The second session of the 18th People's Congress of Tai'an and the second session of the 14th Tai'an Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) kicked off on Jan 7, attracting deputies from all walks of life to attend and share their proposals.

Li Lanxiang, acting mayor of Tai'an, gave the government work report at the second session of the 18th People's Congress of Tai'an and said that Tai'an has achieved its main objectives in 2022 while battling COVID-19 outbreaks, stabilizing the economy, and maintaining security. Li also noted that the city has taken solid steps in building a strong city in the new era of socialist modernization.

This year, Tai'an has set goals of increasing the GDP by about 5.5 percent, the public budget income by about 6 percent, the added value of industries above designated size by about 8 percent, the fixed asset investment by about 8 percent, total retail sales of social consumer goods by 6.5 percent, imports and exports by 10 percent, foreign investment by 10 percent, and the per capita disposable income of residents by about 5.5 percent.

In addition, the city aims to stabilize its grain cultivation area and production, increase the added value of businesses specializing in new technology, new industries, new business modes and new models by over 10 percent, achieve the increased target of urban employment, increase the consumer price index by about 3 percent, and accomplish the targets set for energy conservation, carbon reduction, and improving the environment, which have been assigned by Shandong province for 2023.