Read in Chinese

Speakers:

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

Mr. Fei Gaoyun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Anhui province

Mr. Sun Yong, vice governor of Anhui province

Ms. Chen Jun, director of the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date: 

May 16, 2024

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 19th press conference in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we are pleased to be joined by Mr. Wang Qingxian, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Anhui Provincial Committee and governor of Anhui province, who will brief you on the topic of "charting a new course for Anhui's high-quality development in the new era by pursuing innovation-driven growth," and answer your questions. Also present today are Mr. Fei Gaoyun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Anhui province; Mr. Sun Yong, vice governor of Anhui province; and Ms. Chen Jun, director of the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

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

Wang Qingxian:

Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to this press briefing. First of all, I would like to extend my sincere admiration and profound gratitude to you for your interest in and reporting of Anhui. Your efforts in fostering a climate of positive public opinion for Anhui's high-quality development are deeply appreciated.

In recent years, the positive momentum of Anhui's development has aroused public interest. Generally speaking, the past decade has seen significant leapfrog development of Anhui. This leap is reflected in the increase of Anhui's total economic output from 1.9 trillion yuan to 4.7 trillion yuan ($648.72 billion) last year, crossing three trillion-level milestones within a decade. In China's economic landscape, we have made a historic leap from a mid-ranking position in total economic volume and lagging behind in per capita income to being at the forefront in total economic volume and mid-ranking in per capita income. The total output of industrial enterprises above the designated size has risen from 3.3 trillion yuan to 5.1 trillion yuan, making Anhui a new industrial and manufacturing powerhouse.

The significant progress Anhui has made in its development over the years is fundamentally due to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Anhui twice, delivering important speeches and instructions, and charting a course and guiding the way for Anhui's development. He assigned Anhui a strategic position, that is, building itself into an influential cradle of sci-tech innovation, a hub of emerging industries, a highland for reform and opening up, and an area for comprehensive green transformation of socio-economic development. The intersection of national strategies such as the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the rise of China's central region, and the Belt and Road Initiative, along with the new development pattern charted and promoted by the general secretary, has pushed forward Anhui's high-quality development. Anhui's geographical advantages in bridging China's eastern and western regions and connecting northern and southern regions are being transformed into its development advantages of accessing both seas and rivers and gathering resources from all directions.

Our strategic position is systematic and comprehensive. In terms of sci-tech innovation, Anhui indeed has relative advantages. It boasts high-level research institutions such as the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as the country's first national laboratory. Hefei is one of the four comprehensive national science centers across the country, and the province's sci-tech innovation capabilities remain at the forefront in China. Currently, as many as 13 large scientific facilities have either been built, are under construction or are in the planning stage. These large scientific facilities and the large number of scientists and high-end talents we have gathered have put us at the world's forefront in areas such as quantum technology and fusion energy.

Anhui's robust innovation strengths stem from our decades of consistent efforts to increase investment in science and technology, diligently push forward the reform of the sci-tech system, nurture sci-tech enterprises, and implement the talent development project. The province ranks fourth in the country for total fiscal input in science and technology, and seventh for its research and development spending intensity, which stands at 2.56%. We have nearly 20,000 national high-tech enterprises, with over 4,200 added last year alone, and over 27,000 technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with more than 9,600 added last year. Our innovation-driven strategic emerging industries are growing continuously, with rapid development seen in new energy vehicles (NEVs), advanced photovoltaics and new energy storage, next-generation information technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Currently, 10% of display panels in the world, as well as 50% of photovoltaic glass, 20% of photovoltaic modules, 15% of home appliances and 10% of cars in China are produced in Anhui. Leveraging USTC, we established the USTC Silicon Valley, and through a series of reforms of the sci-tech system and mechanism, we profoundly cultivated an innovative ecosystem that attracts professionals from all over the world. In just over a year, 1,391 innovative enterprises have been established and more than 200 funds of various types with a total scale exceeding 230 billion yuan have been gathered.

Becoming part of the national strategy for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta has provided significant growth momentum for Anhui, effectively accelerating the province's progress in reform and opening-up. Anhui's integration into the Yangtze River Delta enables it to benefit from the region's leadership in development. It strengthens its connections to international industrial, capital, technical, and talent resources through the delta region, especially via the open platform of Shanghai. Learning from the experience of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, we have introduced over 800 reform projects in the past three years. This has significantly enhanced governance, and improved the business environment.

