30 years on: Xinwu blossoms

Since its inception was approved by the State Council in 1992, Wuxi National Hi-Tech District, the city's first national economic development zone, has developed into a crucial platform to showcase opening-up and attract foreign investment, and a key engine to drive growth in the local economy. The district's GDP surpassed 220 billion yuan ($34.8 billion) in 2021, with a year-on-year increase ranking top in the city. Emerging as a popular investment destination and building on its strength in technological innovation, the district is striving to create a high-growth modern industrial system with international influence.

Xinwu district, also known as the Wuxi National Hi-Tech District, will strive this year to set a benchmark for high-quality growth and better implement its new development concept featuring innovation, coordination, environmentalism, openness and sharing.

It also plans to play a leading role in the modernization of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, in East China.

These initiatives are part of Xinwu's efforts to celebrate the high-tech district's 30th anniversary and welcome the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, according to the district government.

"In the next five years, Xinwu will focus on balancing development and security; integrating into the new growth pattern; supporting major strategies, such as the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yangtze River Delta region; modernizing the governance system and pursuing common prosperity," said Zhang Jinwei, head of Xinwu district.

According to the district's latest government work report, Xinwu has set major targets pertaining to its social and economic growth.

For example, by the end of this year, its GDP is expected to increase by 6.5 percent year-on-year; the general public budget revenue will go up by around 5.5 percent; total research and development input will account for 4.8 percent of the district's GDP; and investment in fixed assets will reach 84.5 billion yuan ($13.4 billion).

To reach these goals, Xinwu will pour resources into the development of seven areas including industries, innovation, reform and the environment.

The district will continue to strengthen the real economy and construct an industrial system with more distinctive features. Efforts will be made to attract major projects and promote cooperation with State-owned enterprises, Fortune Global 500 companies and leading private businesses.

This year, Xinwu plans to introduce more than 100 projects, each with an investment exceeding 100 million yuan; three projects each with an investment of over 5 billion yuan; and two projects each with an investment of over 10 billion yuan.

It will also speed up the development of some pillar industries such as the internet of things, integrated circuits, biomedicines, photovoltaic modules and equipment, and lithium batteries and anode materials.

The integrated development of manufacturing with new-generation information technology such as artificial intelligence, 5G and the industrial internet will be intensified. As a result, Xinwu plans to add 50 provincial and municipal intelligent demonstration workshops and factories this year.

Strengthening the innovation-driven strategy is another focus of the Xinwu government's work. The district will highlight the building of Taihu Bay Sci-Tech Innovation City and plans to attract more than 2,000 sci-tech companies throughout the year.

It will also build a full-chain incubation system that will consist of mass innovation space, incubators, accelerators and sci-tech industrial parks; construct high-level innovation platforms such as a national integrated circuit characteristic processing, packaging and testing innovation center; a national market supervision and technology innovation center for special food; and the Wuxi special food, nutrition and health institute of Jiangnan University.

Xinwu will pursue higher-level reform and opening-up to set up more dynamic development mechanisms.

The district hopes to launch more pilot reforms at both national and provincial levels, and promote the implementation of more foreign-funded projects in the fields of investment, management and consulting, and science and technology services.

The construction of six international cooperation bases will also be accelerated. They include an international integrated circuit innovation cluster, an international life science innovation park, a China-Europe low-carbon industrial park, and a service-oriented comprehensive bonded zone.

The improvement of functions to speed up construction of the modern district is another highlight. This year, Xinwu will conduct the infrastructure construction planning and evaluation project in a bid to optimize its district functions and the distribution of public-service resources.

It will also enhance the district's image by forming a number of international streets and roads with cultural assets, distinctive architecture, complete infrastructure and standardized management systems.

The district plans to develop "smart plus green" agriculture demonstration zones to advance its rural revitalization strategy.

As for green development, Xinwu will continue to insist on low-carbon development concepts and promote the green and circular transformation of its industrial parks by using photovoltaic, hydrogen and other types of clean energy.

Investments will be made to increase innovation in low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies. Efforts will continue toward the reduction of air, water and soil pollution.

Xinwu also plans to improve people's well-being through increasing residents' income in the coming decade and narrowing the income gap between urban and rural areas, and among industries.

A more proactive employment policy will be carried out to keep the registered urban unemployment rate within 4 percent.

Moreover, Xinwu will build and renovate eight kindergartens and six primary and middle schools this year, and promote the integrated development of culture, tourism and businesses.

To create a more favorable environment for social and economic development, the district will take regularized pandemic prevention and control measures, and become a demonstration area for the development of the national public security prevention and control system, local officials said.