Ordos, a city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, was praised for eight highlights that occurred in 2019 -- according to the local government work report released at the third session of the 13th People's Congress of Inner Mongolia autonomous region in Hohhot on Jan 12.

1. Institute of Aircraft set up in Ordos, starts enrollment.

Ordos Institute of Technology, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China and Genghis Khan Airlines signed an agreement to establish the Institute of Aircraft on March 26. The new institute in Ordos Institute of Technology started its enrollment in July.

2. 5G testing base stations established in Ordos.

3. Second Inner Mongolia International Energy Conference opened in Ordos.

The second Inner Mongolia International Energy Conference opened in Ordos on Aug 10. The event was themed around “explore a new way of high-quality energy development guided by concepts of ecological priority and green development". Important consensus on energy consumption, supply, technological and management innovation as well as ecological and environmental protection were reached at the conference. This provided more intellectual support for accelerating the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient modern energy system and promoting the development of Inner Mongolia's modern energy economy.

4. China Petrochemical Corporation's coal-to-olefins (CTO) project started construction in Ordos.

The CTO project of parent company  China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) -- located in Dalu Industrial Park in the city -- started construction on Aug 10. The project is part of the national 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) coal deep processing and upgrading demonstration program. The chemical part of the project covers a total area of 331 hectares, with an approved investment of 23.8 billion yuan ($3.46 billion). Plans are for it to be completed and go into operation in 2024. The project adopts advanced technology and equipment. These include a coal to methanol plant and methanol to olefin plant with production capacity of 2.2 million tons per year, a polyethylene plant with production capacity of 340,000 tons per year, a polypropylene plant with production capacity of 530,000 tons per year and support utilities and auxiliary facilities.

5. Zhongwei demonstration plant for on-site coal conversion, or ISC, is put into production in Ordos.

Established by Zhongwei Energy Technology Co Ltd an ISC demonstration plant was officially put into production at Dangjiahui mining area in Ordos on Nov 27. The successful operation of the project marks the first time that a Chinese company has reached world-class levels in ISC technology -- a revolution in the safe, efficient and clean utilization of coal energy. The process of the technology integrates the drilling and construction of mining wells, control of combustion injection wells and ISC. It can produce low-cost industrial gas and chemical synthesis feed gas, without mining or any staff entering underground. Officials said the project achieved a world-first in five areas and created six firsts in China.

6. Kangbashi district recognized as national ecological civilization construction demonstration county.

Kangbashi district of Ordos was conferred with the title national ecological civilization construction demonstration county, by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Nov 13.

7. Ordos comprehensive bonded zone started operation.

Ordos comprehensive bonded zone started operations on March 28. The zone, with a planned area of 1.21 square kilometers, is located in Ordos Airport Logistics Park. It implements national bonded zone-related tax and foreign exchange management policies, mainly developing bonded processing, bonded logistics, bonded services and other businesses.

8. A total of 27 collectives and 33 individuals from Inner Mongolia were awarded the titles of national model collectives and individuals for ethnic unity and progress. Among them, were two collectives and three individuals from Ordos city.

According to the government report of the autonomous region, in 2020,the autonomous region will strengthen its joint prevention, control and treatment of air pollution in Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos, Wuhai and surrounding areas.

It will establish a Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos national independent innovation demonstration zone.

It will implement the Yellow River culture system protection project, rely on the Yellow River wetland, Junngar grand canyon in Ordos, the site of the Great Wall, as well as historical and cultural, ethnic cultural and red cultural resources, build the Yellow River Jiziwan tourism route, and build the Yellow River cultural tourism belt with an international influence.

Officials added that the region will focus on  preliminary work and the construction of the high-speed railway from Ordos to Yulin in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

They said it will strengthen the coordinated development of Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos and Ulaanqab -- promoting these cities' industrial concentration, intensification and agglomeration, and form a new engine for the autonomous region's high-quality development.