift from being a leading coal producer to becoming a pioneer in the energy revolution.
We have comprehensively improved our energy supply level. On the basis of ensuring safety, we rely on smart and green transformations to further improve mining efficiency and ensure energy supply. Currently, all underground coal mining faces in Shanxi have achieved comprehensive mechanization; 54% of coal production capacity has realized intelligent mining; and over 80% of coal production capacity is advanced. This has attracted a large number of smart coal-mining enterprises, including Huawei's coal mine team, to establish themselves in Shanxi. Additionally, we vigorously develop unconventional natural gas and prioritize the development of new energy. The annual output of coalbed methane has exceeded 10 billion cubic meters, and the installed capacity of new and clean energy accounts for 46.4%. Notably, Shanxi ranks first in the country for delivering green electricity to other regions.
We have enacted the country's first local regulation for clean and efficient use of coal, strived to make breakthroughs in key energy technologies, promoted new green, low-carbon and energy-saving technologies, and accelerated the formation of new energy consumption models. Currently, over 90% of new buildings in the province are green buildings, and the coverage rate of clean heating in urban and rural areas is over 90%. Zhuangshang village in Yuncheng city has become the first zero-carbon energy demonstration village in China, and all buses and taxis in 11 cities' built-up areas have been replaced with new energy vehicles. In the first three years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the province's energy consumption intensity has cumulatively decreased by 10.9%, ranking among the top in the country.
We have deepened the energy system revolution, strategically reorganized four major provincial coal enterprises, explored reforms in mineral rights, conducted pilot projects for the co-extraction of associated resources like coal and aluminum, and established the country's first electricity spot market. We continuously expand opening-up and cooperation in the energy sector, with the Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum gaining increased recognition. We have collaborated with international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank to implement a number of green and low-carbon development demonstration projects. We are confident and capable of successfully carrying out the pilot work, achieving new strides in high-quality development for a major energy province. Thank you!
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Yicai:
Mr. Jin just mentioned that Shanxi aims to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and international. Could you please elaborate how this work is being implemented? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Sure, thank you for your question. I would like to invite Deputy Governor Tang Zhiping to answer this question.
Tang Zhiping:
Thank you for your attention to the business environment in Shanxi. In recent years, we have continuously optimized the business environment and actively explored comprehensive reforms such as the implementation of the "one-seal approval system" to enhance administrative efficiency. We have launched the "Business-friendly Insurance" project, providing free insurance to all industrial and commercial enterprises at all levels in the province, covering 68% of the province's business entities, which is a pioneering initiative nationwide. According to the "Business Environment Evaluation by Ten Thousand Private Enterprises" released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce in 2023, Shanxi is one of five provinces that has seen the most significant progress. Optimizing the business environment is a perpetual ongoing process, and we will continue to make efforts to enhance the satisfaction of business entities toward our business environment.
First, we will further relax market access to facilitate business investment. Last year, we established a long-term mechanism by releasing five batches of projects to private capital on a quarterly basis, totaling 460 projects. Moving forward, we will continue to streamline access and operations in sectors such as energy, transportation, tourism, and wellness. We aim to stimulate private capital investment and foster a fair, competitive environment.
Second, we will enhance government services to make business operations more convenient. Focusing on the high-frequency services that matter most to businesses and the public, we have not only completed the 13 nationally mandated tasks, such as credit repair, but also identified 14 additional high-frequency tasks to ensure efficient and effective implementation.
Third, we will further standardize regulatory enforcement to give businesses more peace of mind. We will continue to promote the "one industry, one inspection" initiative and enhance the new regulatory mechanism featuring "Internet Plus Supervision." We are committed to avoiding overlapping enforcement, promptly responding to concerns, and minimizing unnecessary disturbances. We will also strengthen collaboration between the government and the courts to expedite the handling of cases involving businesses, ensuring the protection of their legitimate rights and interests, and creating a more favorable environment for entrepreneurs.
