Baotou holds the fifth session of the 16th Baotou Municipal People's Congress on Jan 5. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

The fifth session of the 16th Baotou Municipal People's Congress commenced at 9 am on Jan 5 at the First Workers' Cultural Palace.

The government work report presented during the meeting reviewed Baotou's achievements in 2024, outlined the goals for economic and social development in 2025, and detailed the main tasks for the year.

The report highlighted integrating technological and industrial innovation as a priority for Baotou's development. Efforts will focus on accelerating the construction of key industrial clusters, including rare earth and silicon. The city aims to achieve significant progress in education, healthcare, and cultural development, improve living standards, maintain social harmony and stability, and raise its economic output to approximately 500 billion yuan ($68.2 billion). These initiatives reflect Baotou's commitment to charting a new course of innovative development for its industrial base.

The primary goals for Baotou's economic and social development in 2025 include an 8 percent growth in gross domestic product, a 14 percent increase in industrial added value for enterprises above the designated size, an 18 percent rise in fixed asset investment, and a five percent increase in retail sales of consumer goods. Public budget revenue is expected to grow by around five percent, and urban and rural residents' income will align with economic growth.