[Editor’s Notes]
On December 29, 2022, the Second Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee and the Municipal Economic Work Conference was held. The meeting summarized the economic achievements in 2022, formulated plans for the economy in 2023 and systematically projected future modernization.
Despite many challenges, including rounds of pandemic strikes, high temperatures and drought, power shortage and energy supply and flash floods, Chengdu contributed a GDP of over 2 trillion yuan for the first time in 2022, which surprised Chengdu citizens and infused confidence in transforming to the “fast track” to economic development.
At that time, “Economy, Project and Development” has become buzz words at the beginning of 2023. So, how to develop the economy fast and steadily? How to build the circles and strengthen the chains of industries for a modern industrial system? How to attract investments and talent? How to improve the international business environment?
In order to study and implement the spirits of the Central Economic Work Conference, the second Plenary session of the 12th Session of the Provincial Party Committee, the Economic Work Conference of the Provincial Party Committee, the Second Plenary session of the 14th session of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Party Committee Economic Work Conference, Chengdu Radio and Television Station specially planned the initiative of “Four Cities Gather Wisdom for Chengdu”. Four reporters respectively visited experts, enterprises and scientific research institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou to interpret the “Chengdu Practice” from a third-party perspective, and offer suggestions for Chengdu's modernization.
Here’s the report from Shenzhen.
By CDTV Shenniao Zhixun special correspondent Mo Zhengping, Fan Xi, Liu Yisi, Shenzhen
Yuan Yiming: Doctor in Economics, Professor of CCSEZR, Doctoral Advisor, Guizhou Provincial Party Committee and Shenzhen Municipal government decision-making consulting service expert, Chief expert of projects supported by African Development Bank. He has long dedicated to industrial development, the evolution of structures and policy research.
By the beautiful Xiangmi Lake, Prof. Yuan Yiming accepted the exclusive interview.
GDP: over 2 trillion yuan Chengdu has become an important economic center in China.
As an economist, Yuan is quite sensitive to numbers. Hearing Chengdu’s GDP has reached 2 trillion yuan by 2022, he felt very happy.
“It’s not easy. A city with over 2 trillion yuan GDP can be defined as an economic center, no matter in China or in the international community. Chengdu has stepped to a new stage for its high-quality and sustainable development.”
Yuan said that 2 trillion yuan is a threshold,
which if crossed, the city’s development, economic growth, future driving force and potential in domestic and abroad will make a great change. New historical opportunities are awaiting.
All things considered, a regional city has the full potential to be a top city in the world urban system as long as enhancing communication with global cities and upgrading function level, competitiveness and impact. How to expand its influence in the international community? Which industry, product, patent and technology can it rely on? All these questions are worth thinking about and planning in advance.
According to Yuan, a GDP of over 2 trillion yuan represents the comprehensive economic strength of a city. Shenzhen crossed the threshold in 2016, which is also a significant milestone of Shenzhen’s high-quality advancement.
Live for today but eye on the future. The coming five years are critical for building an international metropolis with Chinese characteristics. Standing at the new starting point, there’s no doubt that 2 trillion yuan has laid a solid economic foundation for Chengdu’s way to a higher level of a global city. On the Second Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee and the Municipal Economic Work Conference, it was proposed that Chengdu aimed to be a modern international metropolis with global influence and reputation in western China.
This is not only a precise understanding of the development course and opportunities of a global city, but a responsibility for bearing in mind the country’s most fundamental interests. We are looking forward to seeing Chengdu breaking new ground and making greater contributions to Chinese modernization.
Opportunity: guided by national strategies to achieve self-transcendence and overall upgrading.
In Yuan’s view, Chengdu is in a critical period of improving its function level, promoting transformation and creating new prospects. The biggest opportunity is the national western governance strategy, which will drive the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle forward. Followed by the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and the Greater Bay Area, the Chengdu-Chongqing area will be the fourth pole of China's economic growth.
The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC regards the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone as an imperative strategic plan, highlighting its status in national development. The Party Central Committee hopes that Chengdu and Chongqing will combine efforts to integrate resources, complement each other's strengths, and cluster industries to form a stronger economic circle and a highland for opening up to compete in the world.
The key task is to strengthen the two “cores” of Chengdu and Chongqing. Two cities should focus their energy and ingenuity toward the same goal and run at an acceleration. He noticed the practical progress of Chengdu-Chongqing cooperation, including six meetings between the Sichuan and Chongqing Party and the government, deep connection in the automobile and electronic information industries, joint construction of Western China Science City and the completion of major projects.
In the west, Chengdu and Chongqing are the dazzling "twin stars". Yuan suggested that it’s better to build Chengdu economic circle and Chongqing economic circle at the east and west of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, respectively, driving the development of the central city group.