Fourth, we will proactively address challenges faced by enterprises to boost their confidence. By leveraging the "one-stop" service platform for enterprise-related policies, we have made it easier for companies to access and benefit from them. Additionally, we have integrated various platforms, channels, and resources, such as the "12345" government service hotline and the government service experience program, to establish the "Woodpecker" working mechanism. This allows us to actively identify and promptly resolve issues, demonstrating our sincerity and building confidence in business development.
Thank you!
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Phoenix Satellite Television:
Shanxi has become increasingly active in international trade and economic cooperation. Could you provide details on the specific measures being taken to expand opening-up and to accelerate the establishment of a new highland for opening-up in inland areas? Thank you!
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. I will answer it. As many of you may have noticed, last month, a China-Europe Railway Express train departing from Shanxi arrived in Barcelona, Spain, for the first time. Currently, the province operates 15 regular lines of the China-Europe Railway Express, connecting 48 cities in 16 countries worldwide. It's fair to say that, as an inland province, Shanxi's door to the outside world is opening wider and wider. Regarding the key measures you are concerned about for the next steps, I believe they can be summarized as "four key focuses."
First, we will simultaneously advance institutional opening-up and opening-up based on the flow of production factors. Starting with the establishment of a high-standard market system, we have replicated and promoted 136 practices from free trade pilot zones and introduced 16 high-standard regulations aligned with international standards. We have improved policies and measures to support self-operated export of bulk commodities, facilitate the transfer of manufacturing industries encouraging foreign investment from eastern regions , and promote innovation in the opening-up of service trade.
Second, we will prioritize both external and internal opening-up efforts. On the one hand, we will actively integrate into major national strategies, leveraging our comparative advantages to expand development opportunities. On the other hand, we will proactively implement the eight key steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen regional cooperation with member countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and promote multimodal transportation connections such as rail-sea, air-rail, and road-rail transportation. We will particularly focus on enhancing passenger routes to Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, expanding freight routes to the Americas and Europe, and improving the functionality of platforms such as comprehensive bonded zones, cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, aviation hubs, international land ports, and overseas warehouses.
Third, we will emphasize the synergy between "going out" and "bringing in." While intensifying efforts to attract foreign investment, we will also support leading foreign trade enterprises in stabilizing and expanding trade in intermediate goods. Additionally, we will continuously expand the export of advantageous products such as everyday ceramics and specialty agricultural products. We will cultivate new growth points in foreign trade like rail transportation, new energy vehicles, and photovoltaics and expand bonded maintenance services for aircraft and mobile phones. Additionally, we will actively develop service trade sectors such as culture and traditional Chinese medicine and vigorously promote the growth of digital trade.
Fourth, we are committed to simultaneously optimizing the business environment and strengthening key entities. Our efforts are focused on enhancing trade and investment facilitation, completely removing restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, and improving regulatory services at inland ports. We have achieved 100% coverage of key international trade processes through the single window system. Additionally, we are focused on strengthening foreign trade entities and encouraging leading enterprises to establish regional trade headquarters in Shanxi. A key statistic: last year, over 2,000 enterprises in Shanxi were engaged in import and export activities. An increasing number of new businesses from Shanxi are venturing abroad and embracing the global market. Thank you!
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China News Service:
We know that Shanxi has a rich history and abundant resources in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In recent years, the province has been implementing a strategy to become a leading province in TCM. Could you please provide some information on this topic? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. I would like to invite Ms. Zhao to respond.
Zhao Hongyan:
Thank you for your concern and attention to the development of TCM in Shanxi. Shanxi is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, with a rich legacy of TCM passed down through generations. It is the place where the renowned ancient physician Bian Que gained fame and has nurtured many distinguished physicians, such as Fu Qingzhueach with distinct regional characteristics in their academic traditions. For instance, Dr. Wang is well-known for his expertise in gynecology, and Dr. Men is renowned for his specialization in treating various complex diseases. Shanxi is also rich in natural resources, boasting 1,788 varieties of medicinal herbs, including over 30 authentic local herbs renowned for their high quality and large yield. For instance, herbs like Yuanzhi (Polygala tenuifolia) account for 70% of the national production, while Lianqiao (Forsythia suspensa) constitutes 50%. More than 10 other authentic local herbs, such as Hengshan Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus), have received geographical indication certification. Our famous brands and medicines have stood the test of time. Century-old names like GuangYuYuan and DaNingTang, along with classic national medicines like Guilingji and Dingkundan, are domestically and internationally renowned.