An innovative development path inherently encompasses environmental friendliness. In the past decade, Anhui has achieved a nearly 30% reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP. The water flowing out of Anhui, whether from the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River, or the Xin'anjiang River, all meet Grade II standards, meaning it can be used as a source of drinking water. The Anhui section of the Yangtze River is a habitat where Yangtze finless porpoises reproduce and thrive. The sight of Yangtze finless porpoises surfacing in groups on the river once again is a clear testament to the success of our comprehensive conservation efforts in the Yangtze River at this stage. Anhui serves as an ecological barrier for the Yangtze River Delta. As part of the region, Anhui bears not only the responsibility and obligation but also the commitment and honor to fulfill this barrier role.

Dear friends from the media,

As Anhui embarks on the new journey of Chinese modernization, it is entering a key phase of accumulating strength for success. It demonstrates strong momentum and has great potential for progress. All sectors of the province highly value this vibrant atmosphere and are making the most of every moment to forge ahead. With a strategic focus on being a source of sci-tech innovation, a hub for emerging industries, a new pacesetter for reform and opening-up, and a zone for the green transition of socio-economic development, Anhui is expediting efforts to enhance its strength in science and technology, manufacturing, agriculture, the eco-environment, talent, education, and the cultural sector. Under the new development pattern, new economic pillars are set to emerge in China, and Anhui is poised to secure its position among these new pillars.

We hope you will continue to stay informed about Anhui's development, take an interest in it, and support its progress.

That concludes my introduction. Next, my colleagues and I will take your questions.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. We now open the floor for questions. Please identify your news outlet before asking your question.

People's Daily:

As mentioned earlier, Anhui has made historic strides in its economic growth. Its overall GDP has advanced from a middle-ranking position domestically to a leading force. Meanwhile, its per capita GDP has shifted from a lower position to a middle-ranking one. How would you analyze Anhui's current development? What measures should the province take to sustain its growth momentum in the upcoming stage? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

I'll take these questions. Currently, Anhui's development demonstrates sufficient growth momentum, strong resilience, and huge potential. Despite numerous challenges, the province has maintained stable and positive overall economic performance. Beyond the general statistics mentioned earlier, I would like to highlight two additional indicators that reflect the province's economic growth. As of this March, investments in Anhui's manufacturing sector had maintained a growth rate of over 18% for 26 consecutive months. The balance of RMB loans in the province had also sustained a growth rate of over 14% for 16 consecutive months, ranking first nationwide during this period. Additionally, Anhui has seen net inflows of technology, capital, talent, and other key factors.

Where did such growth momentum come from? In addition to the general aspects mentioned earlier, I would like to elaborate on some specific aspects.

As we know, Anhui is situated at the intersection of the Yangtze River Delta and the country's mid-western region, and it is inevitably a key pivot in advancing domestic economic circulation and facilitating both domestic and international economic flows. For example, China's high-speed rail network centers around the eight main vertical lines that link the north and south, and eight horizontal lines that connect the east and west. Among these, two vertical and three horizontal lines, as well as 10 transportation arteries, run through Anhui. The region with Hefei at its center, extending within a 500-kilometer radius, is home to approximately 35% of China's population and 40% of its consumer market. Over the years, Anhui's transportation and logistic facilities have rapidly improved. The province leads the country in connecting every city with high-speed railways and providing expressway services to every county. We have also completed the construction of the Jianghuai Canal, the country's second north-south water transportation channel that runs parallel with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The canal has already opened to navigation. These developments have significantly elevated Anhui's position within the country's economic pattern.

How should Anhui leverage its advantages and seize the opportunity? To capitalize on these favorable factors, we need to turn them into driving forces for development. Particularly, in the latest round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, we should stay committed to spurring industrial innovation by making innovations in science and technology. We must expedite the development of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone. We are fully confident in achieving this goal. If Anhui's current development is already inspiring, its future prospects are undoubtedly even more promising. Thank you.

Southern Metropolis Daily:

Anhui has taken numerous measures to effectively integrate itself into the development of the Yangtze River Delta. What measures will it take next to further seize and capitalize on the strategic opportunities of this integrated development plan? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

Let us invite Mr. Fei to answer this question.

Fei Gaoyun:

The lower reaches of the Yangtze River start in Anhui. Anhui's integration into the Yangtze River Delta represents the greatest opportunity and potential for the province as well as entails the greatest benefits. It also provides more space for the delta region's integrated development. In recent years, Anhui has focused on the two keywords of integration and high quality, actively engaging and fully participating to deeply advance the Yangtze River Delta's integrated development.

Firstly, Anhui has aligned ideas and institutional mechanisms. For nearly three years now, we have introduced 825 reform measures across eight batches that are on par with Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. We have also regularly dispatched officials to parks and enterprises in these regions for on-the-job learning, aligning our development concepts and institutional mechanisms with theirs.

