Further promotion on innovation
The district kept developing its Hongqiao International Central Business District in the north and saw 23 headquarters companies and seven key projects added to its construction list last year. Biomedicine, new energy and fashion sectors in the region accelerated their growth momentum, with regional tax revenue increasing by 40 percent year-on-year.
The CBD’s Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center created trading records with more than 900 companies. Fruitful results were also achieved in ecology, traffic and infrastructure construction. The first phase of Qianwan Park in the area, slated to be the largest riverfront park in downtown Shanghai, was roughly completed by the end of last year.
In the Grand NeoBay in the south, high-tech innovation was further propelled. The CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science signed an agreement to build up its Minhang research center in the bay area, which had been a cluster of more than 4,000 hard- and core-technology companies.
A Grand NeoBay financial harbor was officially put into use and a scitech financing alliance league set up a foundation worth 15 billion yuan (US$2 billion).
Throughout the district, the transaction volume of technology-related contracts reached 32 billion yuan last year, up 20 percent year-on-year.
Stable growth of economy
To achieve stable growth of the economy, the district announced 16 policies to support private sectors, 166 policies on improving the business environment, and 12 on encouraging market needs and confidence. The amount of tax reduction, reimbursement and postponement granted to companies surpassed 6 billion yuan.
With a focus on driving a first-store economy, brand economy and night economy, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the district in 2023 was expected to rise by 8 percent. Construction of the second phase of the Hongqiao Import Community
Exhibition and Trading Center was completed, and that of Caohejing Comprehensive Bonded Zone International Trade Import and Export Community Exhibition and Experience Center commenced. About 100 Shanghai Express China-Europe freight trains set out annually from Minhang.
Last year also saw the addition of 203 key projects in the district’s industrial expansion blueprint. Those included the Avic Airborne and Moderna projects.
The investment ratio of advancement manufacturing accounted for half of the total.
The district also redeveloped about 66.7 hectares of land in stock for more vigorous industrial benefit.
Improved urban management
The district further optimized its urban space throughout 2023. It
survey renewal plans on Qibao Old Street and Xinzhuang Old Street.
Some industrial zones, including those along Youdong Road, Zhongchun Road and Meilong New Center, will be on the agenda for renewal.
Rural revitalization
The rural development plan of Minhang in 2024 will include an overall regulation on the region in the south of the Dazhi River, research and survey on the Pujin Riverfront area, and model rural revitalization construction on Huinan, Guangji and Zhengyi villages in Pujiang.
In addition, its 3.7-kilometer rural highway will be upgraded.
The district will also develop its metropolitan modern agriculture sector through building a high-end vegetable production model base and Shanghai farm and agriculture demonstration zones. In particular, Gexin Village in Pujiang will be developed into a rural tourism demonstration village.
Villagers’ income will be increased and their ways of income will be broadened.
Culture and humanity
The district will treasure its ore of red culture that covers its aerospace heritage and history of pioneering heavy industry. Red culture facilities that include the Huacao Memorial Hall of Chinese People’s War Against Japanese Aggression will be constructed and historic and cultural figures of Minhang, as well as its township and village level histories, will be compiled.
The district will quicken its steps in building its Chunshen Lake islands and Feng Yuan Art Gallery. Public cultural venues will benefit their visitors with longer opening hours and more diverse art events. The district will support its Shanghai International Illustration Festival.
Facelifts will be made to the Pujiang Country Park and Jinjiang Amusement Park. More streets and blocks will be cultivated for tourism and leisure purposes. Key sports events such as Shanghai Masters will be considered to bring more cultural and tourism values.
Cultural and tourism events such as the Shanghai Lakeside International Music Festival, Minhang Culture and Art Festival, and Minhang Tourism Festival will shed more influence.
Each town and sub-district in Minhang will have a festival brand of its own.
In the public and competitive sports sectors, the district will open its Grand NeoBay Sports Center in 2024. A citizen’s fitness center, three fitness tracks and 68 indoor gyms will be newly opened or reconstructed. Minhang local brand sports events such as the Maqiao Half-Marathon and Xinhong Yangtze River Delta Kayat Contest will go on benefiting sports lovers.
More greenery space
The district will increase its greenery land by 80 hectares, its greenery paths by 30 kilometers, and add 20 pocket parks in 2024. The average greenery space per person will reach 11.6 square meters and the forest coverage rate will mark 19 percent.
The Qianwan area of the Hongqiao International Central Business District and the Xinzhuang Industrial Zone will be developed into a pilot zone of low carbon emissions. The Minhang Economic and Technological Development Zone will be developed into a carbon-neutral industrial zone.
In addition, 8 kilometers of waterways will be dredged in 2024 and high-quality Level III water will account for 75 percent of the total water volume.
(Compiled by Yang Yang)