In the government work report delivered at the opening ceremony of the 4th session of the 13th National People’s Congress on the morning of March 5, Premier Li Keqiang reviewed China’s achievements in 2020, assigned major tasks for this year, and set the goals for the future.
The 2021 government work report released a large amount of information with huge value, among which Chongqing is concerned in many aspects. Those state-level major positives are new opportunities for Chongqing’s development and important tasks that the city must complete. Therefore, how does the city seize the opportunity and implement those tasks?
Innovation in Science and Technology
In Bishan High-tech Zone, skilled workers are busy on the intelligently transformed production line.
Words in the Report: “We will raise our capacity for pursuing scientific and technological innovation. We support localities with requisite conditions to develop international and regional centers for science and technology innovation, and better leverage the guiding role of institutions such as national innovation demonstration zones.”
The 5th plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee prioritized the innovation when setting up a development path for China’s 14th Five-year Plan. Similarly, the 2021 government work report emphasized the importance of innovation. It further pointed out that the real economy's high-quality development shall be promoted through innovation, new growth drivers shall be fostered, and the in-depth integration of scientific innovation with the real economy shall be promoted. In doing so, the role of innovation in driving development can be brought into full play.
When speaking of the major tasks of leveling up scientific and technological innovation capability this year, the suggestion of “we support localities with requisite conditions to develop international and regional centers for science and technology innovation” attracted people’s attention. This is a big advantage for Chongqing, which is joining Sichuan's hands to build a comprehensive scientific center.
The CPC Central Committee set up the important strategic deployment of launching the construction of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and clarified the goals and tasks of building “Two Centers in Two Places” in Chengdu and Chongqing region one of which is to build a scientific innovation center with national influence.
During the “two sessions” this year, the Delegation of Chongqing submitted the suggestion to support the construction of a comprehensive scientific center in Chengdu and Chongqing region, which includes supporting the construction of large-scale scientific facilities, national laboratories or national laboratory bases, national scientific innovation bases and the Chongqing Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Driven by innovation, Chongqing will seize development opportunities and promote the traditional drivers being replaced by the new ones as well as the transformation and upgrading of the economic structure. In doing so, the city will build important growth poles for leading the national high-quality development and new economical engines.
Western Development
Aerial panoramic view of the construction site of the Longxi Jialing River Bridge on Chongqing Expressway.
Words in the Report: “Improving regional economic structures and promoting coordinated regional development.… We will usher in a new stage in large-scale development in the western region.”
As China enters a new development stage, we shall thoroughly implement the new development philosophy and speed up constructing a new development pattern. The 2021 government work report pointed out clearly that the efforts shall be made to drive the formation of a new pattern in Western Development.
Chongqing shoulders the great mission of playing a supportive role in driving Western Development in the new era. The Guiding Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Formation of a New Pattern in the Western Development issued in May last year clearly pointed out that Chongqing is under full support to bring its comprehensive advantages into play, build inland open highlands and development and opening-up hubs; strengthen the opening of great corridors, actively implement the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstrative Project on Strategic Connectivity; encourage Chongqing to accelerate the construction of an international gateway hub city and build inland multilevel open platforms.
During the “two sessions” this year, Chongqing's Delegation submitted the suggestion to strengthen further the supportive efforts to construct western land-sea corridors. At present, the city is leading to formulate the draft of the implementation plan for the construction of western land-sea corridors during the 14th Five-year Plan period, improving the interprovincial consultation and cooperation mechanism among western provinces as well as cities such as Guangxi and Sichuan, and pushing forward the high-quality development of those corridors. As a
series of positive policies intersect and overlap, the city will welcome new development opportunities. It can be foreseen that with the regional cooperation of the west area going deeper and the regional coordinated development mechanism being improved, the city will see more new development space.
The Yangtze River Economic Belt
Opened on December 5, 2013, Guoyuan Port has become the largest inland river hub port in the country in the past seven years, which combines water, rail, and road transport.
Words in the Report: “we will take solid steps to promote the coordinated development of the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt” “We will continue to intensify efforts to improve the environment.… We will enforce a ten-year fishing ban in the waters of the Yangtze River.”
The 2021 government work report expounded side by side the Yangtze Economic Belt development and the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the ecological protection of Yellow River, and high-quality development, releasing a strong signal of strictly protecting the ecological environment in the Yangtze River.
The proportion of the total regional GDP of the 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze Economic Belt exceeded 40% of China's total GDP, and the proportion has been increasingly rising. With important ecological status, strong comprehensive strength, and huge development potentials, the region is being constructed into an example with high-quality development in the new era.
Chongqing is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The Chongqing section of the Yangtze River is 691 kilometers, and the water storage capacity of the Chongqing section of the Three Gorge Dam area reaches 30 billion cubic meters. Therefore, the City is an important ecological defense in the Yangtze River's upper reaches, playing an irreplaceable role in protecting the ecological safety of the middle and lower-reaches regions of the Yangtze River.
Since the year 2021 marks the start of the 14th Five-year Plan, the development requirements are high, and tasks are heavy. Chongqing will announce the implementation of the strictest water resource management scheme. During the “two sessions,” the two Delegations of Sichuan and Chongqing will jointly put forward the Suggestion on Strengthening the Shipping Capacity Building in the Upstream of the Yangtze River to Support the Development of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
After a series of new rules are established, Chongqing will continuously strengthen the implementation of every detail, explore a green development path, constantly exhibit new achievements, and realize breakthroughs to play an exemplary role in driving the green development of the Yangtze Economic Belt.