Secondly, Anhui has deeply participated in the industrial division and collaboration of the Yangtze River Delta. Last year, over 60% of the funds already in for Anhui's major projects each worth more than 100 million yuan came from Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. High-quality enterprises from Anhui are continuously integrating into the industrial chains of these other regions. For instance, the domestically produced C919 aircraft uses Anhui's alumics.

More importantly, residents are gaining a sense of fulfillment through integrated development. Currently, there are 78 pairs of high-speed trains between Hefei and Shanghai each day. The number of high-speed trains between Hefei and Nanjing is 116 pairs, and between Hefei and Hangzhou is 78 pairs. A total of 173 governmental services including birth registration and enterprise registration are now accessible across provinces. A total of 52 resident services, including medical insurance settlement and talent services, can be handled with a single card, making cross-regional living and working more convenient.

Going forward, we will follow Shanghai's lead, and work closely with Jiangsu and Zhejiang to fully display the competitiveness of Anhui and advance the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

First, we will strengthen innovation collaboration, promoting the joint innovation of the comprehensive national science centers in Shanghai's Zhangjiang area as well as Anhui's Hefei. This would advance joint construction of national laboratories and clusters of big science facilities and ensure shared benefits, forming cross-regional innovation consortia to tackle core technologies in key fields.

Second, we will deepen industrial collaboration, leverage Anhui's comprehensive comparative advantages and establish paired cooperation parks for cities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang to assist cities in northern Anhui and new functional areas in border regions. This will provide space for targeted industry transfer, supporting enterprises with technology advances and product upgrading. We will also regularly conduct supply and demand docking for the industrial chain's upstream and downstream, actively facilitating the layout of high-quality industrial resources of the Yangtze River Delta in Anhui.

Third, we will promote openness and sharing, closely connecting with innovation resources from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and especially Shanghai. We will accelerate the construction of the Anhui Integrated Development Zone of the Hongqiao International Airport opening hub, replicate and promote successful reform and innovation experiences from the pilot free trade zones in these regions, enhance the capacity of Anhui's pilot free trade zone and comprehensive bonded zones, and expedite high-level opening up. Thank you. 

CCTV:

To become a hub for scientific and technological innovation is Anhui's top priority when implementing the strategy of "three hubs and one zone" (a hub for scientific and technological innovation, a hub for emerging industries, a hub for reform and opening-up, and a zone for green transition of socio-economic development"). Why does Anhui have strong confidence in becoming a hub for scientific and technological innovation? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

I will answer this question. Creating a scientific and technological innovation hub is a strategic measure adopted upon General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions for Anhui. We are confident when it comes to building a scientific and technological innovation hub, and this confidence comes from our scientific and technological innovation capability as well as our constant deepening of reforms with scientific and technological mechanisms. 

Just now, I introduced national laboratories and big science facilities, which have achieved many scientific and technological outcomes, especially in areas of quantum information, fusion energy and deep space exploration. 

In the field of quantum information, we have successively launched major original achievements such as the Micius quantum communication satellite and the "Jiuzhang" and "Zuchongzhi" series of quantum computing prototypes. We have successfully developed a strontium atomic optical lattice clock, which is advanced internationally with a margin of error no more than one second for 7.2 billion years. 

In the field of fusion energy, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, known as the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds at 100 million degrees Celsius, setting a new world record. We are constructing a compact nuclear fusion experimental device, and will be the first in the world to demonstrate fusion power generation. Currently, we are at the critical transition point from scientific research to engineering testing. 

In the field of deep space exploration, we have established the nation's first deep space exploration laboratory. Recently, the Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 lunar satellites developed by this laboratory were successfully launched, marking China's first time to realize dual-satellite formation flight on the lunar orbit. 

The Steady High Magnetic Field Facility, a large piece of scientific apparatus, can generate the world's highest steady-state magnetic field – 900,000 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field – to support scientific research. These high and strong magnetic fields can be used to observe and regulate the inner structure of a nucleus. The under-construction Hefei Advanced Light Source (HALS) is the world's most advanced fourth-generation synchrotron radiation light source, and its performance is over one hundred times higher than that of the third-generation light sources. What are the values of the fourth-generation one? Called the "spiritual eye" by scientists, it allows users to see the microcosmos at the molecular and atomic levels.  

