Local officials answer questions from media reproters at a press conference,held to reports on Hinggan League's achievements over the past 70 years, in Hohhot, the capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonmous region on Aug 26. [Photo/nm.people.cn]

The overall GDP of Hinggan League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has reached 47.25 billion yuan ($6.60 billion) in 2018, 64 times more than its GDP 70 years ago when the People's Republic of China was formed. Its per capita GDP is now 29,000 yuan, 20 times higher than 70 years ago, according to statistics announced by local officials at a special press conference held in Hohhot, capital of the region, on Aug 26.

The press conference is part of a series of conferences held in Inner Mongolia to report on the region's achievements over the past 70 years and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Zhang Enhui, secretary of the CPC committee of Hinggan League, said at the press conference that the number of livestock on hand at the end of the year in the League has increased from 549,000 to 13.55 million over the past 70 years, and grain output has increased from 320 million kilograms to 5.78 billion kg. Jalaid Banner, located in the league, has been named a national super-grain-producing county.

He also said that the secondary and tertiary industries of the league have gradually developed, with their output value accounting for over two-thirds of GDP.

Over the past 70 years, the living environment in rural areas of the league has improved markedly, infrastructure construction has accelerated, and the urbanization rate has increased from 13 percent to 49 percent.

The total lengths of railways and highways in the league have respectively increased 2.6 percent and 16.6 percent, respectively, over the past 70 years. Two airports in Ulaanhot and Alshaa have introduced 23 flights, and six general airports have been built.

The impoverished population of Hinggan League decreased from 453,000 in 2012 to 21,000 by the end of 2018. Its poverty rate dropped from 41 percent to 1.8 percent. Four of six poverty-stricken counties and cities have been raised out of poverty, while Horqin Right Wing Front Banner and Tuquan county are expected to be lifted out of poverty by the end of this year.

Hinggan League has also made considerable progress in education, culture and healthcare. The consolidation rate of nine-year compulsory education has reached 100 percent, and the coverage rates of social endowment insurance and basic medical insurance have reached 90 percent and 97 percent, respectively. The per capita disposable income of the league's urban residents has exceeded 28,000 yuan, while the per capita disposable income of rural residents has exceeded 10,000 yuan.