Report on the Work of the Government

- Delivered at the Fourth Session of

the 13th Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress

on January 24, 2021

MA Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong Province

*The English version of this Report is for reference only.

Fellow deputies,

On behalf of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, I will now report to you on the work of the government for your deliberation and approval. I also invite comments from the members of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and other attendees of the session.

I. Achievements in the 13th Five-Year Plan Period and Major Undertakings of 2020

The 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) was of historic significance for the development of Guangdong Province. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to Guangdong and keenly supports the development of the province. He joined a group discussion of Guangdong delegation during the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), inspected Guangdong twice, and made important remarks and instructions on Guangdong on several occasions, which gave us great source of motivation. With his words in mind and a grateful heart, we comprehensively implemented major policies and plans issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council. Following the work requirements of the CPC Guangdong Committee, with the oversight of and the support from the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress, its Standing Committee, and the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, we steadfastly applied the new development philosophy, implemented the “1+1+9” work plan, and achieved decisive results in building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. The major objectives of the 13th Five-Year Plan have been met, firm steps in high-quality development made, and solid groundwork for the new march towards socialist modernization in all aspects laid.

The full implementation of the key national strategy to build the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the encouraging beginning of Shenzhen’s endeavor to build a Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee adopted the key national strategies to build the GBA and to support Shenzhen in building a pilot demonstration area, bestowing on Guangdong new missions of historic significance. Infrastructure connectivity in the GBA witnessed remarkable improvement. Such signature projects as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-speed Rail, the new Hengqin Port, and the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point were put into operation. The International Scientific and Technological Innovation center was developed smoothly; the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Corridor took shape at a faster pace; the construction of Guangming Science City and Songshan Lake Science City, the main parts of the pilot zone of the Comprehensive National Science Center in the GBA, was steadily advanced. We vigorously promoted the alignment of rules, regulations and mechanisms across the GBA. We adopted such measures as introducing preferential income tax policies for overseas high-quality talents and talents in urgent demand, approving cross-border use of R&D funds and developing youth innovation and entrepreneurship bases with Hong Kong and Macao. We achieved great progress in Wan Qu Tong (the GBA Connectivity Initiative). The construction of major platforms, including Nansha of Guangzhou, Qianhai of Shenzhen and Hengqin of Zhuhai was accelerated, with a total of 13,000 Hong Kong companies and 3,280 Macao companies newly registered. Such major reforms as the GEM (growth enterprises market) registration system at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the launch of the Guangzhou Futures Exchange were implemented.

Economic strength brought to a new level and significant growth in both quality and output. Guangdong’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew from 7.5 trillion yuan in 2015 to over 11 trillion yuan in 2020, representing an annual growth of 6%. The volume of Guangdong’s economy had been the highest in Chinese Mainland for 32 consecutive years. The general public budget revenue increased from 936.7 billion yuan to 1.2922 trillion yuan during the period, an annual growth of 6.6% on average, making Guangdong the only Chinese province with a general public budget revenue exceeding one trillion yuan. Fixed assets investment and the total retail sales of consumer goods both exceeded four trillion yuan. The total amount of imports and exports exceeded seven trillion yuan. The aggregate actual use of foreign investment over the past five years stood at 727.7 billion yuan. The per capita GDP grew to 94,000 yuan, an annual increase of 4.2% on average. The per capita disposable income reached 41,000 yuan, an annual increase of 8% on average. The industrial ratio of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries was adjusted to 4.3: 39.2: 56.5. The added value of advanced manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing accounted for 56.1% and 31.1% respectively in the industry above designated size, the added value of modern service made up 64.7% of that of the whole service industry, and the added value of the financial sector was almost one trillion yuan.

Great leaps in technological innovation capability and the upgrade and optimization of a modern industrial system. The R&D expenditure for the whole province rose from 180 billion yuan to 320 billion yuan, with its share in the GDP growing from 2.4% to 2.9%. Guangdong outstripped other provinces in comprehensive innovation capacity, and continued to lead the nation in the volume of valid invention patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications. The province laid out and started the development of ten provincial laboratories, prepared for a national laboratory, and carried out R&D projects in nine major fields, which substantially enhanced its ability of basic research and application-oriented basic research. The number of National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in the province grew to 14, and the number of high-tech enterprises reached 53,000. All Guangdong-based enterprises with main-operation revenues above 500 million yuan have set up their own R&D facilities. The number of academicians from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering in Guangdong reached 102, and 121 innovation and start-up teams were introduced to the province. The industrial upgrade was accelerated, and seven trillion-yuan-worth industrial clusters were formed, covering electronic and information technology, green petrochemicals, smart home appliances and advanced materials among others. The number of Guangdong-based Fortune Global 500 companies grew from 7 to 14, and more than 55,000 industrial enterprises in the province were above designated size. The province was rated A grade for five consecutive years in the nation’s quality work assessment.

