Specific targets for 2019 include 8% GDP growth

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it's also a crucial year to build a moderately well-off society in an all-round way. Faced with both challenges and opportunities, Hu Zhongxiong, mayor of Changsha, outlined the roadmap for economic and social development in 2019 during his presentation of a work report during the fourth meeting of the 15th Changsha People's Congress. 

Although the city has been experiencing slow investment growth with a need to upgrade its consumption structure, the industrial chains and open economy of Changsha are still growing at a fast pace, while its business environment and the foundation for high-quality development continue to be improved this year. 

The local government will continue to endeavor to promote the upgrading of its industries, push forward with reform and opening-up, and ramp up efforts to improve the ecological environment.

The city is aiming for an 8 percent increase of its GDP in 2019. Its fixed-asset investment and total retail sales of consumer goods are set to grow by 10 percent. Changsha will continue to increase investment in its scientific research and development, and the research and development expenditure is set to account for more than 2.8 percent of the GDP. The investment of industrial projects and manufacturing industries, including high-tech service industries, is expected to make up 45 percent and 35 percent of the total fixed-asset investment. 

The Blue Sky Protection campaign achieves initial success and Changsha had 278 days of fairly good air quality last year, 16 days more than that in 2017. [Photo/hn.rednet.cn]

In addition, Changsha will continue to push forward the Blue Sky Protection campaign. The city's energy consumption per unit of GDP will drop by two percent and the rate of good air quality is about to be improved to 78 percent or above. The city will carry forward the protection and pollution control of Xiangjiang River, including launching special rectification campaigns and expanding sewage treatment plants.

Changsha accelerates the construction of complete industrial chains in the smart manufacturing industry. [Photo by Wang Zhiwei/icswb.com]

Positioned as a capital city of Hunan province, Changsha will integrate deeper into the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and play a leading role in the development of Hunan, especially in the integrative development of the Changsha-Zhouzhou-Xiangtan Area. It will stick to accelerating the transformation and upgrading of smart manufacturing industries, and generating more smart enterprises and products, aiming to be an industry leader in smart manufacturing.

Xiangjiang New Area, approved by the State Council in April 2015, is Central China's new economic growth base for creative industries, high-tech manufacturing, and innovation. [Photo/hunan.voc.com.cn]

Boasting some national strategic platforms, like Xiangjiang New Area, Changsha will take full advantage of these platforms and continue to advance its regional comprehensive competitiveness in order to set up an innovative and open area to speed up the transformation of potential competitiveness into actual productivity. The city is striving to create a world-class business environment by optimizing its investment, production, and trade climate.

Changsha plans to further improve infrastructure and people's livelihoods in 2019 and to bring more prosperity to locals, especially to those who live in rural areas, enhancing the sense of gain, happiness, and security among the public.