SCIO press conference on promoting high-quality development, undertaking Sichuan's mission to boost development of China's western region

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Speakers:

Mr. Huang Qiang, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Sichuan Provincial Committee and governor of Sichuan province

Mr. Zuo Yongxiang, vice governor of Sichuan province

Mr. Dai Yongbo, director of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission

Mr. Wu Qungang, director of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

May 27, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 24th briefing in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Huang Qiang, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Sichuan Provincial Committee and governor of Sichuan province, to brief you on promoting high-quality development and undertaking Sichuan's mission to boost development of China's western region, and to take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Zuo Yongxiang, vice governor of Sichuan province; Mr. Dai Yongbo, director of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission; and Mr. Wu Qungang, director of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Huang to his introduction.

Huang Qiang:

Good morning. Thank you for your interest in Sichuan.

Sichuan has long been a strategic heartland of China, known for its large population, strong scientific and education sectors, and robust economy. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made multiple inspection visits to Sichuan, issuing a series of important instructions. We have firmly borne in mind the general secretary's instructions, perceiving our strategic position and mission based on the overall national development. We are resolutely promoting high-quality development, and have got off to a good start in leading Sichuan's modernization through Chinese modernization.

The development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, personally envisioned by General Secretary Xi Jinping, is a major regional strategy of the country and a main driving force behind Sichuan's modernization endeavor. Together with Chongqing, we are creating a key growth driver and new source of momentum for the high-quality development of the western region. The development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle emphasizes integration and high quality, enhancing the synergy between the two megacities of Chengdu and Chongqing. It prioritizes the growth and expansion of the two cities to accelerate the rise of the western region, while improving infrastructure connectivity. Chengdu and Chongqing are jointly fostering world-class industrial clusters such as in electronic information and automobiles to build a western science city and a financial center. A series of services that can be offered in both Sichuan and Chongqing have been introduced for the benefit of residents, providing them with a more convenient cross-city lifestyle. Additionally, Chengdu is expediting efforts to build itself into a park city demonstration zone that applies the new development philosophy. Last year, Chengdu's economic output exceeded 2.2 trillion yuan.

Despite being a western province, Sichuan boasts abundant resources in science, education and talent, and covers all 41 industrial categories. We have vigorously advanced the deep integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation, fostering new quality productive forces according to local conditions. Sichuan is home to 137 universities and 369 research institutions. In recent years, the authorities have launched several strategic sci-tech initiatives in Chengdu, bringing the total number of national-level sci-tech innovation platforms to 205. Two weeks ago, the fifth plenary session of the 12th CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee announced the decision to focus on developing new quality productive forces and steadfastly promote high-quality development. Leveraging our industrial foundation as well as research advantages, we have initiated efforts to break new ground in cutting-edge technologies, implementing a number of major sci-tech projects. We have prioritized artificial intelligence (AI) as the top innovation project and driven the development, popularization and application of the whole green hydrogen industrial chain. We have fostered strategic emerging industries such as biotechnology, satellite networks, intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, drones and industrial internet, and vigorously developed low-altitude economy and commercial spaceflight. At the same time, Sichuan's traditional industries are also substantial in scale. We have energetically updated traditional industries with intelligent and digital technologies, and accelerated the growth of three national strategic emerging clusters and three national advanced manufacturing clusters. Chengdu, Deyang, Mianyang and Yibin have made the list of the country's top 100 advanced manufacturing cities.

Sichuan's economic output is rising steadily. Earnestly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directive that major economically developed provinces should shoulder greater responsibilities, we have promoted high-quality development as quickly as possible, striving to contribute to the nation's stable economic growth. Last year, the province's economic output exceeded 6 trillion yuan, growing by 6% and ranking joint-first among the top 10 most economically developed provinces. In the first quarter of this year, economic output increased by 6.1%. Regarding promoting new industrialization as the primary economic growth driver, we have vigorously enhanced the scale and quality of six major advantageous industries, with the scale of the electronic information, food and textiles, as well as energy and chemicals industries each exceeding 1 trillion yuan. we have facilitated investment in sectors such as industrial development, infrastructure and livelihood programs. Last year, our industrial investment grew by 22.3%, with railway and highway investments ranking first nationwide and total investments in ongoing water conservancy projects hitting a historical high. Consumer potential has been unleashed, with the growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods in Sichuan exceeding the national average by 2 percentage points. The hosting of the Chengdu Universiade and the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024 has revitalized sports and entertainment consumption. Nowadays, tickets for sports events and concerts in Chengdu are in high demand. Additionally, we have endeavored to stabilize foreign trade and investment, maintaining eighth place nationwide in terms of imports and exports.

Sichuan bears significant responsibility for safeguarding China's food security, energy resource security, and ecological security. We are rapidly developing strategic production bases to secure the nation's supply of vital primary goods, while simultaneously elevating Sichuan's agricultural sector to new heights in the new era. Last year, grain production reached a record high of 35.94 billion kilograms, the highest in 26 years. Sichuan stands as China's leading producer of hydroelectric power. With electricity transmission from west to east, 30 out of every 100 kilowatt-hours of hydropower in the country is generated in Sichuan. Sichuan boasts the nation's largest reserves and highest annual natural gas production, including shale gas. With gas pipelines transmitting resources from west to east, 24 out of every 100 cubic meters of China's natural gas output originates from the province. We are implementing a new round of strategic actions to explore mineral resources and accelerate the comprehensive development of vanadium, titanium, rare earths, lithium, and other mineral resources. We are relentlessly pursuing blue skies, clear waters, and clean lands, while constructing world-class facilities like the Giant Panda National Park and the Ruoergai Wetland National Nature Reserve. The water quality of the Sichuan sections of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River's main channel remains at Class II or above, allowing clean water to flow eastward.

At the same time, we remain committed to pursuing high-quality development while maintaining a high level of safety. We are steadfastly upholding critical redlines for safety, ecological preservation, arable land conservation, local government debt levels, and statistical data integrity.

Although Sichuan's economic aggregate has risen to rank fifth nationwide, the province still grapples with the fundamental challenge of imbalanced and insufficient development. Faced with a severe and complex situation, we have fully implemented the policy decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. We are resolutely tackling these challenges, focusing on practical work, and striving to accomplish the annual economic and social development goals and objectives.

That's all for now. Thank you, everyone.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Huang, for your introduction. Next, we will move on to the Q&A session. Please identify the media organization you represent before asking your questions.