Advancement of the One Core Region, One Belt and One Area Initiative and more balanced and coordinated development. We sped up the construction of such modern infrastructure as high-speed rail network, highway network, airport and seaport clusters, high-level inland river channels, cross-region water resources allocation projects and new-type infrastructure. 2,065 kilometers of high-speed rail and more than 10,000 kilometers of highways in the province were put into operation. 150 million air passenger trips were made at airports in Guangdong, and the container throughput of its ports stood at 67.3 million TEUs. The core region of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) continued to upgrade its growth capabilities, highlighted by Guangzhou and Shenzhen’s strengthened capability to stimulate the development in surrounding areas, Foshan’s economic aggregate exceeding one trillion yuan, and Dongguan’s approaching one trillion yuan. The Coastal Economic Belt was supported to develop such industries as offshore wind farms, nuclear power, green petrochemicals, and marine engineering equipment, having attracted BASF, Exxon Mobil, CSPC and others to launch major industrial projects of more than 10 billion U.S. dollars. The Ecological Development Area in Northern Guangdong had increasingly salient advantage of green development. Modern agriculture, recreational tourism and green and low-carbon industry enjoyed robust development. Public services in Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong were improved, with five provincial laboratories, nine high-level hospitals, and eight institutions of higher education built, and the “Digital Government” services updated at the same pace as in the PRD. We unveiled policies to support areas of former revolutionary bases and areas with large ethnic minority population. The coordinated transfer payment policy covered all of the 86 counties (county-level cities and districts) with fiscal difficulty; the per capita expenditure of the general public budget at the county level grew 9.1% annually on average.

Decisive results for three critical battles and more substantial progress in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. To win the critical fight against poverty, nearly 65,000 officials were posted to villages, 160 billion yuan was raised and invested. As a result, all of the 1.615 million relatively-poor people and 2,277 villages mired in relative poverty have been lifted out of poverty, with the poor households free from worries over food and clothing and enjoying access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing. We resolutely fulfilled our political responsibilities in the east-west pairing-off cooperation for poverty alleviation and became a forerunner in the paired-up assistance to Tibet and Xinjiang. 93 poor counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces have shaken off poverty, and more than five million people in these counties have been lifted out of poverty. Prominent ecological issues have been forcefully addressed. The additional 33,000 kilometers of sewage pipeline networks have a daily waste water treatment capacity of 8.14 million tons; historic breakthroughs were made in reducing pollution of such heavily polluted rivers as the Maozhou River and Lianjiang River, whose water quality was significantly improved; black and odorous water bodies have been eliminated in urban built-up areas in cities at the prefecture level and above; the inferior Class V cross-sections in the national assessment of surface water quality have been fully eliminated. The days of good air quality accounted for 95.5% of all days as the density of PM2.5 dropped to 22μg per cubic meter. The province can treat 149,000 tons of household waste daily, an increase of 91%. We proactively guarded against and forestalled major risks, completing the arduous task of restructuring 64 rural cooperatives into rural commercial banks, a move that cumulatively prevented more than 130 billion yuan from risk exposure. All of the 707 peer-to-peer (P2P) online lenders in the province have been removed from the market; risks facing equity pledging of listed companies have been appropriately dealt with; the liquidation of Guangdong International Trust & Investment was successfully conducted; the local government drastically slashed their hidden debts; the overall government debt risks were kept at a relatively low level; the real estate market continued to grow healthily and steadily.

