In the first half of this year, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, demonstrated robust economic growth, with its GDP reaching 196.95 billion yuan ($27.08 billion), a 6.5 percent increase year-on-year at comparable prices. This growth rate exceeded the national and provincial averages by 1.5 and 0.9 percentage points, respectively.

The primary industry saw an added value of 6.79 billion yuan, growing by 4.7 percent, the secondary industry's added value reached 97.36 billion yuan, with a 7.5 percent growth, and the tertiary industry contributed 92.8 billion yuan, up by 5.7 percent.

The agricultural sector in Huzhou thrived, achieving a total output value of 13.569 billion yuan, a 4.7 percent increase. Industry remains a cornerstone of the city's economic development. The added value of industries above designated size reached 64.88 billion yuan, growing by 9.2 percent, with high-tech industries increasing by 8.9 percent.

The service sector, meanwhile, continued its recovery, with an added value of 92.8 billion yuan, a 5.7 percent increase, increasing GDP growth by 2.7 percentage points.

Residents in Huzhou also experienced a narrowing income gap, with per capita disposable income reaching 36,293 yuan, a 4.4 percent increase, and the urban-rural income ratio decreasing to 1.5-1.