Henan to follow through reform and opening-up
Province powers on 40 years after economic policies were introduced
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, Henan province, a powerhouse of agriculture and emerging industries, is seeking to follow through on the commitment.
The region has already benefitted and taken advantage of reform and opening-up in recent years, with its GDP reaching $666.3 billion in 2017. Advancing its agricultural base, Henan produced 125 billion metric tons of grain last year.
The province’s central location in the country has given it the opportunity to become a national transport hub, playing an important role in domestic regional cooperation.
The second-phase project of Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport was recently put into operation, upgrading the airport to include two terminals and two runways.
Last year, passenger throughput at the airport surpassed 24 million and cargo throughput exceeded 500,000 tons, both ranking top for China’s central regions.
On the roads, the province’s expressway mileage open to traffic is 6,523 kilometers, and Henan’s well-developed transport network has attracted global logistics companies such as American multinational United Parcel Service.
To support the improved transport network, Henan has improved its industrial structure in recent years, promoting development in new industries such as electronic information, advanced equipment manufacturing and food processing.
Strategic emerging industries such as biological medicine, advanced materials, and robots and upgraded traditional industries of metallurgy, building materials and chemical engineering, are also playing a strong role in the province. Another sector on the rise is service, with modern logistics finance, e-commerce, information service and tourism all developing well in recent years, according to the Henan provincial government.
To boost the internet-based economy, Henan is carrying out a big data development strategy as well as supporting the national Internet Plus strategy.
As an inland province, Henan places a strong emphasis on opening-up and hopes it will bring about new progress in economic and social development.
Its cargo imports and exports were fewer than $20 billion in 2010, but amounted to $77.5 billion in 2017. In total, 127 Fortune Global 500 enterprises and 158 domestic top 500 companies have invested in Henan, according to government statistics.
National strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative, referring to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, have also played an important development role. Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, and the city of Luoyang have become important cities of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Currently, the Silk Road in the air between Zhengzhou and Luxembourg sees 16 cargo flights a week. It will be built into an air economic corridor connecting Asia and Europe, local officials in Henan said.
The province is home to some areas which can promote even greater openingup. Among them are nine national-level economic and technological development zones, seven nationallevel high-tech development zones, 183 industry clustering areas and nearly 200 central business districts and special commerce districts.
The China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone launched on April 1, 2017 and related service systems of government administration, finance and laws have been provided to the zone.
Science and technology is another focus of the province’s development.
Last year, the province introduced and jointly built 15 research and development organizations and technology transfer centers.
It built 31 international cooperation laboratories and fostered 21 provincial-level technology transfer demonstration organizations in 2017.
Technical contract volume of Henan reached 7.69 billion yuan last year, a year-on-year rise of 29.9 percent.
The province organized a promotional event for its Zhengzhou-LuoyangXinxiang National Innovation Demonstration Area on April 6, 2017, which resulted in the provincial government signing strategic cooperation agreements with organizations such as Tsinghua University and China Electronics Technology Group.
Henan has also strengthened internationally scientific and technological cooperation from 2012 to 2017, with the establishment of friendly partnerships with countries such as the United States and Japan and some international organizations.
It has hosted several technological communication events including an international innovation and entrepreneurship conference held in Zhengzhou in 2016.
At the events, cooperation agreements in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science and modern agriculture were signed.