Lishui district plans to build the only high-quality development pilot zone of the manufacturing industry in the city of Nanjing in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, said Xue Fengguan, secretary of the Communist Party of China Lishui district committee.

Xue Fengguan, secretary of the Communist Party of China Lishui district committee, gives a speech at the conference. (Photo/Geng Zhichao)

On the afternoon of March 24, more than 1,000 guests including leaders of relevant provincial and municipal departments, heads of universities and research institutes and new R&D institutions, and enterprise representatives, gathered in Jiangsu Baima Agricultural International Expo Center.

They discussed the plans for the construction and promotion of a high-quality development pilot zone for Lishui District’s manufacturing industry.

Xue said that it is the first conference in the history of the development of Lishui’s manufacturing industry that has more than 1,000 participants, and the district vows to build the only high-quality development pilot zone of the manufacturing industry in Nanjing.

"Lishui took the initiative to take responsibility and get this pilot zone approved. We just want to break new ground with the attitude of a hot-blooded soldier!" Xue talked about the district’s determination to achieve the goal.

Behind the determination is the background of the sound development of Lishui in recent years: with the strong support of the manufacturing industry, the GDP growth rate of Lishui in 2019 ranked first among the 11 administrative districts in Nanjing and ranked second among the 96 counties (cities and districts) in Jiangsu province.

As for the actions Lishui will take to construct the pilot zone, Xue elaborated that in three years, the district will ensure that the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry is at the forefront of the whole province and in the whole country.

Xue added that in five years, the district will build a new highland for industrial innovation and a cluster of foreign-funded enterprises, with both having nationwide influence; in 10 years, it will rank among the top 20 of the country’s top 100 districts in terms of comprehensive strength, and realize a high-quality development of manufacturing which will also become the next national standard.

Lishui aims to achieve a regional GDP of more than 100 billion yuan (about 14 billion U.S. dollars) in two to three years, Xue pointed out, adding that in the meantime, the district plans to ensure that its general public budget revenue can reach 10 billion yuan. The output values of the three leading industries will all be able to exceed 100 billion yuan.

According to Xue, Lishui will make efforts to double the total number of industrial enterprises above designated size, high-tech enterprises, and foreign-funded manufacturing enterprises in the district by 2023, making the amount of which exceed 1,000, 600 and 250 respectively.

Xue stressed that Lishui will stay at the forefront of the achievements in introducing provincial-level and municipal-level major projects, attracting business and investment, and improving the business environment.

To realize the above goals, Lishui will make efforts in four aspects, which include cultivating innovative enterprises with international competitiveness, building an advanced manufacturing industry cluster with international competitiveness, building an internationally competitive opening-up platform, and forming an internationally competitive business environment.

Xue also disclosed that Lishui district will improve its comprehensive carrying capacity, accelerate the construction of southern Nanjing and a vibrant new region, and make greater contributions to Nanjing's urban primacy ratio.

He believes that Lishui has the ability to carry more high-quality resources, the strength to gather more high-quality projects, the ability to provide more public facilities, and the advantage to meet more cultural needs.

“All sectors in Lishui will compete for the top,” said Xue, noting that the district will formulate strategies to promote competition.

“We will release the first-class ‘project book’ to ensure that in the next five years, 10 years or even longer, Lishui’s investment and major projects will always be at the forefront of provinces and cities,” said Xue.

He added that officials are encouraged to make bold attempts without violating laws and regulations, so as to promote high-quality development of the manufacturing sector.

Xue elaborated that Lishui district will allocate 1 million yuan each year to set up an award, praising individuals who have the courage to innovate, take responsibility, and make outstanding contributions.

The district will also call on the society to respect and care for entrepreneurs, said Xue, noting that “we’re bound to make the strongest voice of constructing the pilot zone resound throughout the country and go global.”