He believes that Chengdu’s economic circle should cover the remote cities of Mianyang, Leshan, Suining and Ya’an for a wide range of urban economic centers, but not just the integral development of Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan and Ziyang. Chengdu, just like Shenzhen, is an inclusive city with a long history of immigration. It is perfectly capable of gathering more cities to expand its own strength and strategic depth, and optimize and complement its industrial layout for the better economic development of Sichuan.
Strength: Chengdu is a city with an abundance of economic, cultural and technological heritage.
Yuan thought that in the transformation of national strategies and global economic patterns, there are multiple advantages that can be turned into opportunities.
Chengdu is a city with a long history and rich economic and cultural background.
Its advanced modern industrial system, including electronic information, biomedicine, aerospace, automobile manufacturing, and new energy are ranked first-class across the country. It also has a rich cultural industry and science and technology education resources.
The number of laborers and human resources is abundant in Chengdu, even in Sichuan. In the 1980s, the population of Sichuan immigrated to northern and eastern China to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and the southeast coastal areas. But now, young people are willing to stay in Sichuan, and a large number of the Sichuan people return home to achieve employment and prosperity.
The 21 million Chengdu citizens are a huge demographic dividend, with whom everything can be achieved.
Another morality is the diligence of the Sichuan people. From the perspective of economics, a place with a large population will try its best to develop, which has fostered the competitive consciousness and culture of Sichuan people. From the perspective of the group,
the Sichuan people are a hardworking group. The competition within the province is rather fierce. In the long run, a culture of accepting competition, welcoming competition and being good at the competition has been formed.
Innovation: Consistent innovation in systems and mechanisms lead to Chengdu’s progress.
Yuan said, in the course of the market economy, competitive consciousness is truly precious. Competition fosters open-minded learning and bold innovation. Shenzhen and Pudong's successful experiences can certainly be mirrored, but the key to a city's development is systematical and mechanical innovation.
Is Chengdu becoming more and more inclusive? Is the business environment getting better and better? Is it more favorable to attract investment? Is the list of urban opportunities getting expanded? Is city construction and management getting smarter and smarter? Are the products of intelligent manufacturing becoming more and more advanced? All of the above are covered in the innovation and evaluation criteria of a vigorous city.
Yuan believed that innovation in systems and mechanisms depends on the path and method of reform. In another word, based on the demand of Chengdu, the management layer should perform effective system innovation, mechanism design, social management and economic development.
The saying “trimming with the sails” actually means a mechanism to make an adjustment when appropriate. If embodied in the strategy of the city’s development, it refers to an effective way of transformation. And the final test result is the economic and social development, whether the people are living a better life and whether the GDP is growing continuously.
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In this view, I think Chengdu’s innovation is of great effect.” “
It’s an adjustment, a transformation and an upgrade. Chengdu is on its way to level up.”
The strategy of urban innovation should be networked and opened up. More importantly, the previous practice of relying entirely on government finances to establish research institutions should be cast away. Enterprises are supported to build R&D centers and collaborate with scientists to help products, technologies and patents flow quickly.
Market: standing at a new starting point and targeting overseas.
Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle centered on coordinated regional development. However, considering the unique spatial structure and strategic positioning of the two cities, differentiation should be allowed.
At the new beginning of a GDP of over 2 trillion yuan, Chengdu is supposed to target overseas. Capitalizing on the resources in node cities of China Railway express and the “Belt and Road”, Chengdu ought to catch the brisk demand in the South Asian and African markets. At present, Chengdu has stepped into the partial European market.
At the same time as expanding and consolidating the advanced manufacturing industry, Chengdu needs to carry forward its classic cultural and tourism industry and bestow new connotations on it. For instance, integrate digital technologies into cultural products and tourist attractions, and sell them as digital products.
Talents: A large number of overseas innovative talents should be introduced.
Yuan said that a modern international vigorous metropolis driven by innovation needs fully developed new growth drivers and advantages. Equal emphasis on “bringing in” and “going global” should be given.
In trap future, Chengdu ought to introduce high-tech, large foreign-funded enterprises. In Yuan’s opinion, an international Chengdu relies on the resources of overseas innovative talents.
He thought an innovation center is the crux of technology industrialization and a source of industrial development. It must be international. As well-known innovation centers, Silicon Valley and European have advanced industries.
“People from all over the world come to Chengdu will help Chengdu learn about the demands of their population.”
Overseas innovative talents can help improve Chengdu’s impact in the international community, including its innovation, products, way of development and internationalization and direct of “bringing in” and “going global”.
Reproduced from Shenniao Zhixun
Editor/Ren Xiangyu
Editor in charge/Xie Zhi
Chief on duty/Yin Jiuming
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