Kyodo News Agency:

Shanghai, the cradle of the CPC, is now a key financial city in China. What will be the future position of Shanghai? Thank you. 

Gong Zheng:

I can answer this question in one sentence. In the future, Shanghai is to become a modern socialist international metropolis with global influence. That plan is outlined in Shanghai's 14th Five-Year Plan, which lays out three important aspects of growth. 

First, Shanghai is a city that belongs to its people. General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored that the state is the people, and the people are the state. I mentioned in the opening remarks that our vision is to build a people's city where each and every individual has the chance to rise and shine, can participate in governance in an orderly manner, enjoy a decent life, and feel warm and welcome with a sense of belonging. That means fully implementing the principle proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, i.e. "a people's city is built by the people and for the people," to realize the good wishes of our people for the city. 

Second, Shanghai is a city robust in its functions. We should step up the four functions of Shanghai, namely, global resource allocation, science and technology innovation, leadership in high-end industries, and a hub for opening-up. We promote efforts to build Shanghai as an international economic, financial, trade, and shipping center as well as a hub for innovation in science and technology. Thus, the city's capacity and core competitiveness will be constantly improved. Shanghai will become the central node for domestic circulation and the strategic hinge of both domestic and international circulations in the building of the new development paradigm. In doing so, it will represent China and participate in international cooperation and competition. 

Third, Shanghai is a city with spirit. We will continue to advance, practice, and implement the city's spirit, which features inclusiveness and diversity, pursuit of excellence, enlightened wisdom and humility; and the city's characteristics of opening-up, innovation, and inclusivity. Thank you.