On February 26, the reporter learned from the municipal development and reform conference that in 2024, all parties in Huaihua City thoroughly studied and implemented the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress as well as the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks and instructions during his visits to Hunan. Upholding the “three highlands and four new missions” vision, they thoroughly implemented the “five new missions and four orientations” strategy, the “Eight Actions”, and a package of national policies and measures to stabilize growth. Huaihua’s economy witnessed stable and positive progress, with improvement in both quality and efficiency.
Huaihua’s economic strength steadily rose. The economic aggregate amounted to RMB209,382 million, up 5.3%. The value-added industrial output grew by 9.7%, showing a steady upward trend. Fixed asset investment increased by 11.2%, of which industrial investment accounted for 69.5%, a new high in recent years. Foreign trade imports and exports totaled RMB13.76 billion, an increase of 32.9%. Total retail sales of consumer goods reached RMB81,506 million, up 6%. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents rose by 5% and 6.6%, respectively.
The quality and efficiency of real economy were enhanced. Huaihua constantly improved the “5+10” modern industrial system. The added value of 10 key industrial chains rose by 11.5%, driving the number of industrial enterprises above the designated size in Huaihua City to over 1,000 for the first time, with a net increase of 110 throughout the year. The city moved faster to develop itself into an “international city of bag & suitcase”. The number of enterprises in the bag & leatherware industry reached 142, with an investment of RMB9,782 million. There were 39 enterprises above the designated size in the bamboo industry and two new national leading forestry enterprises and two new provincial demonstration parks in the bamboo industry. The city issued the implementation plan for fostering and developing a regional consumption hub, boosting the sales of the wholesale and retail industries and the turnover of the accommodation and catering industries by 5.8% and 9.9%, respectively. The revenue of service enterprises above the designated size rose by 11%. The number of service enterprises above the designated size reached 386, with a net increase of 47. The market was brimming with vitality, with a net increase of 28,000 business entities, 402 new enterprises meeting the requirements for size, qualification or quota, and 41 provincial enterprises ready to go public.
The development potential was constantly tapped. Huaihua vigorously implemented special actions to enhance policies, care and confidence with respect to major national projects and programs and obtained the three types of national and provincial funds of RMB11.14 billion. It carried out the “Big Project Planning” campaign, with 1,316 new reserve projects and a total investment of RMB427,568 million. Key provincial and municipal projects completed 105% and 101% of the annual objectives, respectively. Industrial investment, manufacturing investment and private investment grew by 20.9%, 19.3% and 13.2%, respectively. 1,052 activities were held to boost consumption, and the trade-in sales of automobiles and home appliances exceeded RMB1.6 billion. The 3rd Huaihua Tourism Development Conference was successfully held. Xiaohua, a famous local hairdresser, attracted 300,000 visitors. The number of tourists received and total tourism revenue increased by 10.36% and 13.78%, respectively. The city advanced the “Year of Investment Promotion” and successfully held the 11th Global Forum for Hunan Entrepreneurs. 67 projects with a scale of over RMB1 billion and 39 projects of enterprises included in the Fortune 500, China 500 and top 500 private enterprise lists were introduced, and the returning Hunan entrepreneurs invested in and registered 148 enterprises.
Industrial parks were expanded and improved. The adjustment of industrial parks at or above the provincial level was completed. The per-mu revenue from technology, processing and trade and value-added industrial output of 15 industrial parks grew by 10%. Specifically, the annual investment, local revenue, value-added industrial output and revenue from high-tech industries increased by 16%, 9%, 15% and 7.2% respectively, ranking among the top 100 high-tech industrial development zones that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. Huaihua International Land Port handled over 1,000 trips throughout the year. Its cargo throughput topped eight million tons, up 22%. The land port completed the provincial train operation objective two years ahead of schedule. Cross-border e-commerce transaction volume increased by 61.7%. With the settlement of 22 enterprises, Yuhua-Xupu Industrial Park achieved main business income of RMB7.58 billion and a tax revenue of RMB409 million. It was selected as a demonstration park for provincial park cooperation and development. Hongjiang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone was selected as a typical case of industrial parks that promote new industrialization by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Reform and innovation were further deepened. Huaihua was listed in the first batch of national pilot areas and the only provincial pilot area for the value realization mechanism of ecological products and selected as the only municipal pilot zone in Hunan Province for applying the “Hunan forestry carbon ticket”. Tongdao issued the first forest ecosystem carbon sink certificate and the forestry voucher and natural resource asset portfolio in Hunan Province. Huaihua published the Regulations on Promoting the Integrated Development of Hecheng District and Zhongfang County, the first local regulation on the integrated development of administrative divisions in China. 72 economic and social system reforms were orderly advanced. The city-wide R&D spending was RMB4.67 billion, accounting for 2.4% of the GDP. There were more than 550 high-tech enterprises and 1,451 tech-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises in the city.
People’s livelihood was continuously improved. Inputs in areas important to people’s wellbeing accounted for 79.4%. 48 practical issues in 18 categories related to people’s livelihood were addressed. The Human Resources Service Port of Huaihua International Land Port was established. 97.1% of the unemployed college graduates obtained employment. 41,000 rural laborers sought employment outside their hometowns. Huaihua Vocational and Technical College of Commerce was established and opened, 36 public schools (kindergartens) were transformed or expanded, and 31,000 public school places were added. The proportion of days with good air quality was 97%, and 49 sections under the monitoring program for surface water obtained a good quality rating.
(Translated by Professor Yu Jie)