PATH to GLORY Gansu

CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Thursday, June 17, 2021 | 5 PATH TO GLORY GANSU Editor’s note: This year, the Communist Party of China is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. China Daily is publishing a series of stories looking at the tremendous changes that have occurred in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities under the leadership of the Party. They also include stories of the people and places that have left indelible marks in the Party’s path to glory. A view of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, from the city’s White Pagoda Mountain Park. The Zhongshan Bridge, dubbed the “first bridge on the Yellow River”, sits in the middle. Ma Jian / for China Daily Gansu placing emphasis on economy Having defeated absolute poverty, northwest province to focus on rural vitalization, modernizing agriculture GANSU By ma jingna in Lanzhou a modern system of production and manage- secure a healthy and stable social environ- Population: 25.02 million and ChEng Si in Beijing ment for agricultural development. ment, according to the work report. Area: 425,800 square kilometers The campaign, launched in April, aims to To help unleash the province’s potential in orthwest China’s Gansu province raise the output value of the province’s agri- economic growth, Yin has emphasized has made great progress in its cultural industry to 545.2 billion yuan in 2023 streamlining administrative procedures, economic development and from the current 324 billion yuan, a growth thus offering a better business environment social benefits, and provincial target of 68.3 percent. for company operators. authoritiesN have ambitious plans to build it “We will also prioritize stabilizing and Yin said that the business environment into a stronger economy in the next five years. increasing people’s incomes in rural areas by reflects the province’s comprehensive capa- During the 13th Five-Year Plan period helping them land jobs and giving them poli- bilities, which are key in vitalizing the mar- (2016-20), Gansu maintained rather stable cy support,” Yin said. “It’s vital to give them ket. Gansu economic growth. Its GDP rose to 901.7 bil- help, whether it be financially or through pol- He said that to build an open business envi- lion yuan ($141 billion) last year — up from icy, to prevent them from returning to pover- ronment, it’s important to reduce administra- 655.7 billion in 2015, an average annual ty.” tive procedures while enhancing official GDP of Gansu increase of 5.5 percent, according to the prov- In addition, rural vitalization is key to the supervision. Unit: billion yuan ince’s work report released in late January. province’s work this year as it aims to develop He also required the establishment of a 901.7 It’s vital to 810.4 871.8 Great changes in the province’s economic high-quality and efficient agricultural indus- mechanism to make official information 690.8 733.7 give them and social outlook have occurred since the tries and help farmers earn a better living, he more available to the public, improving peo- help, 18th Communist Party of China’s National said. ple’s lives and facilitating business opera- Congress in 2012, said Yin Hong, Party chief The province will channel resources to ren- tions. whether it be of Gansu. ovate wasteland and alkaline land. It will In regard to long-term development over financially or “The province has completely removed its transform about 2,300 square kilometers of the 14th Five-Year Plan, it will focus on pro- 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 poverty label, with 5.52 million people having such lands into high-quality farmland this ducing a batch of high technology companies through shaken off poverty, and their per capita dis- year and produce about 12 billion kilograms to make innovation the new driver of the Total value of imports policy, to posable income has seen an annual growth of of grain, securing food safety, according to the province’s future growth. and exports 19.8 percent. We have eliminated absolute province’s work report. For example, it will implement more Unit: billion yuan prevent poverty,” he said. Gansu has also made caring for its ecologi- friendly policies to attract talent and produce 44.8 them from Gansu achieved an optimized economy cal environment a priority in recent years. about 10 more key high-tech companies 39.5 38.0 37.3 and victory over poverty because of the gov- For example, Qilian Mountains, once dam- whose total revenue is expected to exceed 5 32.5 returning to ernment’s efforts. To help formerly impover- aged by improper mining, has recovered its billion yuan per year over the period. poverty.” ished people enjoy a higher quality of life, the beauty because of the province’s campaign to Some infrastructure construction cam- province has invested about 83.7 billion yuan improve the environment. paigns involving highways, air routes and Yin Hong, over the past five years — with an annual About 144 mines at the mountain reserve roads connecting rural areas will be carried Party chief of 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Gansu province increase of 24.5 percent — in efforts such as have been closed, and 25 tourism-related pro- out. Further, the province will make ecologi- getting school dropouts to return to campus- jects were improved. Moreover, herdsmen cal philosophy a priority in its economic Source: Gansu Provincial Bureau of Statistics es and renovating dilapidated houses. and farmers at the reserve’s core zone were development by adding green industries. CHINA DAILY Village residents are all covered under the relocated to reduce damage caused by human Enhancing social benefits is also vital to the province’s healthcare plan, and nearly activities. province’s development over the plan period. 499,000 formerly impoverished people have Meanwhile, Gansu has lofty aspirations to “Gansu so far has entered a new era of been relocated thanks to the government’s build itself into a place that is more livable, building a socialist China, and we will carry financial investment. with a stronger economy and better social out our campaign focused on high-quality Yin said that with all the formerly impover- benefits. development. We will pay more attention to ished residents in rural areas being lifted out The province will focus on high technology environmental protection and systematic of poverty, Gansu will focus on rural vitaliza- development, rural vitalization and public management of the province to improve peo- tion and speeding up the modernization of service this year, the first of the 14th Five-Year ple’s quality of life and build the province into agriculture during the 14th Five-Year Plan Plan period. a livable and affluent place,” Yin said. period (2021-25). It has set a GDP growth target of 6.5 per- He said one of the province’s long-term cent this year, as well as a relatively low Contact the writers at goals is to carry out its campaign to establish unemployment rate — about 6 percent — to [email protected].

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