CCTV:

I just heard Mr. Zhang mention ten initiatives during his introduction, so I would like to ask you to elaborate on what the city has done so far and the highlights of these initiatives. Additionally, in which key areas and critical links will you introduce innovative measures this year? Thank you.

Zhang Gong:

Thank you for your attention to Tianjin's ten initiatives. Now, I would like to invite Mr. Liu to answer these questions.

Liu Guiping:

Thank you for your questions. Since the start of last year, Tianjin has been focusing on key areas critical to its long-term development. In line with the guiding principles of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, the city has undertaken 10 initiatives to promote high-quality development, achieving initial success. Significant progress has been made in promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with over 40 central government enterprises’ second level or third level subsidiary companies establishing themselves in Tianjin through market-based approaches. Industry and information technology departments across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region have jointly released industrial chain maps in six key areas. Furthermore, the Tianjin-Daxing Airport Intercity Railway was officially launched on Dec. 28, 2023, reducing travel time between Tianjin West Railway Station and Beijing Daxing International Airport to just 40 minutes. Tianjin Binhai New Area has given full play to its role in supporting and guiding the city’s high-quality development. Last year, the area's GDP saw a 4.6% increase, surpassing Tianjin's average growth rate. The State Council has also approved the establishment of the Tianjin Lingang Comprehensive Bonded Zone. Tianjin's cluster of marine engineering equipment industries has emerged as the important one of its kind in China. Remarkable progress has been made in invigorating Tianjin through science and education and in developing a quality workforce. The CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and Tianjin municipal government have planned the development of Tiankai Higher Education Innovation Park in a holistic manner. So far, the number of registered businesses has exceeded 1,500. Tianjin's R&D spending accounts for 3.49% of its GDP, and the ratio ranks third in the country. The metropolis was ranked 18th globally in the Nature Index Science Cities 2023. The integrated development of our port, industry, and city has enhanced the supporting capacity of the port, accelerated the development of port-related industries, and injected fresh vitality into the port city. Mr. Zhang just mentioned that last year, container throughput at Tianjin Port reached 22.18 million TEUs, an increase of 5.5% year on year, ranking eighth in the world. We have sped up the high-quality development of manufacturing with intensified efforts. Twelve well-designed key industrial chains continued to grow. Their value-added accounted for 79.8% of that in industrial enterprises with annual revenue of 20 million yuan or more from their main business operations. The action plan for downtown renewal and upgrading has been implemented effectively and in an orderly manner. Work has begun on 14 urban renewal projects implemented last year with an investment of 9.1 billion yuan, covering a total area of 10 square kilometers. We have advanced all-around rural revitalization. Last year, despite the major flood unseen in Tianjin in more than 60 years, our grain output has remained steady at over 2 million metric tons for eight consecutive years. The number of new types of agricultural business entities exceeded 20,000. Thirty new demonstration villages on rural revitalization have been built. New progress has been achieved in green and low-carbon development. The annual average PM2.5 concentrations in Tianjin met the national target. Energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by at least 10% from 2020. We have enabled people to enjoy a higher quality of life. The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.4%. The per capita disposable income of residents increased by 4.7%. The urban-rural per capita disposable income ratio was 1.79, the lowest in China. This means the income gap between urban and rural residents in Tianjin is the narrowest throughout the country, laying a solid foundation for pursuing common prosperity and integrated urban-rural development. We have improved the quality and effectiveness of our efforts in guiding community-level governance through Party building, so that primary-level organizations are better able to carry out their work.

Frankly speaking, it is difficult to elaborate on all the data and practices related to Tianjin's ten initiatives in such a short time. I can only offer you a brief introduction. If you want to learn more about our achievements, we sincerely welcome you to visit Tianjin, as the mayor suggested. Moving forward, we will introduce innovative measures focusing on five key aspects:

First, we will focus on major national strategies. We will continue to explore the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the urban integration of Beijing and Tianjin municipalities. By enhancing innovation in systems and mechanisms, we will make coordinated efforts to promote the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as a collaborative innovation community.

Second, we will focus on developing new quality productive forces. After nearly a year since its launch, we plan to introduce version 2.0 of the support policies for the Tiankai Higher Education Innovation Park. Additionally, we will devise an implementation plan for the high-quality development of modern service industries to encourage deeper integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services.

Third, we will focus on fully utilizing our city's potential. We will implement a plan to put idle assets to good use through a multi-tiered and categorized approach. Furthermore, we will continue to improve the city's facilities and its capacity to provide services.

Fourth, we will focus on expanding domestic demand. We will work to increase effective investment, promote consumer goods trade-in programs, and accelerate efforts to develop Tianjin into an international consumption center.

Fifth, we will focus on reform and opening-up. We will step up efforts to build a financial innovation operation demonstration zone, take actions to upgrade pilot free trade zones, conduct pilot trials in advantageous areas, and deeply involve ourselves in the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation.

Thank you.