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Press release for the third anniversary of the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone

2022.11.16

The Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone held a press conference on the achievements for its third anniversary on November 15 . Hua Yuan, Secretary-General of the Council of the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone, Director of the Executive Committee of the Demonstration Zone, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government and Director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, introduced the achievements for the third anniversary of the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone. Cao Junshan, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, Li Feng, Deputy Director of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Industry and Informatization, Chen Jianzhong, Deputy Director and First-level Inspector of Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Yang Xiaojing, chief of Qingpu District, Shanghai, Wang Guorong, chief of Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and Zhang Xifeng, chief of Jiashan County, Zhejiang Province, attended the briefing and answered questions from reporters.Over the past three years, the demonstration zone has always kept in mind the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, continued to closely adhere to integration and high quality, insisted on the “two-wheel” drive of institutional innovation and project construction, solidly promoted various priorities, and achieved important phased results in the construction of the demonstration zone. This year, 39 new institutional innovation achievements were launched, bringing the total number to 112 in three years, of which 38 have been replicated and promoted nationwide. The zone continued to promote the construction of 108 key projects, with major projects such as Shanghai-Suzhou-Jiaxing intercity railway and water town living room kicking off construction. The developer alliance of the demonstration zone has been expanding, as 53 robust entities have gathered to continuously empower the construction of the demonstration zone.On November 11 and 12, the onsite work conference on the third anniversary of the construction of the Yangtze River Delta Ecofriendly Integrated Development Demonstration Zone was held. The conference fully affirmed the achievements on the third anniversary of the demonstration zone. Over the past three years, institutional innovation, project demonstration and people’s livelihood in the demonstration zone have been continuously improved, and high-level development momentum has been unleashed in the two districts and one county. The integrated system has benefited more market entities and people, and the high-quality integrated development of the demonstration zone has presented a new look, mainly in the following aspects:
I. Institutional innovation presents a new landscape on exploring, practicing and promotion
First, the results of the first two batches of system innovation have initially formed an integration effect. On top of the 73 institutional innovation achievements in the first two years of the construction of the demonstration zone, we have been constantly improved the sense of gain among people and market entities based on the results and benefits from the existing institutional innovations. In terms of planning and management, the construction of a unified “1+1+N” planning system has been accelerated, and “one blueprint for managing the whole zone” has laid a solid foundation for the high-quality layout of productivity in the demonstration zone. In terms ecological and environmental protection, the joint guarantee and co-governance mechanism has been more established, and the unified system of environmental standards, monitoring and law enforcement has been implemented thoroughly. Indicators such as the proportion of days with excellent air quality and the proportion of Class III surface water quality in the demonstration zone have been continuously improved. The joint protection mechanism of key transboundary water bodies such as the joint river and lake chief system has been implemented in an orderly manner, and the water environment quality of “one river and three lakes” in the demonstration zone has reached or exceeded the targets in 2025vahead of schedule. The integrated reform of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system has achieved remarkable results, and the “bundled EIA” approval has shortened the time spent by enterprises by two-thirds and the cost by one-third. In terms of factor flow, we promoted cross-provincial handling of tax-related matters, set up smart tax services, handled more than 54,000 applications fully online and provided personalized services for more than 20,000 taxpayers. The two districts and one county have issued 45.8 million yuan worth of Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Innovation Vouchers and achieved cross-provincial universal use, strongly supporting enterprises to foster innovation. We conducted joint protection of intellectual property rights across provinces. The number of patents authorized in the demonstration zone reached more than 36,000 in 2021, double that of 2019. In terms of public services, the number of inter-provincial bus lines in the demonstration zone has increased to eight, wrapping up a total of 136,200 trips and serving 2,021,000 passengers since the launch. The policy of exemption from filing for medical treatment across provinces has benefited 2.46 million insured people in the demonstration zone. Residents of two districts and one county in the demonstration zone can use their social security cards for cross-provincial transportation, tourism and cultural experience. In 2021, the demonstration zone launched 22 advantageous majors and a cross-provincial enrollment quota of 291 students for the integrated enrollment in secondary and high vocational schools.
