Guangxi People's Congress reviews progress, looks ahead

The 2nd Session of the 13th Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Congress began in Nanning on Jan 26.

Chen Wu, chairman of Guangxi, delivered the 2018 government work report on behalf of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People's Government, summarizing the achievements of 2018 and setting goals for 2019. Higher levels of economic activity and social progress were evident in every aspect of urban development throughout 2018.

Based on preliminary estimates, Guangxi’s GDP, fiscal revenue, fixed-asset investment, total retail sales of consumer goods, and total value of exports reported increases of 6.8 percent, 7.1 percent, 10.8 percent, 9.3 percent, and 14.6 percent, respectively.

Of particular note was the robust growth of Guangxi's budding high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries, whose added value rose by 11.6 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively, in 2018. There are now over 1,800 hi-tech enterprises in the region, over 600 of which were started over the past year.

Guangxi, at the forefront of the country's anti-poverty campaign, lifted more than 1.15 million people, 1,400 villages and 14 counties out of poverty in 2018. The per capita disposable income of rural residents recorded an increase of 9.8 percent, and the growth rate has been higher than the national average for the past seven years.

According to Chen, 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and a crucial year for building the country into a moderately prosperous society. Guangxi is striving for 7 percent in GDP growth this year.

Fiscal revenue, added value of industries above a designated size, fixed-asset investment, total retail sales of consumer goods, and foreign trade value are expected to grow by 5 percent, 6.5 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, and 6 percent, respectively. The consumer price index should be kept below 3 percent, and registered urban unemployment rate should be below 4.5 percent. It is hoped that another 1.05 million impoverished rural residents will be raised from poverty, added Chen.

The delegates at the conference examined the Report on the Implementation of the Guangxi National Economic & Social Development Plan for 2018 and Draft Plan for 2019, as well as the Report on the Implementation of the Financial Budget for 2018 and Draft Budget for 2019.