2017 builds the foundation for more years of plenty

The city's GDP increased by 9 percent to 255.4 billion yuan ($39.7 billion), one of the best growth momentums in Guangdong Province, Mayor Yao Yisheng states in his government work report for 2017.

The report was delivered at the 5th Session of the 9th Zhuhai Municipal People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of Zhuhai on Jan 16. It indicates that higher levels of economic activity and social progress were evident in every aspect of urban development.  

In 2017, Zhuhai had total investment of 166.2 billion yuan ($25.8 billion) in fixed assets, up 19.6 percent. Total retail sales of consumer goods surpassed 113 billion yuan ($17.6 billion) at a rise of 11.3 percent. Foreign investment of more than 2.4 billion yuan ($373 million), up 6 percent, was attracted to various construction projects.

Meanwhile, the total volume of imports and exports rose by 8 percent to 297.3 billion yuan ($46.2 billion). Also on the rise were general public revenues and per capita disposable income of all residents, respectively 31.4 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) and 43,969 yuan ($6,832), up 10.4 percent and 9.5 percent. 

Mayor Yao Yisheng delivers work report on municipal government [Photo by Zhao Zi / Zhuhai Daily]

Industrial enterprises above designated size in Zhuhai yielded gross annual output of 465.3 billion yuan ($72.3 billion), a growth of 12.9 percent with value added increased by 10.9 percent to about 110.6 billion yuan ($17.2 billion).

Furthermore, according to the report:

Jumping 16.6 percent to 43.4 billion yuan ($6.7 billion) in value added, the prioritized equipment manufacturing sector has emerged as an economic spinoff. 

A solid institutional foundation may well have been the cause of vigorous development as 39,500 main market players emerged, an increase of 15.8 percent.

A flurry of 84 systematic innovations came into effect in the Hengqin Pilot Free Trade Zone, nine of which followed suit elsewhere in the province.

Thanks to deepened regional cooperative ties, 849 Hong Kong and Macao enterprises registered in Hengqin New Area, an increase of 72 percent. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Science & Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation Between Guangdong & Macao has attracted 56 enterprises so far, and another 16 projects in various development sectors are under construction in the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Industrial Park.

The number of motor vehicles traveling between Macao and Zhuhai and benefiting from favorable local policies is on the rise.

Zhuhai's opening-up was brought to a new level with the successful hosting of the China-Latin America & Caribbean International Exposition and 3rd China-Israel Investment Summit. The year also witnessed the onset of construction of the Sino-Israel Innovation Accelerator and opening of China-Latin America Economic & Trade Cooperation Park.

Exports to countries along the Belt & Road saw a rise of 17.2 percent. Import and export of hi-tech products grew by 12.4 percent.

The city opened five economic-and-trade representative offices in regions such as North America and Europe while 127 new projects settled at home.

Almost 40 million visitors came to Zhuhai, bringing revenue of 36.8 billion yuan ($5.7 billion), 16 percent more than in 2016.

The cut-through of the main body of the Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macao Bridge brought it closer to Zhuhai's goal of becoming the only city in the Chinese mainland that connects by roadway with both Hong Kong and Macao.

Cargo throughput handled at Gaolan Port surpassed 1 million tons, adding to Zhuhai's marine transportation. Shenhua Group has completed the upgrade of coal wharfs at Zhuhai Port with 150 kilotons in capacity, as did a north harbor in Gaolan Port's Nanshui waters.

Construction of a shipping lane allowing passage of vessels with capacity of 50 kilotons got under way in the Huangmao Sea at the west of the Pearl River Estuary.

Seven additional high-speed rail lines connected Zhuhai with other 47 domestic cities. The number of passengers traveling by high-speed rail and Intercity MRT grew by 32 percent to hit 17.9 million.

Zhuhai spent 35.4 billion yuan ($5.5 billion) on livelihood projects in nine categories, an annualized increase of 24.7 percent. Those expenditures were 71.7 percent of the city's general public budget.

A total of 46,923 residents found employment and the registered urban unemployment rate was kept below 2.26 percent.

Zhuhai made great strides in public services such as culture and sports, building seven civic art centers, 12 community sports parks, and 316 digital rural libraries.

Construction of a New Countryside is also bearing fruit. Lingnan Earth Eco-Resort was designated as a pilot project of the first round of China's Rural Life Complex strategy, and Doumen Town was listed in the second group of China Characteristic Small Towns. Doumen District, for its part in Zhuhai's year of plentitude, was named a National Leisure Agriculture & Rural Tourism Demonstration Zone.

Highlights:

1. Zhuhai has ranked Number 1 in the provincial assessment of social credit system construction for five consecutive years.

2. Zhuhai recruited 43 Thousand Talents Plan experts, bringing the total to 93 -- the highest in Guangdong Province.

3. Restoration of Zhuhai's signature Xianglu Bay Beach on Central Lovers Avenue won the China Habitat Environment Example Prize.

4. Passenger throughput at Zhuhai Airport increased by 50.3 percent to reach 9.22 million, the fastest rate of growth in South-Central China.

4. Zhuhai built 3,926 4G communication base stations in 2017. The number of households with access to fiber-optic cable service rose to 199,000, and Internet coverage hit 83 percent. The city placed sixth in the evaluation of National Smart Cities.

5. Baijiao Sea Bass, a famous local specialty cultivated in Doumen, was listed as one of the Top 100 Regional Agricultural Product Public Brands in China last September. 

6. The first trial project of ocean wave energy in the country was launched at Big Wanshan Island.