Shanxi has always placed great importance on the inheritance, innovation, and development of Chinese medicine, accelerating the implementation of the strategy to become a leading province in TCM. In terms of top-level design, we have issued the Implementation Plan for Building a Province Strong in TCM and the Shanxi Provincial Regulations on TCM, and we are implementing seven major projects, including enhancing service capabilities.
In terms of system construction, it is particularly noteworthy that one of the first national regional medical centers for TCM in the country was established in Shanxi, namely, the Xiyuan Hospital Shanxi Hospital. Additionally, Changzhi city was selected as one of the first national pilot demonstration areas for the inheritance and innovative development of TCM. We have achieved full coverage of township health centers and community health service centers with grassroots TCM clinics. Our goal is to ensure that high-quality and convenient TCM services are accessible to people right at their doorsteps.
In terms of talent development, we have attracted over 20 national TCM masters, academicians, and Qihuang scholars, cultivated over 500 provincial-level "excellent talents," and implemented a campaign to promote physician mentorship and TCM in towns and villages, impacting nearly 20,000 rural doctors.
Regarding technological innovation, we continue to implement special projects for TCM science and technology. Our independently developed TCM new drug, "Chaigui Granules," has received clinical approval and successfully undergone technology transfer. Additionally, technologies for extracting "forsythoside" and "baicalin" are widely used to deeply process authentic local herbs. In summary, our classical formulas and traditional craftsmanship have experienced renewed vitality by embracing both tradition and innovation.
In terms of industrial development, we are building a comprehensive industry chain for TCM with leading enterprises such as Zhendong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Yabao Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. Initiatives like selecting "Shanxi Famous Medicines" and "Top 10 Jin Medicines" and hosting the first national Forsythia Industry Conference have significantly enhanced the influence and reputation of "Jin Medicines." In summary, we will continue to inherit and develop the valuable heritage of Chinese medicine left by our ancestors in the new era, contributing Shanxi's strength to a healthy China! Thank you!
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Tide News:
We all know that Shanxi has an incredibly rich cultural and tourism heritage. I recently visited Shanxi for my annual leave, and I enjoyed it so much that my phone's screensaver is still a photo of Mount Wutai. I really like Shanxi. I noticed that many places in Shanxi, like Yungang and Pingyao, already have numerous tourists. My question is, what new measures is Shanxi taking to attract tourists while ensuring they have a great experience?
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question, attention, and love for Shanxi's cultural tourism. I would like to invite Mr. Tang to answer your question.
Tang Zhiping:
Thank you for your interest in Shanxi cultural tourism. In Shanxi, you can explore 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and innumerable cultural relics. Shanxi has cultivated diverse cultures, including the morality and filial piety culture associated with legendary rulers Yao and Shun; the ethics of loyalty exemplified by Guan Yu; a culture respecting capable officials and valuing honest governance; and a respect for integrity and credibility among Shanxi businesspeople. The province boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Yungang Grottoes, Mount Wutai and the Ancient City of Ping Yao. And these are only part of Shanxi's rich cultural tourism resources. Shanxi also enjoys magnificent landscapes, with Taihang Mountains located on the east and Lyuliang Mountains on the west. Renowned as a natural summer resort, Shanxi experiences neither extremely scorching heat in summer, nor severe cold in winter, with the highest temperature rarely exceeding 26 degrees Celsius. It is famed as the homeland of Chinese wheat foods and a kingdom of sundry grains, while its Fen-flavor liquor and mature vinegar have won great prestige both at home and abroad. We are currently working on building an internationally renowned tourist destination and will make efforts in the following aspects to attract more tourists to visit and experience Shanxi.
