The 2019 work report of Ningxia Hui autonomous region

The second session of the 12th People's Congress of Ningxia Hui autonomous region began Jan 27 in Yinchuan with the release of the annual government work report by the government leader.

The regional GDP of Ningxia Hui autonomous region achieved growth of 7 percent year-on-year in 2018, amounting to 370.52 billion yuan ($53.81 billion). Revenue in the local government’s general public budgets totaled 44.45 billion yuan, an increase of 8.2 percent. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents was 31,895 yuan and 11,708 yuan, up 8.2 percent and 9 percent.

There were 80,000 new urban jobs created, and the registered urban unemployment rate was kept at 3.89 percent. The incidence of poverty dropped to 3 percent.

The number of days with good air quality in the region reached 87.2 percent. The region also completed afforestation of 100,000 hectares and desertification control of 60,000 hectares, and achieved 37.2 percent green land coverage in built-up urban areas and 14.6 percent of forest coverage.

In addition, the government promptly adopted 20 targeted policies and measures to ensure steady growth, 23 policies to promote the service sector, 20 policies to advance the private sector, and 30 policies to facilitate private investment.

The added value of industries above designated size increased by 8.3 percent and corporate profits rose by 16.1 percent. The region’s 33 industrial parks have been integrated and optimized into 22, with the number of national high-tech enterprises increasing to 150.

Besides, the regulated opening time for new enterprises has been shortened from 20 working days to five on average. The number of newly registered market entities increased by 5.1 percent, increasing by nearly 300 every day. There were 32 new foreign-invested enterprises and 14 enterprises invested overseas.

Targets for 2019

The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, so it will be a crucial year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Therefore, the GDP growth of 2019 in Ningxia is expected to increase by 6.5 to 7 percent, local general public budget revenue to grow about 7 percent, and total retail sales of social consumer goods to grow by 6 percent. There will be 75,000 new urban jobs created, urban and rural residents per capita disposable income will grow by 7.5 percent and 8 percent, with the consumer price index (CPI) of inflation being controlled at about 3 percent, and the unemployment rate staying above 5.2 percent. The energy consumption per 10 thousand yuan of GDP will fall by 3 percent, while the index of four main pollutants will meet the State standard.

The region’s strategic emerging industries are expected to account for 10 percent of GDP. About 100 new enterprises above the regulatory limit and 60 enterprises with output value exceeding 1 billion yuan will be added, injecting new impetus into industrial transformation and upgrading. An innovation fund will also be set up to cultivate 30 State-level high-tech enterprises. This year, the autonomous region has identified 80 key projects and completed investment of more than 50 billion yuan.

It will build 20 beautiful small towns, 100 beautiful villages and 12 small towns with distinctive features to create beautiful and livable rural landscapes in the region, with 900 kilometers of newly renovated rural roads to be built. The region will also carry out major ecological projects, completing afforestation of more than 1.3 million mu (86666.67 hectares), with desertification control of 900,000 mu and 800 square kilometers of soil erosion, and achieve a forest coverage rate of 15.2 percent. Green land in built-up urban areas will reach 37.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Ningxia will build a regional aviation hub in the west, opening international routes from Yinchuan to Hong Kong, Istanbul and other cities, with direct routes to all provincial capitals, and increase the number of flights to key cities in a bid to exceed 10 million in passenger throughput. The number of tourists and amount of tourism revenue are also expected to increase by more than 10 percent and 12 percent.