Second, institutional innovation in the third has yielded new fruits. In the third year, 39 new achievements were launched amid efforts to address challenges in key areas. In terms of planning and management, three new achievements were added, focusing on the construction of world-class water town living room to unveil the near-zero carbon emissions special plan for the water town living room, as well as integrated management and operation specifications for the water town living room, thereby providing high-level planning support for building a functional demonstration zone in the Yangtze River Delta. In terms of ecological and environmental protection, four new achievements have been added. The implementation plan for the value realization mechanism of ecological products in the demonstration zone has been formulated and distributed, so as to accelerate the transformation of ecological advantages into economic and social development advantages. In response to the challenges in the environmental protection cooperation in the adjacent areas on provincial boundaries, a joint decision-making, joint protection/integrated management and control mechanism was established for cross-provincial drinking water sources in the demonstration zone, so as to realize the coordinated protection and governance of drinking water sources. In response to weak links of market-oriented governance of the ecological environment, a third-party governance service platform for the ecological environment in the demonstration zone has been launched to achieve efficient integration of market-oriented services. In terms of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, two achievements have been launched. On top of the guiding opinions on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the demonstration zone, the implementation plan for carbon peaking in the demonstration zone has been introduced, a number of green and low-carbon demonstration areas and projects have been created, and an effective path of collaboration for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality has been actively explored. In terms of common prosperity, one achievement was launched. The implementation plan for common prosperity in the demonstration zone was introduced, thus promoting the shift from “decentralized” cross-regional cooperation in public services to more systematic and comprehensive overall planning and integrated promotion, thus providing a cross-provincial practice example for common prosperity. In terms of project management, one new achievement was added. By focusing on the challenges around cross-regional government project approval, the zone leveraged the support by the National Development and Reform Commission to set up an online approval and supervision platform for investment projects in the demonstration zone, issued the operation measures for the approval of cross-regional government investment projects on a pilot basis, standardized and optimized the approval process, and accelerated the implementation of cross-provincial projects. Several opinions on talent development in the demonstration zone and implementation opinions on strengthening and complementing the industrial chains have been issued. And a package of measures have been launched to accelerate the development of digital economy, sci-tech finance, green insurance, intellectual property protection, and green certification, so that talents, data, funds, knowledge and other factors can flow more smoothly. In addition, 17 new achievements have been added in the fields of land management, fiscal revenue sharing, public services, credit management, and institutional mechanisms. For example, a general control and consultation mechanism was established for cross-regional land linkage management in the water town living room, providing land support for the water town living room project. To address the fiscal revenue sharing, a cross-regional “common account” management working mechanism was established. The list of the third batch of public service projects was issued in the demonstration area, and 45 public service projects were jointly built and shared in three years, further improving the sense of gain and happiness among people. The E-enterprise financing and credit service platform has been launched, offering a total facility amount of 2.59 billion yuan.
At the same time, under the promotion of the Yangtze River Delta Regional Cooperation Office, 38 institutional innovations in two batches in the demonstration zone have been successively replicated and promoted in the Yangtze River Delta and other key areas across the country, by expanding the fruits of institutional innovation in the demonstration zone to benefit more regions.
II. Construction of key projects stimulates new momentum for high-quality development
Over the past three years, integration has injected strong impetus into the development of the demonstration zone, with an average annual growth of 7.4% in the gross regional product and 10.9% in the gross output value of industries above designated size. In 2021, the zone was home to 2,411 national high-tech enterprises, an increase of 31.5% over the previous year. The demonstration zone presents a booming growth scenario, accelerating the new momentum for high-quality development.
First, the image of a new benchmark for the transformation of ecological advantages has been more prominent. We adhered to the construction of a solid ecological landscape in the demonstration area, continued to increase investment, and focused on advancing 16 key ecological and environmental protection projects in the three years. Through three years of continuous progress, the Yuandang shoreline ecological restoration and function improvement project has seen the full connection of 23 kilometers in the shoreline, while further improving the water quality. The Taipu River Blue Ribbon Project is scheduled to be completed within this year, with a total length of 22 kilometers and a total project area of 287,000 square meters, laying a solid foundation for building a “world-class lake area.” The construction of Xicen Water Quality Purification Plant and Dianshan Lake Project (Phase I) has begun, and projects such as lake improvement and river and lake connection are being implemented quickly.