Building a home for sci-tech innovation needs to fully leverage the role of the market in allocation of innovative resources, activate elements of sci-tech innovation, and ignite the innovation and creativity of scientists and other talented people. To achieve those goals, we further reformed the systems and mechanisms for sci-tech development. Through a series of reforms, we promoted collaborative innovation by colleges, universities, research institutes, large scientific facilities, and enterprises and constructed an innovative ecosystem featuring the coordinated efforts of the government, enterprises, universities, research institutes, financial support, intermediary agencies, and consumers, obtaining a number of achievements. USTC Silicon Valley creates such a scenario, as a test area. Many innovative units will spring up here. In our operational model, various innovation consortiums are stationed in separate buildings where they foster new, emerging industries. Thanks. 

Red Star News:

We note that the recent brand promotion conference of building "Grand Huangshan" as a world-class tourism destination for leisure, vacation, and wellness was held in Anhui. My questions are: how do you define Grand Huangshan, what is the difference between Grand Huangshan and Huangshan Mountain in the traditional sense, and what is the blueprint for Grand Huangshan? Thanks.

Wang Qingxian:

Mr. Sun will answer these questions. 

Sun Yong:

Over 400 years ago, China's great traveler Xu Xiake once praised Huangshan Mountain after two visits that it is unrivaled among all mountains and boasts the ultimate spectacle. Nowadays, Huangshan Mountain has not only gained nationwide fame, but also become internationally recognizable. It belongs to China and the world. 

We will leverage the global fame of Huangshan Mountain to build the Grand Huangshan region, coordinating 28 counties and districts of four cities, namely Huangshan, Chizhou, Anqing, and Xuancheng, as a world-class tourism destination for leisure, vacation, and wellness. 

As one of the most scenic and beautiful places, the Grand Huangshan region is home to 227 A-level tourist attractions and is recognized as one of eight national agglomeration areas of A-level tourist attractions. Huangshan Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, Tianzhu Mountain, and Qiyun Mountain compete to show their scenic views. Mighty Yangtze River, Xin'an River, Qiupu River, and Qingyi River flow endlessly. Taiping Lake, Huating Lake, Shengjin Lake, and Pingtian Lake stretch vastly with clear, rippling water. 

The Grand Huangshan region is known for its profound cultural heritage. Different cultures, such as Huizhou culture, Tongcheng culture, ancient Wan culture, and revolutionary culture, are present in the area and blend. The region also features five national famous historical and cultural towns, namely Anqing, Shexian, Jixi, Yixian, and Tongcheng. They enhance each other's radiance. The "four treasures in the study" of Huizhou ink, She ink stones, Xuan paper, and Xuan writing brushes have become world-famous. The region is dotted with over 9,000 ancient dwellings and villages, including 445 traditional Chinese villages. Xixi'nan village, with a history of 1,200 years, is hailed as the real-life version of Land of Oz, seeing almost 150,000 visitors this past May Day holiday alone.

The Grand Huangshan region is blessed with unique ecological conditions. Its average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Its air quality is good or excellent on more than 90% of the days throughout the year. The air contains over 20,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter around Huangshan Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, and Tianzhu Mountain, where travelers can take a deep breath, detoxify the body, and embrace the calm. 

In the Grand Huangshan region, one can appreciate the scenic views, experience different cultures, and fully relax the body and the mind. In short, it is a fairyland to refresh one's mind and spirit.

Decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and provincial government to build the Grand Huangshan brand lie in the above-mentioned advantageous conditions, conform with the trends of tourism consumption upgrade, and focus on deepening supply-side structural reform. With the aim of aligning with international standards, we continue to improve the service quality, upgrading from traditional sightseeing tourism to modern tourism encompassing leisure, holiday-making and wellness, building a modern service industry cluster combining leisure tours, medical care and wellness, the creative economy, sporting events, the exhibition economy, and cultural services, and thus, forming a new pattern of integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries.  

We call it Grand Huangshan for two reasons. First, there are huge opportunities lying in the integration of resources and elements across vast areas. Second, there is great potential for industrial expansion led and empowered by influential brands. 

We cordially invite friends from home and abroad to come to the Grand Huangshan region and experience the original version of misty Jiangnan (the scenic region south of the Yangtze River) described in the poetry of the Tang and Song dynasties. We also welcome investors to invest and do business in the region. All will have a wonderful life here, and let's celebrate success together. Thanks.  

CRNTT:

In 2023, the proportion of the output value of strategic emerging industries in Anhui province accounted for over 40% of the total output value of the industrial enterprises above the designated size. What achievements and experience have been made in creating clusters for emerging industries? Thank you.

Fei Gaoyun:

In recent years, based on its own industrial foundation, Anhui province has accelerated the creation of clusters for emerging industries in key areas such as automobiles and new-generation information technology, in response to the new round of industrial development and transformation. It has developed new quality productive forces according to local conditions.

Here, I would like to share a set of data with you. Currently, the automotive and equipment manufacturing industries in Anhui have both exceeded 1 trillion yuan. Our new materials, new energy, and energy-conserving and environment friendly industries have also surpassed 500 billion yuan. In particular, our automotive industry has experienced rapid development. As Mr. Wang just mentioned, our automobile production last year reached 2.491 million vehicles, ranking second in the country. Among them, the production of new energy vehicles (NEVs) reached 868,000 vehicles, ranking fourth in the country. Automobile exports reached 1.147 million vehicles, which means that approximately one out of every four cars exported overseas from China is manufactured in Anhui. Over the past decade, the proportion of strategic emerging industries in Anhui's industrial output value has doubled. To achieve such a development trend, we have consistently focused on the following three aspects in our work:

First, we adhere to the direction of cluster development. Following the path of "leading enterprises, industrial chains, industrial clusters, industrial ecosystems," we persistently promote the aggregation and consolidation of industries. For example, with seven automobile manufacturers such as Chery, NIO, JAC and Volkswagen Anhui as the leading companies, we have attracted over 4,000 automotive component and aftermarket enterprises. More than 470 integrated circuit industry enterprises have been clustered, forming a relatively complete industrial chain.

Second, we adhere to the approach of "sci-tech innovation + industry." We leverage our abundant science and innovation resources to serve industries and enterprises. For instance, we are implementing the "Two 80%" initiative, which aims to ensure that 80% of newly designated industrial innovation platforms each year are led by enterprises, and 80% of industrial sci-tech projects each year are initiated by enterprises.

We are also carrying out the "Two Doublings" action, which means that by 2025, the number of high-tech enterprises and technology-based SMEs in the province will both be double compared to 2021. Last year, Anhui saw an average of 11 new high-tech enterprises and 26 new technology-based SMEs established every day.

Third, we adhere to market-oriented and specialized promotion mechanisms. We invite leading enterprises and expert teams to join the promotion groups for emerging industries, jointly formulate industrial plans, and map out industrial chains. We actively utilize models such as attracting industrial chain investment and scenario-based investment, and discover industrial resources through market forces. Additionally, we cooperate with international chambers of commerce, bilateral funds, and others to better integrate Anhui's advantageous industries into the global industrial chain. Thank you.

National Business Daily:

In 2023, Anhui initiated its implementation of the "100-billion-jin granary in the Yangtze-Huai River region" project, and its grain output hit record high. In the future, what arrangements and plans will Anhui take to ensure national food security? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

I would like to invite Ms. Chen to answer this question.

Chen Jun:

Anhui is a major grain-producing province. Last year, our total grain production exceeded 83 billion jin (41.5 billion kg), achieving 20 consecutive years of bumper harvests. With only 4.3% of the country's arable land, Anhui produces 6% of the national grain output. Anhui is also one of five provinces in China that has a net grain surplus, with an annual net surplus of about 20 billion jin of high-quality grain. It can be said that ensuring national food security is an obligation and an undeniable responsibility for Anhui. We not only strive to make contributions in terms of quantity but also aim to make breakthroughs in terms of quality.

On the one hand, we aim to increase the quantity of high-quality Anhui grain to secure China's food supply. Focusing on food security, which is considered as one of the country's most fundamental interests, Anhui province set a goal last year of building a "100-billion-jin granary in the Yangtze-Huai River region." This means that Anhui's grain production capacity will stabilize at over 100 billion jin by 2035. Centering on expanding grain production and improving grain quality, we have emphasized two crucial aspects: cropland and seeds. Major supporting projects such as high-standard cropland development and the revitalization of the seed industry have been implemented. Currently, we have developed 62.56 million mu of high-standard cropland, accounting for 75% of the total arable land area. The export volume of rice seeds has ranked first in the country for five consecutive years. We will work to gradually develop all permanent basic cropland into high-standard cropland and strengthen the seed industry as the core of agriculture. By turning every inch of cropland into fertile soil for bountiful harvests and increasing grain production, we aim to make significant contributions in Anhui province to safeguarding food security.