On the one hand, we will continue to increase our publicity and promotion efforts. Shanxi has 531 key cultural relic protection units at the national level, ranking first in the country. Additionally, 80% of the ancient wooden buildings from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) and earlier are located in Shanxi. However, due to lack of publicity, few people are aware of this, and tourists often find their experiences quite different from their initial expectations. In the next step, we will enhance the publicity and promotion of Shanxi through different methods and multiple channels, both online and offline, so that more people can learn about Shanxi, become interested in it, and be willing to visit, continuing to enhance Shanxi's reputation as a place of Ancient Civilization and Excellent Scenery.
On the other hand, we will enhance our capacity to provide services. In addition to Shanxi's high-quality tourism resources, we will offer heartwarming services to ensure tourists feel comfortable staying in Shanxi, where they can enjoy the food and accommodation experience and have fun. Through these efforts, we can transform online interest into actual visits and turn short-term attention into a long-term positive reputation. We will implement a series of combined measures to optimize the management of scenic spots, improve the tourism service quality evaluation system, and comprehensively enhance services in catering, accommodation, transportation, shopping, and other sectors, working all out to develop Shanxi's cultural tourism brand with the aim to satisfy tourists.
Additionally, we will deepen the integration of tourism with other industries. In recent years, efforts have been made to boost cultural tourism in conjunction with the commercial, agricultural, sports, and transport sectors. For example, in promoting transport and cultural tourism, we have focused on the fact that Shanxi's numerous tourist attractions are scattered across a large area, and spent seven years constructing the Taihang No.1, Yellow River No.1 and Great Wall No.1 tourist highways, with a total length of 13,000 kilometers, which will be fully completed by the end of this year. These three tourist highways are set to link up 970 tourist destinations, making it convenient for visitors to have an immersive and personalized experience. We warmly welcome everyone to visit Shanxi, explore its magnificent landscape, and experience the beautiful way of life. Shanxi is an ideal destination for your pursuit of "poems and dreams." Thank you.
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CCTV:
As we know, 2024 marks the fifth anniversary of the strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. What progress has Shanxi made in the past five years? What are the future plans? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your questions. I would like to invite Mr. Wu to answer them.
Wu Wei:
Thank you for your questions. As an important province in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, Shanxi is also a crucial ecological barrier for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It is our bounden duty to implement the strategy and effectively conserve and develop the Yellow River Basin. We have always regarded the ecological conservation of the Yellow River Basin as a baseline of high-quality development. We prioritize environmental protection and promote green development, making concerted efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, pursue green development and boost economic growth. We strengthened ecological and environmental protection, covering all aspects, all links and all regions. We have carried out ecological treatment and restoration of key mountains, rivers, and lakes, and implemented a major project to ensure clear water flows through the Yellow River with an investment of over 100 billion yuan. Additionally, we have sped up the establishment of a modern, green and low-carbon industrial system with distinctive local features. We have also signed a horizontal ecological compensation agreement with Shaanxi province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, making positive progress in the construction of key experimental areas for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.
By the end of 2023, Shanxi achieved a soil and water conservation rate of 64.58%, ranking first nationwide in the afforestation scale for three consecutive years. In the province, the proportion of Yellow River basin water bodies with good or excellent quality reached 90%, and air quality was good or excellent on 76.4% of the days, ranking second within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas. Accelerated progress is being made in transforming Shanxi into a more beautiful province with bluer skies, greener mountains, and cleaner waters. Notably, Taiyuan city is going all out to build itself into an innovation demonstration zone to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , with the Never Aging Spring in Jinci Temple , which had been dry for almost 30 years, beginning to flow again. Past splendor of a "Picturesque Taiyuan," where charming sunsets can be viewed by the Fenhe River, is being revived.
We understand that a thriving Yellow River will help Shanxi flourish, while a scenic Shanxi enriches the beauty of the Yellow River. We will take a holistic approach and carry forward the spirit of Shanxi's Youyu county, a spirit of desertification control through afforestation efforts , to protect the environment while pursuing development. We will firmly tackle the critical task of harnessing the northernly bend of the Yellow River, focus on comprehensive ecological management in counties along the river's main stream, and develop modern water network systems, including implementing the Guxian water control project . Additionally, we will gradually implement Shanxi's carbon peak action plan, thoroughly promoting energy conservation as well as pollution and carbon reduction in key industries such as steel, coking, and building materials. We will intensify efforts to strengthen ecological shields, stimulate green growth drivers, enhance infrastructure construction, deepen regional cooperation, and protect and manage the Yellow River, thus laying a solid foundation for high-quality development through green development.
