Achievements of Central China in Pursuing High-quality Development in Past 5 Years②丨Build up new strengths through regional coordinated development

Editor's note: Central China connects the east with the west and links the south to the north, whose economic output accounts for one fifth of China, and enjoys great development potential. In the past five years, by implementing the new development concept, building the new development pattern, and continuously enhancing its comprehensive strength and competitiveness, Central China has opened up a new situation for the rise of China's central region. Starting on March 21, we, together with HICC, are launching a series bilingual coverage with the theme of "Striving to Create a New Situation in the Rise of China's Central Region - Achievements of Central China in Pursuing High-quality Development in Past 5 Years". Here is the second episode: Build up new strengths through regional coordinated development.

编者按：中部地区承东启西、连南接北，六省经济总量约占全国五分之一，发展大有可为。近5年，中部地区贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，不断增强综合实力和竞争力，奋力开创中部地区崛起新局面。3月21日起，河南国际传播中心、大河网联合推出“奋力开创中部地区崛起新局面——从五年成绩单看中部地区高质量发展新成效”系列报道。今日推出第二期：《区域协同拓展新空间》。

"We will accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system featuring diversity development, complementary advantages, coordination and high efficiency not only to promote a comprehensive transportation network and a convenient and efficient modern logistics system, but also to boost the co-sharing of public services across cities and strengthen the coordinated management of eco-environment." The Plan for the Integrated Development of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan in 2024 introduces the development path of three important prefecture-level cities of Central China's Hunan province.

加快构建错位发展、优势互补、协同高效的现代化产业体系，推动形成联环成网的综合交通体系和便捷高效的现代物流体系，促进公共服务同城共享，强化生态环境协同治理……《长株潭一体化发展2024年行动计划》亮出发展“施工图”。

 

The geographical location of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan looks like a Chinese character "品". In recent years, they have become a core growth pole of Hunan's economy. With increasingly strengthened development momentum, their economic aggregate has occupied about 40 percent of the provincial total.

湖南长沙、株洲、湘潭三市呈“品”字形分布，近年来，长株潭发展能级不断攀升，经济总量约占全省四成，成为推动湖南发展的核心增长极。

A China Railway Express freight train. [Photo/Henan Daily]

Currently, a coordinated development pattern featuring rational division of labor, complementary advantages and unique characteristics is taking shape at a faster pace in Central China.

放眼中部地区，分工合理、优势互补、各具特色的协调发展格局正加快形成。

 

Henan and Shanxi are deeply involved in the national strategy for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi are proactive in the green and low-carbon transformation of their industries, playing an important role in the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Relying on the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, Anhui is actively undertaking industrial transfer to achieve transformation and upgrading. A number of city clusters and metropolitan areas have been cultivated in Central China, such as Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster, Greater Nanchang Metropolitan Area, Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, Central Shanxi Urban Agglomeration, etc.

河南、山西深度参与黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展战略；湖北、湖南、江西积极推动产业绿色低碳转型，在长江经济带建设中发挥重要作用；安徽依托长三角一体化，积极承接产业转移、实现转型升级；长株潭城市群、大南昌都市圈、郑州都市圈、山西中部城市群竞相涌现……

 

These city clusters and metropolitan areas are acting as "engines" promoting regional economic development. Statistically, the per capita GDP of Central China has jumped from 60 thousand yuan in 2019 to 74 thousand yuan in 2023, narrowing the gap with the national per capita GDP year by year.

一个个城市群、都市圈拔地而起，恰似一个个区域经济“发动机”。统计数据显示，中部地区人均地区生产总值由2019年的6万元增长到2023年的7.4万元，与全国人均GDP差距逐年缩小。

Self-driving tractor made by YTO Group. [Photo/dahe.cn]

Let's review the development of Central China from a global view. In the past 5 years, Central China has not only actively integrated into the major national strategies based on its own positioning, but also created a new development pattern through opening-up and cooperation.

跳出中部看中部。近5年，中部地区不仅立足自身定位主动融入国家重大战略，更在开放合作中打开发展格局。

 

On the morning of March 1, fully loaded with cargo, a Boeing 747-400 plane arrived at Nanchang Changbei International Airport, the first flight after the resumption of the Nanchang-Liege air freight route.

3月1日凌晨，一架满载货物的波音747－400货机平稳降落于南昌昌北国际机场，这是南昌—比利时列日货运航线恢复运行的第一班航班。

 

According to Fang Lei, head of the Trade Division of Nanchang Airport Economic Zone Urban Construction Investment and Development Group, 4 round trips are scheduled on the Nanchang-Liege air freight route every week, which will further shorten the logistics period between Nanchang and Liege. With the enhanced air logistics service, the export of Jiangxi-made products to Europe will be more convenient.

江西南昌临空城投集团贸易事业部负责人方蕾介绍，航线一周定期往返4次，将进一步缩短南昌、比利时列日两地之间的货物运输时限，提高物流效率，畅通江西至欧洲“赣货赣出”航空物流大通道。

With a global vision, Central China is actively building itself into a highland for opening-up. Now, Central China's opening-up level and quality have been enhanced significantly thanks to its improved opening-up system and mechanism.

将发展的目光看向世界，积极打造对外开放高地，中部地区对外开放体制机制日渐完善，对外开放水平和质量显著提升。

A cargo plane of Cargolux. [Photo/Henan Daily]

In the past 5 years, Central China's air freight volume reached nearly 7 million tons, of which over 1 million tons were contributed by the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road". A total of 45 institutional innovations of Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Anhui pilot free trade zones have been replicated and promoted at the national level.

近5年，中部地区机场货运总量近700万吨，郑州—卢森堡“空中丝绸之路”货运量累计突破100万吨；河南、湖北、湖南、安徽自贸试验区共45项制度创新成果在国家层面复制推广……

 

Central China's development space is constantly expanding through integration, interaction and complementation within the region, and high-level opening-up and cooperation outside the region.

区域内融合互动、融通互补，区域外在高水平开放合作方面迈出新步伐，中部地区的发展空间不断拓宽。

中文来源：河南日报 

记者：陈炜伟 严赋憬 王悦阳

编译：杨佳欣 

审校：陈行洁 赵汉青

推荐阅读

Achievements of Central China in Pursuing High-quality Development in Past 5 Years①丨Create new engines for innovative development

奋力开创中部地区崛起新局面——从五年成绩单看中部地区高质量发展新成效①丨创新发展打造新引擎