On the other hand, we strive to support the development of green agricultural products. Anhui is a key source of agricultural products for the Yangtze River Delta region, supplying half of the region's grain and meat, one-third of its fruits, and one-fifth of its vegetables. In the past two years, Anhui's specialty agricultural products, including foie gras, Mengcheng cattle, Dangshan pears, and Huaining blueberries, have gone viral online and gained market popularity. This has added significant value to the agricultural sector and brought wealth to farmers. Over the past five years, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Anhui has grown annually by 0.4 percentage point higher than the national average. We will step up efforts to develop a high-quality and competitive agricultural sector and build Anhui into an agricultural powerhouse. We will deeply promote the integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, strengthen agricultural support through science, technology, and equipment, and vigorously develop intelligent and protected agriculture. We will establish a batch of production, processing and supply bases of green agricultural products for the Yangtze River Delta region and make solid progress in developing the whole industrial chain of grain, incorporating animal husbandry and meat processing, as well as integrating agriculture and industry, to expand income sources for farmers. We will empower enthusiastic new farmers in regions between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, improving their income levels and living standards.

Guangming Daily:

I understand that since 2023, Anhui has established a system to collect the people's voices and address their appeals regularly. Could you please elaborate on Anhui's measures to ensure and improve people's livelihoods? What results have been achieved? Thank you.

Fei Gaoyun:

Ensuring and improving people's livelihoods have always been the starting point and ultimate goal of our work. For 17 consecutive years, we have implemented livelihood projects and practical measures, continuously enhancing people's well-being through the promotion of high-quality development. I will give two examples.

The first example is about medical treatment. In the past, Anhui lacked high-quality medical resources, and it was common for local people to seek medical treatment in other provinces. Since 2020, under the country's guidance, we have started cooperating with top domestic hospitals, such as Beijing Tiantan Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Fudan University. With a total investment of 13 billion yuan, we have built nine national regional medical centers, four of which are already operational and five are under construction. These centers provide high-level and convenient medical resources for local people.

The second example is about drinking water. Due to the limitations of weather and geography in northern Anhui, the main source of drinking water here was groundwater in the past, which is difficult to access and has unstable quality. Since 2021, we have implemented a water diversion project for the people in northern Anhui, with a total investment of over 26 billion yuan. We now use the Yangtze-Huaihe Grand Canal to divert water from the Yangtze River to northern Anhui, replacing the existing groundwater sources. We had completed replacement projects in 13 counties and districts by the end of last year, and plan to finish the projects in the remaining 15 counties and districts by the end of next year. By then, more than 30 million urban and rural residents in northern Anhui will all have access to higher-quality drinking water.

While carrying out work to improve people's livelihoods, we place a high value on addressing their concerns. Even the smallest matters are given top priority by the government. Since last year, we have been actively responding to each and every one of the people's concerns and have established a platform system to collect the people's voices at the provincial, city, and county levels. We have instituted a closed-loop work mechanism from collecting the people's voices to referring them to relevant government departments, strengthening follow-up oversight, making evaluations, and providing feedback. This mechanism effectively addresses existing problems so that beneficial policies are well implemented and we can better respond to the people's concerns and hear their voices. We work to offer more channels for the people to express their needs and ensure that the appropriate departments and officials are addressing their concerns. As of now, the system has collected 51,700 appeals and 50,800 of them have been settled, earning genuine praise from the public

Efforts to improve people's livelihoods are ongoing and require consistent dedication. In March this year, the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and the Anhui provincial government held a special conference on people's livelihoods and issued guidelines. We will consistently optimize the system for collecting public feedback, streamline channels for voicing concerns, enhance the quality and efficiency of handling these concerns, and deepen governance at the source. We will implement 50 livelihood projects on a rolling basis, addressing them one by one, year after year, to continuously enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security. Thank you.

China Daily:

In recent years, Anhui has focused on fostering a market-oriented and law-based international business environment, earning a good market reputation. Could you please elaborate on Anhui's efforts and practices in optimizing the business environment? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

I'll answer this question. From our perspective, optimizing the business environment requires government efforts, enterprise feedback, and market efficiency in particular. Specifically, the government should respect, understand, and utilize market rules to address market failure and promote market efficiency. That is, the government should respect, understand, and support enterprises' innovation and creativity. In recent years, Anhui has continuously introduced over 800 measures to optimize the business environment. In two consecutive editions of the national survey "Business Environment Evaluation by Ten Thousand Private Enterprises," organized by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, our overall score and reputation have ranked among the top in the country.

German automotive giant Volkswagen launched operations in Anhui as early as 2017. Last year, the company established its largest overseas research, innovation, and procurement center for intelligent networked vehicles in Hefei, with an investment of 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion). In recent years, many world-renowned multinational corporations, such as Corning from the United States and Unilever from the United Kingdom, have expanded their investments in Anhui. Last month, Standard Chartered opened a branch in Hefei. Whether increasing investments or opening local offices, these multinational enterprises are largely attracted by Anhui's favorable business environment.