Thank you!
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Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:
Last year, the central authorities released a three-year action plan for deepening and upgrading the reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This year marks a critical year to implement the action plan across the board. How will Shanxi effectively advance this major reform? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. I'll invite Ms. Zhao to answer this question.
Zhao Hongyan:
SOEs serve as the main force driving Shanxi's high-quality development and all-round transformation. Following the arrangements of the central authorities, we thoroughly implemented the action plan to deepen and upgrade the reform of SOEs last year, further improving both the quality and efficiency of enterprises' development. The net profit of the provincial enterprises increased by 4.78% year on year, while the net profit attributable to parent companies grew by over 25%, with the profit-to-cost ratio and other indicators hitting their best levels ever. As Mr. Jin just mentioned, some major indicators show that our provincial enterprises rank among the top nationwide. As said in the question, this year marks a critical year to promote the reform of SOEs on all fronts. Therefore, we will strive to deliver in the crucial move of reform with a focus on three respects.
First, we will focus on enhancing SOEs' core functions , improving the layout of the state capital, and promoting accelerated efforts in three areas. Specifically, we will accelerate our endeavors to make traditional industries higher-end, smarter, and more eco-friendly, to plan for the new fields of strategic emerging industries and future industries, and to ensure security in key sectors such as coal, electricity, water, gas, and food. For example, our provincial enterprises have established 71 smart coal mines now, with advanced coal production capacity exceeding 90% of the total coal capacity. This year, we will build 67 more, aiming for full coverage by the end of 2027. In addition, we have launched initiatives to promote strategic emerging industries and improve their investment and revenue ratio, developing more "green mines" and "lighthouse factories." All these efforts have been made to serve the country's most fundamental interests, the province's most important plans, and the public aspirations.
Second, we will focus on enhancing SOEs' core competitiveness with the dual drivers of sci-tech innovation and value creation. Bearing in mind that enterprises play a principal role in sci-tech innovation and focusing on the development of new quality productive forces, we have implemented a project to promote sci-tech innovation of our provincial enterprises, conducting classified, case-by-case assessments for the first time. As a result, the share of our enterprises' R&D spending in GDP has increased by over 9% annually on average, and the development of 14 original technology sources as demonstration examples has been advanced. The five key national laboratories and provincial labs, including the Key National Laboratory for Intelligent Mining Equipment Technology of Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co., Ltd ., have been fully leveraged, securing a number of landmark achievements at a faster speed. Meanwhile, based on the principle of putting quality first and giving priority to performance , we have intensified efforts to create the "Coking Coal Evaluation Standard" for Shanxi coking coal and develop Fenjiu into the "Soul of Chinese Liquor" brand. In this way, we aim to guide enterprises to place greater emphasis on standards, branding, and business forms and models that can better reflect the underlying momentum and development potentials for long-term value creation.
Third, we will focus on building modern new SOEs and prioritize the "five emphases." After years of reform, provincial enterprises in Shanxi have been strategically reorganized from 35 to 18. Next, the key is giving full play to the "1+1>2" effect. We will promote better corporate governance systems and better modern corporate systems, and make enterprises' main responsibilities and main businesses more prominent. We will improve the efficiency of market-oriented operating mechanisms, and boost internal momentum for development. We will continue to deliver reform benefits and accelerate efforts to help our enterprises get stronger, do better and grow bigger. Thank you.
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Chen Wenjun:
The last two questions, please.
CNR:
During this year's Spring Festival, new agricultural specialties such as hairy crab, salmon and dragon fruit produced in Shanxi demonstrated the new achievements of Shanxi's modern agriculture. Could you please introduce some of Shanxi's considerations and practices in developing quality and distinctive agriculture? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. At first glance, it seems unlikely that the hairy crab, salmon and dragon fruit you just mentioned would be produced in Shanxi. Now, not only are they produced here, but they have also exploded in popularity. I would like to thank all friends from the media for their significant promotion.
