Coordinated development creates balanced growth

When I wrote my first story about the integrated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in 2017, I was a newcomer who barely knew much about China's coordinated regional development strategy.

During the past decade, I witnessed China's intensified efforts to speed up the coordinated development of key regions as it initiated a series of major regional strategies to boost connectivity, foster prodigious economic growth and promote more balanced development.

In that period, I developed into a veteran reporter, covering a wide range of topics related to China's major regional strategies, such as the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as well as the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

China is accelerating the push to pursue high-quality development, with a key focus on promoting coordinated regional development.

Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, highlighted China's efforts to implement major regional strategies, saying China has made strides in promoting its coordinated regional development strategy.

Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province has completed a total investment of more than 400 billion yuan ($55 billion) since China announced plans to establish the new area in 2017. Xiong'an aims to relieve Beijing of its noncapital functions and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Additionally, the annual investment in Beijing's subcenter in Tongzhou district has exceeded 100 billion yuan for several years.

When it comes to the construction of the Greater Bay Area, Zhao said China has made considerable progress in the past five years in terms of building key cooperation platforms, the construction of a sci-tech innovation center, building a modern industrial system and boosting connectivity.

In the next step, the country will focus on boosting technological innovation, coordinated industrial development and improving people's livelihoods for the development of the GBA, Zhao added.

He made the remarks at a recent news conference held in Beijing, a day after the Communist Party of China convened its 20th National Congress on Oct 16, when the Party unveiled its blueprint for building a modern socialist country in all respects for the next five years and beyond.

I was among the group of over 2,000 reporters attending the congress. Sitting in the Great Hall of the People, I carefully listened to the report that Xi Jinping delivered at the opening session. Of particular interest was the concept of pursuing high-quality development, especially promoting coordinated regional development.

According to the report, China will thoroughly implement the coordinated regional development strategy, major regional strategies, the functional zoning strategy and the new urbanization strategy.

Several delegates to the congress spoke highly of the steps to promote coordinated and integrated regional development, saying that it will inject new impetus into growth in the coming years.

Zhao Jiaming, the spokesman for the Shanghai delegation to the congress, said the city is accelerating the push for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, adding that it has also made a push to promote the construction of major scientific and technological infrastructure and to accelerate the creation of an open and shared regional innovation network.

Looking ahead, he said Shanghai will fully take responsibility and actively work with Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces to further deepen the Yangtze River Delta region's integration.