How can we improve the business environment to better benefit enterprises? Here are three key points from our experience:

First, government's support policies should meet the needs of enterprises. On the one hand, we involve local companies in research, discussions, and the entire policymaking process, creating opportunities for the government and corporations to exchange ideas and communicate effectively. To ensure smooth communication channels, officials from the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and the provincial government hold symposiums with entrepreneurs every two months. Sometimes, the Standing Committee of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee even holds work conferences at company offices. A series of policies regarding emerging industries such as new energy and intelligent networked vehicles, the new generation of information technology, and artificial intelligence are formulated based on joint research, discussions, and reviews by government departments, enterprises, business associations, and relevant experts. On the other hand, we have implemented policies efficiently to benefit enterprises directly. In recent years, we have streamlined administration and introduced favorable policies for qualified enterprises by using industrial internet thinking and technology. For example, the "enjoy now without applying" policy allows qualified companies to receive support funds without application. The "apply now and enjoy now" policy guarantees that enterprises receive immediate funds upon application. Big data and other technologies have been used to help identify eligible companies and calculate the amount of funds they can receive. This mode also compels local governments to ensure their policies are feasible. Last year, 11.5 billion yuan in funds were given to enterprises under the "enjoy now without applying" policy.

Second, the rule of law and the government's credibility can win the trust of enterprises. The rule of law secures the best business environment, and law-based administration lays the foundation for a trustworthy government. To regulate the actions of administrative organs in responding to lawsuits, we have taken the initiative to require the head of the sued administrative organ to appear and respond in court since 2022. Since then, the court appearance rate has remained at 100%. In 2023, we implemented the Regulations on Improving the Business Environment in Anhui, setting out provisions on minimum examinations and approvals, market access, and law enforcement related to enterprises. We have established a rapid response mechanism for protecting enterprises' legitimate rights and interests, and efficiently handle enterprise-related lawsuits and intellectual property disputes. We are currently developing an innovation zone for legal affairs, where high-level legal service clusters will be created to provide more professional and higher-quality legal services for enterprises.

Third, the government should improve its administrative efficiency to provide more convenience for enterprises. We set up a special panel for industrial development and formed an efficient coordination mechanism to promote connection among provinces, cities, and counties, as well as advance collaboration among departments at all levels. We established a flat organizational structure to provide more efficient services for enterprises, ensuring their voices are heard and their demands are met in a timely manner. We also introduced online and offline channels to collect enterprises' requests and address their difficulties through a closed-loop management system. This year, we continue to improve our efficiency and make every effort to provide convenience for enterprises. For example, the application materials for starting a transportation company have been cut from 28 items to 12 items, and the processing time has been shortened from 20 days to three days. The application materials for immovable property registration for enterprises have been reduced from eight items to four items. At the same time, the processing time has been cut from five days to only one day. When applying for verification of legal compliance information, companies are now allowed to use a single corporate public credit information report in place of separate non-violation certificates in 40 fields. Thank you.

CNR: 

I know that Anhui province has proposed to earmark the region for comprehensive green transformation and economic and social development. How should we best understand this proposal? In addition, how can eco-environmental strengths be translated into high-quality development strengths? Thank you. 

Sun Yong:

Anhui has been gifted with beautiful landscapes. In recent years, we have acted on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, working toward peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and vigorously advancing green and low-carbon development, with the continuous presentation of new splendors in the Yangtze River and Huai River basins. We have promoted well-coordinated environmental conservation and avoided excessive development. The banks of the Yangtze River, which used to be densely occupied with wharves and sand piles, are now filled with lush greenery and crowded with tourists. The model of cross-provincial joint ecological conservation in the Xin'an River basin has been promoted to 20 river basins in 21 provinces nationwide, and now the Xin'an River is one of the rivers with the best water quality in China. The banks of the Huai River have fertile lands and picturesque sceneries; the forest coverage rate of Mount Huang and other mountain ranges is as high as over 95%; biodiversity has also been improved in the process of restoration. As just mentioned by Mr. Wang, people can often see the Yangtze finless porpoise, known as "the panda of the water," chasing the waves of the river, and the oriental white storks, a nationally treasured bird species, flying over the Chaohu Lake. The Chinese merganser ducks, known as the "litmus test for ecology," have become frequent visitors to Anhui province in recent years. Anhui has become an important ecological barrier in the Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country.

The vivid practice of green development in Anhui province has made us deeply realize that economic development and eco-environmental protection are not a single choice but complementary and mutually reinforcing. We will thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, have a correct attitude towards performance in our work, not be moved by short-term growth and immediate interest, and continue to prioritize ecological conservation and pursue a green path to development.

First, we will continue to promote the ecologicalization of industries. We will strengthen innovation-driven and science and technology-empowered development; foster and develop green and low-carbon industries as new energy, energy conservation, and environmental protection; accelerate the green transformation of traditional industries; resolutely shut down outdated production facilities; and strive to improve the social benefits of industrial development. At the same time, we will actively build a new energy system and launch projects to boost the installed capacity of wind and solar power. The total installed capacity of renewable energy power generation reached 48.24 million kilowatts in 2023, accounting for 76% of the newly installed renewable energy capacity in China.

Second, we will continue to advance the industrialization of ecology. We will upgrade the construction of the Xin'anjiang-Qiandao Lake Ecological Environment Joint Protection Cooperation Zone and continue to deepen the implementation of the systems for the compensation of ecological conservation of surface water in Anhui province and provinces on the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. We will actively develop the ecological health and wellness and ecological culture and tourism industries and explore new paths to realize their market value, such as via the development of ecosystem goods and the trading of ecological property rights. We will strictly implement a system of compensation for ecological and environmental damage to ensure reasonable returns for those who protect and restore the eco-environment.

Third, we will continue to develop a policy system. We will focus on accelerating the construction of the region's comprehensive green transformation for economic and social development, adhering to systems thinking, and strengthening financial, fiscal, taxation, and pricing policy support. We will speed up industrial transformation, promote green consumption, and make green and low-carbon production and lifestyle a common practice. This will provide stronger support for building a leading province in ecology and creating a beautiful Anhui. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Due to time constraints, we will have one last question, please.

Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

Anhui is now a province with net population inflows. What are the major reasons for that? What measures have been taken to attract talents and encourage business startups? Thank you.

Wang Qingxian:

I'll take this question. Just as you mentioned, Anhui province has demonstrated an increasingly clear momentum toward net population inflows. According to our analysis, two reasons have contributed to this. One reason is that more and more people from other provinces are working in Anhui province. The other reason is that more and more people from Anhui province choose to seek jobs and work here. Last year, there was a net increase of 219,000 people in Hefei, ranking top among cities in the Yangtze River Delta. These net population inflows show a sound economic development momentum in Anhui province, with more job opportunities, improved quality of employment, better pay packages, and broader opportunities for business startups.

In order to attract talents and encourage entrepreneurship, the provincial Party committee and provincial people's government have launched a workforce development project in Anhui province, a series of programs for talents to tour Anhui province, and advanced business startup programs in Anhui province. Through interactions between technologies, talents, capitals, and scenarios, we have enabled more young people to innovate and start businesses and have particularly created more opportunities in new technologies, industries, business forms, and models. We have set up a "fund jungle" to support entrepreneurship and adopted a series of measures to encourage the development of patient capital that invests in small businesses in the early development stages and in sci-tech companies, with the scale of private equity fund products reaching a record 1.68 trillion yuan, ranking seventh in China. We have taken innovative steps to launch a joint development project to support sci-tech companies, and loans to sci-tech companies have grown rapidly, from over 150 billion yuan in 2021 to nearly 600 billion yuan in 2023. To support entrepreneurship, we have created more entrepreneurial scenarios. For example, Hefei has taken the lead in building China's first all-space unmanned system application program and has gathered over 100 low-altitude-economy enterprises in about a year. At present, there is a strong atmosphere of innovation in Anhui province, especially in Hefei and Wuhu. For example, there are sci-tech salons and lectures, as well as various academic seminars. The whole city is immersed in an atmosphere of science and technology innovation.

Talents play a core role in achieving Anhui province's objectives of creating a source for sci-tech innovation, a cluster of strategic emerging industries, a pacesetter of reform and opening-up, and a region of the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. They're also important for building Anhui province into a leading province in science and technology, as well as the manufacturing, agriculture, ecology, talents, education, and culture sectors. We will embrace talents from all over the world with enthusiasm, sincerity, and an open mind. We are willing to work with you to achieve things together. 

Lastly, I sincerely invite you to go and see the changes in Anhui province for yourself, and to witness what the four of us have presented here today. Thank you all.

Chen Wenjun:

Thanks to Mr. Wang and all the other three speakers. Thanks to friends from the media. Today's briefing is hereby concluded. Goodbye.

Wang Qingxian:

Thank you all, and you are welcome to visit Anhui.

Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Zhu Bochen, Liu Jianing, Wang Yanfang, Liu Caiyi, Wang Ziteng, Lin Liyao, Xu Kailin, Wang Wei, Huang Shan, Yuan Fang, Liu Sitong, Zhang Junmian, 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.