Sanmenxia People's Congress convenes

The opening session of the third session of the 13th Sanmenxia Municipal People's Congress is held on Feb 23. [Photo by Fang Lin and Lyu Bin/dahebao.cn]

The third session of the 13th Sanmenxia Municipal People's Congress convened on Feb 23 in Sanmenxia, Henan province.

A total of 295 representatives attended the session to participate in discussions and negotiations.

Sanmenxia's GDP reached 146.1 billion yuan ($23.1 billion) in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 8.5 percent, according to the government work report made by An Wei, mayor of Sanmenxia.

The average disposable income among city residents reached 27,562 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.1 percent, while that of rural residents increased by 9.2 percent to 13,084 yuan.

An Wei, mayor of Sanmenxia makes the government work report. [Photo by Fang Lin and Lyu Bin/dahebao.cn]

After an overview of 2017's achievements, a revised blueprint was made for 2018. Social and economic goals were put forward with emphasis on specific areas of growth.

The city plans to maintain an annual GDP growth rate of eight percent and create at least 40,000 jobs. The per capita income for rural residents is expected to increase by eight percent and urban residents by 8.5 percent.

The congress decided to continue with the city's ambitious poverty-alleviation policy, with hopes of lifting 53,000 people out of poverty.

The city will double down on efforts to ease housing burdens for low-income earners by investing 14.3 billion yuan in 12 shantytown renovation projects.

Sanmenxia will preserve culture by stepping up construction on the Yangshao village relics site protection zone and Miaodigou National-Level Archaeological Site Park.

The four-day event will also include discussions on the city budget as well as reports submitted by the city's Higher People's Court and Higher People's Procuratorate.

Representatives listen to the government work report carefully at the third session of the 13th Sanmenxia Municipal People's Congress on Feb 23. [Photo by Li Peng/ismx.cn]