Shanxi's agricultural products boast distinctive characteristics. As Mr. Tang just introduced, everyone is familiar with Shanxi's traditional agricultural products, such as sundry grains, wheat food, mature vinegar , and fruit. In particular, many people are familiar with the old song lyric about Shanxi, which goes: "People say that Shanxi has beautiful scenery, fertile land, beautiful water and fragrant grains." Shanxi is indeed a place with high-quality and distinctive agricultural products. In the new era, we believe that developing quality and distinctive agriculture, and especially doing a good job in developing local specialties, as instructed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, are crucial to rural revitalization, and especially industrial revitalization.
We have adopted an all-encompassing approach to food and are focused on ensuring food supply. Shanxi is a province with balanced grain production and sales. On the basis of three consecutive increases in sown area, total output and unit yield, Shanxi continues to consolidate its foundation of cultivated land, especially creating quality brands of organic dry farming. Every year, we build and renovate 176,666 hectares of high-standard cropland to increase grain crop yield per unit and strive to achieve a total production capacity of over 15 billion kilograms . Last year we were close to 14.85 billion kilograms. We have coordinated the supply of agricultural products such as fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and milk, and built a diversified food supply system. We would especially like to see more of Shanxi's premium agricultural products such as Pingyao beef, Xixian pears, Linyi hairy crabs, Yongji white shrimps as well as salmon and dragon fruit, as you just mentioned, go on the dining tables of people elsewhere and meet their needs for high-quality lives. We hope that friends from the media can continue promoting these efforts to a wider audience.
Moreover, we are developing and modernizing agriculture with an all-encompassing approach and strive to improve its quality and effectiveness. Shanxi has comparative advantages in sundry grains, dried and fresh fruit, and traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Besides, Shanxi has both agricultural and animal husbandry areas, and the quality of grass-fed livestock and poultry is good. Based on advantages in these resources, we give full play to the Jinzhong National Agricultural Hi-tech Industries Demonstration Zone , and rely on platforms for promoting fruit in southern Shanxi, grain in Xinzhou city and meat in northern Shanxi to build agricultural strength in towns, high-quality and distinctive agricultural industries in counties, and key industrial chains in the province. We have developed new business models such as rural tourism and rural e-commerce, and are promoting the high-quality development of agriculture through the entire industrial chain.
Increasing farmers' incomes is the starting point and ultimate goal of the work related to agriculture, rural areas and rural residents. Shanxi continues to consolidate and expand its achievements in poverty alleviation, especially by broadening channels for farmers to increase their incomes. Last year, the per capita disposable income of farmers and the per capita net income of people lifted out of poverty in our province increased by 8.3% and 15.6%, respectively. At the same time, we have learned and applied the experience of the Green Rural Revival Program to coordinate the promotion of new urbanization and rural revitalization across the board, provide differentiated guidance, and implement the construction of high-quality demonstration villages and upgrade villages on a rolling basis, taking practical steps that are tangible and reach the people.
For example, we are actively developing e-commerce platforms, improving rural logistics systems, and striving to connect premium and distinctive agricultural products with large markets. The Shanxi Provincial Government Work Report has deployed efforts to ensure more effective full coverage of rural logistics services for two consecutive years, and the provincial government has subsidized the development of rural logistics. This has effectively mobilized more business entities to focus on the development of quality and distinctive agriculture, allowing Shanxi's distinctive, high-quality products to reach a broader market and eventually reach people's dining tables.
Generally speaking, we aim to do our best to enable rural residents to enjoy modern lives where they are. Thank you.
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Xinhua News Agency:
General Secretary Xi Jinping noted at a symposium on further energizing the central region in the new era that the central region should be better linked with the nation's other major development strategies to help the region better integrate into and support the country's new development pattern. What are Shanxi's considerations and plans in this regard? Thank you.
Jin Xiangjun:
Thank you for your question. As a province in central China, Shanxi, based on its advantages, has built necessary mechanisms, established platforms and promoted cooperation, striving to accelerate high-quality development in serving major national development strategies.
We remain committed to our roles and shoulder our missions bravely. We have earnestly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's requirements proposed at the symposium on further energizing the central region in the new era, taken solid steps to balance grain production and sales and ensure high-quality energy supply, and actively built advanced manufacturing bases in the central region. Shanxi has a rich manufacturing base, such as in ultra-thin stainless steel and Taiyuan Heavy Machinery which I introduced just now. While Shanxi is widely recognized for its energy and coal industries, its manufacturing industry, especially its equipment manufacturing industry, and the "new trio" (electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products), holds comparative advantages, and enjoys a wealth of raw material and resource endowments. Meanwhile, we have accelerated the improvement of Taiyuan's status as a comprehensive transportation hub city.
The Yellow River flows for 965 kilometers through Shanxi, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the river's total length. We have earnestly implemented ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, which is also a major national strategy. We are focused on ecological conservation and consolidating poverty relief achievements in counties along the river, coordinating pollution control with eco-economic construction to protect the Mother River and deliver greater benefits to the people.
We will seize opportunities and integrate and align ourselves with national development strategies. By capitalizing on major opportunities including promoting the development of China's strategic hinterland and strengthening industrial backup , we will do a good job in aligning plans and policies with projects to achieve integrated and interconnected development with the country's regional strategies.
To the east, we will do our best to integrate with the major strategy of the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, focus on cooperation in fields of clean energy, sci-tech innovation, agricultural products, culture and tourism to build Shanxi into an important support base for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and a strategic hinterland for interconnected development. Last year, Shanxi supplied 88.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, accounting for 56% of the province's exported electricity. Shanxi provided more than 1.5 billion cubic meters of water to replenish water ecosystems of the Yongding River. Tourists from Beijing make 13 million trips to Shanxi every year. After the opening of the Xiong'an-Xinzhou High-speed Railway, the direct train from Taiyuan to Beijing will be shortened to one and a half hours, significantly reducing the time by nearly half. It can be expected that Shanxi's exchanges with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will become increasingly close in the future.
To the south, we will focus on strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze Economic Belt, especially copying and promoting experiences and practices of the construction of free trade areas and opening-up as well as introducing more advanced productive factors. Since last year, we have built major platforms for opening-up, such as the "Shanxi Night." The "Shanxi Night" was held at the 2023 Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin and at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. It was also held last month at the Canton Fair in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Through these promotion platforms, clear results have been achieved in culture and tourism promotion as well as economic and trade exchanges and cooperation.
We will give full play to our advantages to deepen cooperation. Shanxi has advantages in energy and resources, raw materials, primary products as well as culture and tourism resources, and its comprehensive factor costs are relatively low. It has 71 industrial development zones with a planned area of 2,900 square kilometers. Relying on these advantages, we will make good use of the system of supply chain chiefs, and distinctive and specialized towns and development zones, make explorations into jointly building high-tech parks, industrial relocation demonstration zones and industrial "enclaves" to better absorb relocated strategic emerging industries in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the eastern region and the application of sci-tech achievements to realize mutually beneficial development.
That is all from me. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our friends from the media for your concern and interest in Shanxi, and also sincerely invite you to visit Shanxi, learn about Shanxi and promote Shanxi. We are willing to join hands with you to help create a better future. Thank you.
Chen Wenjun:
Thank you to Mr. Jin and the three vice governors, and thank you to friends from the media. That concludes today's press conference. Goodbye.
Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Li Xiao, Mi Xingang, Wang Yiming, Wang Qian, Xu Xiaoxuan, Liu Sitong, Zhang Tingting, Ma Yujia, Qin Qi, Yan Bin, Yuan Fang, Wang Ziteng, Cui Can, Wang Wei, Yang Xi, Ma Yujia, Li Huiru, Zhang Junmian, Liu Caiyi, Rochelle Beiersdorfer, David Ball, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
