City embarks on high-quality development

As this year is the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the government of Hanzhong in Northwest China's Shaanxi province has developed a blueprint for the city's economic and social development over the coming five years, local officials said.

It covers many aspects including building a city brand integrating education and research, healthcare and rehabilitation, tourism and entrepreneurship.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period is crucial for Hanzhong to embark on a path of high-quality development, said Ma Jun, head of the Hanzhong development and reform commission. "Centering on the city brand, Hanzhong will carry out five projects and construct six centers to actively take part in the dual-circulation development pattern and begin a new journey of building a modern society," Ma said.

The five projects aim to upgrade manufacturing and modern agriculture, promote emerging sectors and industrial integration, and improve the development of industries related to people's quality of life such as cultural tourism, educational services, sports, leisure and rehabilitation.

The six centers cover transportation, trade, logistics, education, science, culture, tourism, financial services, green agriculture and traditional Chinese medicine.

"We hope the city's brand and reputation can help gather various types of resources in Hanzhong and make the city into an ideal choice to invest in and start new businesses," Ma said.

Last year, the city was home to 76 high-tech companies, up from 24 in 2015, and had 29 scientific and technological innovation organizations, up from just one in 2015.

This year, the city's GDP is expected to increase by 7 percent year-on-year. And the per capita urban and rural disposable incomes are forecast to grow by 9 percent and 10 percent year-on-year respectively, according to the government.

Another work priority has been poverty alleviation, which is considered by the local government to be the most important political mission and the largest project to improve people's livelihoods.

Liuba county, once a poverty-stricken area in northern Hanzhong, has explored a scientific and sustainable development path for the past 10 years.

Since 2011, the county government has stuck to the idea that "clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver", and rejected several investment projects that could largely increase the county's GDP but may cause irreversible damage to the local environment.

With mountains and forests occupying 93.6 percent of its total areas, Liuba has taken full advantage of its environment to develop tourism and green agriculture.

The city's Zhenba county, which is located in the Qinling-Bashan mountainous region, one of China's 14 contiguous areas of extreme poverty, has raised its people out of poverty mainly through promoting health education, building more healthcare facilities and developing family doctor services. All low-income households were covered by basic medical insurance.

With its beautiful natural scenery and profound culture, Hanzhong has a bright future in developing its tourism industry, local officials said.

One of the most attractive scenes is its breathtaking fields of rapeseed flowers. The city is home to more than 60 square kilometers of rapeseed flower fields that create a splendid landscape.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn