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China makes significant strides in modernization drive(Xinhua) 11:36, January 25, 2022
BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Provincial-level regions across China have hosted their annual legislative and political consultative meetings in recent weeks, underlining sci-tech innovation, common prosperity, further opening up and green development, as the country works in full throttle to achieve its second centenary goal.
The year 2021 was a milestone year for China, marking a fresh start. Upon completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the world's most populous country embarked on a new journey to build itself into a modern socialist country.
Here are some key trends from the local "two sessions," which offer a glimpse into how China is striving to accomplish this significant goal.
SCI-TECH INNOVATION
How long does it take to assemble a car, which includes putting together the four doors, a bonnet and a trunk lid? Fifty-four seconds!
Though it may sound impossible, the intelligent flexible manufacturing line of Guangzhou Risong Intelligent Technology Holding Co. Ltd., a producer of industrial robots, has made it achievable.
The company is committed to the research, development and application of new technology and equipment in the intelligent manufacturing field, and boosts its development through technology innovation, said Sun Zhiqiang, chairman of Risong Technology, which is located in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
China, in pursuit of stellar scientific and technological achievements, is upholding innovation as the central role in its modernization drive while making itself a country of innovators.
Guangdong, a manufacturing heartland, has strengthened its strategy of science and technology and reinforced the foundation of high-quality economic development.
In 2021, the province channeled over 380 billion yuan (about 60 billion U.S. dollars), or 3.14 percent of its GDP, to research and development expenditure. The number of national high-tech enterprises exceeded 60,000, according to its government work report released last week.
East China's Anhui Province has also turned its attention to sci-tech innovation. This year, Anhui will strive to create more driving forces for high-quality development based on sci-tech innovation, especially intensifying the application of science and technology, stated its governor Wang Qingxian at the fifth session of the 13th Anhui Provincial People's Congress.
The "last mile of sci-tech achievement commercialization" can be realized through a string of measures, such as improving the financing system, intermediary service system, and application evaluation system, as well as encouraging innovation among enterprises, said Zhou Fangqin, a political advisor in Anhui and head of the sci-tech bureau of Anhui's Huainan City.
COMMON PROSPERITY
Common prosperity is undoubtedly a keyword in the government work report of Zhejiang Province, as the economic powerhouse in east China has been designated as a demonstration zone for promoting common prosperity.
In this year's government work report, Zhejiang noted that the per capita disposable income of the residents in 26 mountainous counties increased faster than the provincial average following a series of supportive policies.
The province plans to invest more than 40 billion yuan to promote 300 "Shanhai Xiezuo" projects, namely cooperation between coastal and mountainous regions, using the advantage of developed coastal regions to help the underdeveloped mountainous areas.
Zhejiang Province has drawn up detailed plans to achieve common prosperity. As per estimates, labor remuneration will account for more than 50 percent of its GDP by 2025, and the ratio of residents' per capita disposable income to per capita GDP will continue to increase during the period.
"Common prosperity is not only a concept of social development, but also a social change marked by the narrowing of the gap between regions, urban and rural areas, and in people's incomes," said Yuan Jiajun, Party secretary of Zhejiang Province.
The province will explore breakthroughs to build a high-quality employment and entrepreneurship system, improve the quality of social security mechanism, promote the sharing of quality public services, and aim to achieve common prosperity in spiritual life, Yuan added.
OPENING UP
Despite the faltering global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shanghai, at the forefront of China's reform and opening-up, has attached great importance to attracting foreign investors.
In 2021, its actual use of foreign capital reached 22.55 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 11.5 percent over the previous year. Shanghai now is home to 831 regional headquarters of multinational companies, including 60 that were newly established in 2021, according to the city's government work report.
"The city remains a hot destination for foreign investment to expand their industrial chains and beef up innovation," said Gong Zheng, the mayor of Shanghai.