Second, the pattern of the new model for facility interconnection has been clearer. We adhered to leveraging the interconnection of facilities as an important driver for high-quality development, and focused on advancing 20 key projects on interconnection in the three years. The implementation of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway and the western extension of Shanghai Metro Line 17 has been accelerated. The Shanghai-Suzhou-Jiaxing Intercity Railway has begun construction, and the Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo Railway will start construction before the end of the year, thus accelerating the development of a multi-layered rail transit system. In terms of new infrastructure, we leveraged the construction of a “smart brain” to build a digital foundation in the demonstration zone, while promoting cross-regional public data interconnection and sharing.
Third, the elements of the new highland for green innovation and development have been more concentrated. We adhered to enabling top enterprises to play a leading role in promoting multi-level cross-regional linkage of the industrial and innovation chains, and focused on advancing 35 key industrial innovation projects in the three years. China-Singapore Jiashan Modern Industrial Park has built a new channel for cross-regional cooperation of industrial platforms, and has introduced industrial innovation projects valued at 16.8 billion yuan in the past three years. YTO International Financial and Technology Headquarters, Hengli Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Innovation Park and other projects have started construction. The Battero Tech and Everest Medicines projects have been progressing in an accelerated manner, thus continuously improving the industrial innovation system of the entire region.
Fourth, the new model of the harmony and livability between man and nature has been more influential. We adhered to the improvement of public services as an important way to promote common prosperity, and focused on advancing 19 key public service projects in the three years. Jiashan has accelerated the construction of a common prosperity settlement in Chenxiang Village, stimulated rural vitality, and created a new model of common prosperity village. Wujiang’s “Qushui Shanwan” project has introduced industrial operation resources and explored a new path for rural revitalization through cooperation with Zhejiang-based enterprises. The Future Campus of Soochow University was put into use this year.
Fifth, solid progress has been made in the construction of “one living room and three areas.” We focused on the overall planning and construction of the pilot start-up area, formed a collaborative working mechanism, promoted the construction of “one living room and three areas”, and advanced 18 key projects in the three years. The water town living room project is based on ecological advantages, cultural genes, and innovation resources. The pilot section of the “Blue Ring” project has been completed, and the Jiangnan Polder and Mulberry Fish Pond (phase 1) projects have started construction. The detailed planning of Qingpu Xicen Science and Technology Innovation Center has been approved, and the Innovation College of Fudan University was launched. The planning of Wujiang High-speed Railway Innovation City has been settled, and relevant supporting projects have started construction. Jiashan Xiangfudang Innovation Center Science and Technology Innovation Green Valley R&D Headquarters and Zhuxiaohui Double Carbon Settlement have been completed and put into use. Scientific research platforms such as Zhejiang University Laboratory, Xiangfu Laboratory, and Jiashan Fudan Research Institute have been launched.
In the past three years, the central and local governments, and market entities have been working together effectively to advance the construction of the demonstration zone. Each year, the Yangtze River Delta Regional Cooperation Office formulated and issued the annual key work arrangements for the demonstration zone, and held the annual onsite work meeting, with a batch of institutional innovation achievements replicated and promoted across the country every year. This year, the National Development and Reform Commission has promoted the layout and construction of a national hub of the country’s integrated computing power network, and planned the set-up of a data center cluster in the Yangtze River Delta Ecofriendly Integration Development Demonstration Zone, which has provided strong support for the development of the demonstration zone. The governments of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang jointly issued the second batch of 17 support policies for the demonstration zone, further forming a joint force at the provincial level. The executive committee of the demonstration zone worked closely with all participating districts, counties, and towns to leverage respective advantages and strengths. A group of Developer Alliance members in the demonstration zone have been deeply engaged in frontline key projects such as ecological and environmental protection, digital economy, and innovative development, continuously empowering the construction of the demonstration zone.
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