Accelerating implementation of the rural revitalization strategy and significant transformation of rural areas. Party secretaries at the provincial, municipal, county, town and village levels have been committed to pushing forward rural vitalization. We carried out the Bellwether Program with more input and achieved all the goals of the three-year initiative to make momentous progress in rural revitalization. The “Green Rural Revival” program was pushed forward, greatly improving the living conditions of the rural population and transforming the outlook of rural areas. Rural infrastructure continued to be improved, and all the villages were covered by public services including comprehensive service centers, centralized water supply, clean lavatories and garbage collection and treatment systems. Also, 63,000 kilometers of rural roads were built or repaired to the standards of being well built, managed, maintained and operated. The province is among the first ones to achieve 100% internet access through 100M fiber-optic cables in all villages with more than 20 households. We stepped up efforts in developing industries capable of enriching rural residents and rural areas by creating agricultural production bases with unique Lingnan features and competitiveness. We opened 14 national and 161 provincial modern agricultural industrial parks. Various new-type agricultural business entities flourished and 67 national-level leading agricultural enterprises were cultivated. We strengthened the overall planning and integration of agriculture-related funds, and carried out reforms on collective property right. The supply and marketing cooperatives to were reformed to better support agriculture, and the social functions of Agricultural Land Reclamation Office were removed. We basically completed the confirmation, registration and issuance of certificates of farmers’ titles to contracted land and homestead lots. We continued to improve fiscal support for primary-level organizations in rural areas and village officials. Rural development showed a sound momentum.

Challenging issues resolved in the reform of key sectors and a fully energized market. We worked hard to advance a digital government, featuring data sharing, process re-engineering and innovative management. Thanks to Yue Sheng Shi Guangdong Administrative Mobile Service Platform, Yue Shang Tong Guangdong Business Mobile Service Platform and Yue Zheng Yi Guangdong Government Affairs Mobile Service Platform, services in high demand can be accessed “at your fingertips”. Guangdong became the country’s leader in online government services. We cut the number of items on the list of provincial rights and responsibilities from 5,567 to 1,069. Guangdong became the first province in China to separate permits and certificates from the business license across the province. The time it takes to approve construction projects and register real estate was drastically shortened. The number of various market entities grew by six million over the past five years, reaching 13.85 million in total. We set up a new, refined land-use mechanism marked by territorial space regulation, the balance between the requisition and replenishment of arable land and intensive and highly efficient use of land. Guangdong became one of the first provinces in the central government’s pilot program to delegate land use approval power. In aggregate, we utilized idle land of 180,000 Mu*, reclaimed 320,000 Mu of paddy fields, restored 90,000 Mu of farmland by demolishing old structures, completed renovation of old towns, old factory buildings and old villages measuring 320,000 Mu and disposed of 550 million square meters of illegal structures. We conducted more thorough reforms in fiscal management, social security funds and state-owned assets and enterprises. We pushed forward the supervision and management reform of budget preparation and execution at provincial, municipal and county levels. We were among the first to realize provincial-level coordination of old-age insurance for enterprise employees, and the strategic reorganization and specialty-based integration of some provincial state-owned enterprises. The Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone made 527 institutional innovation achievements, leading the country in setting up an “Integrated Service Window” for international trade that covers the whole province. New business forms such as cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade have been thriving.

Comprehensive improvement in people’s well-being and continuous progress in people’s living standards and quality of life. Giving employment a high priority, we pushed forward the training programs of “Cantonese Chef” “Guangdong Technician” and “Nan Yue Housekeeper”, with 7 million new urban jobs created over the past five years, accounting for one-tenth of the nation’s total. The registered urban unemployment rate was kept under 3.5%. To improve education in all aspects, we made sure public spending on education per student and financial assistance to students cover all the stages. 86% of preschoolers were able to be enrolled in public kindergartens and private inclusive kindergartens; 4.57 million children of migrant workers received compulsory education in the proximity of their residences; number of students enrolled in vocational schools ranked first in the country, gross enrollment rate at institutions of higher education increased from 33% to 52%. We improved the medical and health system, spending 15 billion yuan to build 30 high-level hospitals, 8 national medical centers and regional medical centers, and 3 international medical centers. We allocated 50 billion yuan to improve the medical services offered in the counties, towns and villages, bringing medical consortia to all counties, achieving remarkable results in the comprehensive reform of primary-level medical care, significantly broadening access to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and increasing the average life expectancy of residents in Guangdong to 78.4. Social security has been constantly improved, the basic pension for enterprise retirees growing at an annual rate of 5.9% on average, the minimum basic pension for urban and rural residents rising 80%, the cap of resident medical insurance payout increasing significantly, with more than three thousand types of medicine included on the reimbursement list. Progress was made in the welfare of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as in social aid for people in need. We made headway in building Guangdong into a province known for its culture, sports and civilized cities, basically completing the construction of public cultural infrastructure facilities at the provincial, municipal, county, town and village levels. We improved education on national defense, the national defense mobilization system, the ties between servicemen and civilians and established a veteran service system at the provincial, municipal, county, town and village levels. The continued efforts to make Guangdong a safe place saw the successful completion of the campaign of cracking down on organized crimes and local mafia, with solid progress in addressing public complaints, steadily improving public safety, sharply decreasing number of workplace accidents and growing capabilities of disaster prevention and relief. A social governance model based on collaboration, participation, and common interests has been making great strides forward.

Over the past five years, we studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carried out education campaigns themed around Two Studies, One Action (all CPC Party members should study the Party Constitution and rules and speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping and fulfill the requirements for qualified party members) and “Staying true to our original aspiration and keeping our mission firmly in mind”, and more thoroughly conducted the campaign of Extensive Study, Intensive Investigation and Effective Implementation. We kept firmly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core and keep in alignment. We strengthened our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We resolutely upheld the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping and upheld the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership. We accepted the legal supervision of Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress and the democratic oversight of the CPPCC Guangdong Committee. Having dealt with 3,914 suggestions from People’s Congress deputies and 3,481 proposals from the CPPCC members, we pushed forward the implementation of matters supervised by the Provincial People’s Congress and results of CPPCC consultations. We made greater efforts in building a law-based, clean and service-oriented government as we solidly implemented the Eight-point Decision on Conduct and its implementation rules by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, unremittingly rectified the practices of formalities for formality’s sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and continuously strengthened the supervision on auditing and the inspection of implementation results. The governance capability of the government thus steadily grew.

The year 2020, the concluding year of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, unfolded in the most unexpected way. Facing the heavy blow of COVID-19, we were committed to our roles in a unified way at both national and provincial levels and took extraordinary measures in response to extraordinary circumstances. Never letting up in epidemic control, we stayed focused on ensuring stability on six fronts (employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations) and maintaining security in six areas (job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments). We at last stood the test of the formidable challenges brought by the epidemic, scoring remarkable achievements in epidemic control and social-economic development.

First, we made people’s life and safety our first priority and remained vigilant in epidemic control. Following the overall guideline of “staying confident, coming together in solidarity, adopting a science-based approach and taking targeted measures”, we set up a war-time command system at the earliest opportunity and activated the first-level public health emergency response in no time. The best personnel were marshaled for the fight, including 970,000 medical workers, 5.4 million Party officials, 300,000 community workers and 500,000 volunteers. United as one, people in Guangdong have overcome daunting difficulties and built a strong defense against the epidemic. We strictly implemented the guidelines of “Four Things to Do Early” and “Four Concentrations”, adapting our control measures according to real-time situations. We timely carried out the “Four Key Jobs” and “Nine Tasks Requiring Unstinted Efforts” and worked to meet the “Ten Goals that Must Be Realized by All Means Possible”, successfully overcoming a dozen of formidable challenges posed by the surging number of people returning to Guangdong after the Spring Festival, difficulties in resuming work, production, and schooling and requirements on quick eradication of sporadic outbreaks. We put in immense efforts to prevent imported cases, enhanced the joint prevention and control system with Hong Kong and Macao, gave generous support to Hong Kong’s anti-coronavirus efforts, and steadily and orderly resumed travel between Guangdong and Macao. Guangdong successfully safeguarded its role as the South Gate of Chinese Mainland in the fight against COVID-19. We also contributed ourselves to the national anti-coronavirus endeavor by sending help to Wuhan and Jingzhou in Hubei Province, strengthening international medical cooperation and scientific research on pivotal problems, and mobilizing more ventilators, masks and other anti-coronavirus supplies at the central government’s disposal than any other province. We did an outstanding job that proved the efficiency, responsibility and strength of Guangdong.

Second, we did our utmost to protect market entities and the job market and solidly stabilized the fundamentals of the economy. We timely introduced the 30 Policies on Double Overall Planning and the 20 Policies on Work and Production Resumption, sensibly and orderly promoting, in batches and based on priorities, the resumption of work, production and business to accelerate economic recovery. To ferry businesses over the challenging times and encourage their steady recovery, we launched such measures as the 26 Policies for Small and Medium Enterprises, the 18 Financial Policies to Encourage Businesses and the 23 Policies for Individual Business. We resolutely implemented the national large-scale relief policies for enterprises, reducing all burdens, exempting all fees and providing favorable treatments wherever possible. As a result, we reduced more than 300 billion yuan of fees and taxes for various market entities and granted 2.8 trillion yuan of new loans, one-seventh of the nation’s total. There were 2.3 million new market entities throughout the year, showcasing the remarkable resilience of the Guangdong’s economy. The province’s GDP hence increased by 2.3% and the general public budget revenue by 2.1%. We introduced the Nine Policies on Promoting Employment 2.0, intensified efforts to help businesses keep positions, returned 13 billion yuan of unemployment insurance premium to enterprises to secure jobs, provided subsidized vocational training to 3.08 million people and hosted the first National Vocational Skills Competition. In the province, more than 97% college graduates were employed; 1.34 million new jobs were created; the surveyed urban unemployment rate was under 5.45%; the average per capita disposable income of local residents was up by 5.2%. We were dedicated to food security, over-fulfilling the central government’s task to increase the acreage of early rice planting by 500,000 Mu, speeding up the restoration of hog production and maintained the sufficient supply of items in the “Rice Bag” (grain supply) and the “Vegetable Basket” (non-staple food supply) programs.

Third, we strengthened the innovation capability and stepped up the efforts to make industrial chains more stabilized, completed, resilient and controllable. To solve the problem of the constraints on core technologies, several national technology innovation centers and national manufacturing innovation centers, 10 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao joint laboratories, 36 provincial key laboratories and 7 high-level innovation research institutes were established. A batch of key research projects and major basic research projects in 5G, chips and software, and high-end equipment were launched. We started the “Powerful Guangdong-Made Chips” Initiative. Guangzhou Yuexin entered mass production, and a batch of semiconductor equipment and components projects settled in the province at a faster pace. With the aim of building independent, controllable, safe and efficient industrial and supply chains, we planned to build ten pillar industry clusters and ten emerging industry clusters, both of strategic importance and to encourage 15,000 companies to achieve digital transformation via the Industrial Internet. A number of major projects including the Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Zhanjiang and CNOOC Liuhua oilfield were completed and put into production. The construction of Shenzhen Huaxing Optoelectronics’ production line of the 11G LCD panels, Zhanjiang Iron and Steel’s No. 3 blast furnace and other industrial infrastructure were accelerated. The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 1.5%. The output of 4K TVs, industrial robots and wind turbines increased by 20%, 49% and 136% respectively.

Fourth, we thoroughly implemented the strategy of expanding domestic demand to boost greater internal forces driving development and sustainability of growth. We gave full play to the key role of investment, made good use of more than 360 billion yuan of new local government bonds and intensified the construction of new types of infrastructure and urbanization and major projects (Two New Types and One Major). The investment of fixed assets increased by 7.2%. We started the construction of the Shenzhen-Jiangmen section of the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway, opened up the second high-speed rail across the Pearl River estuary, completed the construction of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway, the first phase of the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway and the Jiangmen Station of the integrated transport hub on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary. The construction of the pilot section of the Guangdong water resources allocation project in Beibu Gulf rim has started and all cities were connected to the main natural gas pipeline network. A three-year implementation plan for promoting the construction of new infrastructure was introduced, with more than 700 projects deployed and a total investment of over 1 trillion yuan. 87,000 new 5G base stations were built, bringing the total to over 120,000. Increased efforts were made to address shortcomings in areas such as medical and health care, emergency material stockpiling, and urban and rural environmental governance. 512 new projects were arranged, with a total investment of 213.8 billion yuan. We intensified investment promotion, held group contract signings, group ceremonies marking the start of production or construction and other activities to attract central SOEs, large private companies, and major foreign investment projects to settle in Guangdong. We formulated policies and measures to encourage consumption and made up for the shortcomings of consumption infrastructure. Through subsidies, consumer vouchers and other incentives, we vigorously promoted car sales in the countryside and government-subsidized home appliances. Information consumption, rural consumption, and culture and tourism consumption were expanded and the development of new consumption formats such as online education and telemedicine were encouraged.

Fifth, we further deepened reforms and created new advantages of an open economy. We comprehensively advanced the 27 reform measures and the 40 authorized pilot matters for supporting the comprehensive pilot reforms in Shenzhen, implemented the 30 policies of financial support for the development of the GBA and launched the initiative to build pacesetters of TCM in the GBA. The Canton Fair was held online; the “Guangdong Trade Worldwide” initiative was implemented; the scale and market share of imports and exports remained stable; ASEAN has become the province’s largest trading partner. We improved and adjusted the trade structure, supported the transformation and upgrading of processing trade, strenuously developed general trade, expanded the import of commodities, encouraged the innovative development of the service trade and actively fostered new formats of foreign trade. Seven new cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas were established and the export of market procurement increased by 23%. A high-level regular communication and consultation mechanism was improved for major foreign investment projects. We established 13,000 new foreign direct investment projects, 43 of which were over 100 million U.S. dollars, with the actual use of foreign investment reaching 162 billion yuan, up by 6.5%, and the total amount hit a new record high.

Sixth, we made more efforts to protect people’s livelihoods and resolutely ensured that their basic living needs met. We took more forceful measures to ensure security in the areas of basic living needs, wages and normal functioning of governments at the primary level. The direct funds from the central government were distributed to community level in a timely manner and 526 billion yuan of subsidies and debt re-loan funds from the province to cities and counties were arranged, with an increase of 12.7%. We tightened our belt by reducing the general government expenditure by more than 15% and directing our limited financial resources to key areas such as people’s livelihoods. The livelihood expenditures on education, medical care, employment and other areas accounted for about 70% of general public budget expenditures. We allocated 13.35 billion yuan in financial assistance to steadily improve the basic living conditions of 1.68 million people in need, such as receivers of subsistence allowances, people living in extreme poverty and orphans. For families and individuals plunged into basic living difficulties due to COVID-19, temporary assistance were given in a timely manner. Temporary price subsidies were provided, benefiting 18.7 million people. We comprehensively promoted the standardization of fever clinics, and improved the public health emergency response capabilities. Despite the epidemic, college entrance examination, production safety and Spring Festival travel were guaranteed.

Fellow deputies, we encountered unprecedented difficulties and made hard-won achievements during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. We held grand celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. We effectively dealt with the impact of the COVID-19, the China-US economic and trade disputes, and the turbulence over legislative amendments in Hong Kong. We overcame the risks and challenges one after another and continued to write new chapters of reform and development in the new era. We were deeply aware that to fulfill our duties in Guangdong, we must steadfastly implement the new development philosophy and be determined to facilitate high-quality development; we must make good use of reform and opening up to fully tap the potential of the whole society for development; we must give enough prominence to the overall planning of regional urban and rural development and constantly improve the balance and coordination of development; we must always adhere to the people-centered approach so that the results of reform and development will bring more benefits to the people in a more equitable way. It would not have been possible for Guangdong to achieve such success without the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the supreme authority of the General Secretary and his deep and inspiring care for Guangdong, which is the greatest and most fundamental source of our confidence and ambition.

What Guangdong has achieved in its economic and social development during the 13th Five-Year Plan period should be attributed to the concerted efforts and unity of the people across the province under the guidance of the CPC Guangdong Committee. On behalf of the People’s Government of Guangdong, I would like to pay tributes to the people all across the province, deputies to the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress, members of the CPPCC Guangdong Committee, other political parties, people’s organizations, people from all walks of life, central institutions based in Guangdong, the officers and soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army, armed police officers, public security officers, and commanders and fighters of the fire and rescue teams. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to all compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese and international friends who have shown care and support for Guangdong’s modernization.

We are acutely aware that Guangdong still faces many difficulties and challenges in achieving high-quality development and solving the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development. There are many unstable and uncertain factors in the external environment, and the situation for our economic development is still complicated and challenging; the uneven regional development and the large gap between urban and rural development remains the biggest shortcoming in our province, and the internal forces powering economic growth of Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong need to be enhanced; breakthroughs in core technologies are still hard to make, and the Guangdong’s ability to control its industrial and supply chains is yet to be strengthened; the foundation for the overall improvement of the ecological environment is not solid enough, and resource constraints are tightening; reforms in key areas need to be deepened, and our reforms still need to be more systematic and coordinated; there are still shortcomings in public services such as education, medical care and pensions, and the quality of public services need to be improved; there are potential risks in some areas, bringing formidable challenges to maintaining balance between development and security.

II. Development Goals and Key Tasks During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

The 14th Five-Year Plan period represents the first five years of riding the wave to embark on a new journey of building a strong and modern socialist country in all aspects and realize the Second Centenary Goal. It is a new mission after the accomplishment of fully building a moderately prosperous society and achieving the First Centenary Goal. In last October, during his inspection tour in Guangdong at the historic crossroads of the Two Centenary Goals, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and delivered an important speech. He envisaged Guangdong to advance reform and opening-up as a more determined pathbreaker at a higher starting point and a forerunner on the journey of building China a modern socialist country by creating new glories. His remarks explicitly highlighted the primary missions of Guangdong in the new development stage. We must base our work on the new development stage, implement the new development philosophy, establish a new development paradigm and strive to explore new opportunities and break new grounds amid crises and challenges. We must make all-out efforts to deliver the great vision set out by General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Based on the overarching arrangement made at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and following The Recommendations of the CPC Guangdong Committee on Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, Guangdong Provincial People’s Government compiled The 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Outline Plan of the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 for Guangdong (Draft).

The main objective of Guangdong’s economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period is to break new grounds in the following aspects: economic development; endeavors to become a leader in innovation; competitiveness of modern industries; actions to further reform and opening-up; balanced and coordinated development; environmental protection; endeavors to consolidate cultural connotation of Guangdong; initiatives to bring people happier lives; modern governance; coordination between development and security. Looking forward to 2035, Guangdong will basically realize socialist modernization, with significant growth in economic, technological and overall competitiveness. The economic aggregate and per capita income of urban and rural residents will witness another substantial growth. Guangdong will be the first in China to establish a modern economic system, basically modernize its governance system and capabilities, nurture civility to a higher level, and form a new pattern of opening-up. We will basically achieve the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, ensure a better life for the people and secure a more notable and substantive progress in the pursuit of prosperity shared by all.

The guidelines for economic and social development of Guangdong during the 14th Five-Year Plan period are: holding high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; thoroughly implementing the guiding principles of the 19th CPC National Congress and its Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Plenary Sessions; upholding Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; conscientiously implementing the Party’s basic theories, routes and strategies; thoroughly implementing the important speeches and instructions on Guangdong by General Secretary Xi Jinping; coordinating the advancement of the Five-sphere Integrated Plan and promoting coordinated implementation of the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy; unswervingly applying the new development philosophy and pursuing progress while ensuring stability; setting high-quality development as the focus, supply-side structural reform as the main task, reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force, meeting people’s ever-increasing needs for a better life as the primary goal and acting as a forerunner on the journey of building China a modern socialist country by creating new glories as the master and overarching mission; persistently implementing the “1+1+9” work plan; pacing up to develop the GBA and the Shenzhen Demonstration Pilot Area for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; expediting the process of forming a modern economic system and exploring strategic fulcrums for the new development paradigm; modernizing the governance system and capabilities; coordinating development and security to ensure sustained economic stability and realize social stability and harmony; and thus taking a new and solid step forward in advancing socialist modernization from all respects.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we must firmly steer the development initiative and focus on our own affairs. We must endure the tests of the time as an innovation-driven pathbreaker with an enterprising spirit in striving to contribute Guangdong endeavors for a modern socialist country from all respects.

We will accelerate the exploration of strategic fulcrums for the new development paradigm. We will fully leverage the industrial and geographical edges of Guangdong and attach importance to deepening the supply-side structural reform. We will focus on the demand side and link production, distribution, circulation and consumption to form a more advanced and dynamic equilibrium with mutually-reinforced demand and supply sides. We will enhance our capacity in facilitating domestic circulation and connecting the domestic and international circulations. We will take actions to make Guangdong a model for demonstrating standards harmonization, pooling high-end resources, cultivating scientific and technological innovations, connecting domestic and international circulations and bolstering both development and security. We will take the lead in exploring an effective path to form the new development paradigm.

We will make technological and industrial innovation with global influence a key strength of the province. We will resolutely place innovation at the heart of modernization, vigorously transform Guangdong into a major player in technological innovation, manufacturing and talent reserve. We will make breakthroughs in critical technologies to create a strategic force of technological innovation and development. We will modernize our industrial and supply chains by making them more independent, controllable, safe and efficient, upgrade the manufacturing sector through cultivating strategic industrial clusters and tap the potential of industrial advantages by improving the competitiveness and scale of manufacturing enterprises. We will simultaneously rectify our shortcomings and build our strengths and foster new edges of high-quality development.

We will advance reform and opening-up as a more determined pathbreaker from a higher starting point. We will marshal all resources available in the province to boost the development of the GBA and Shenzhen Demonstration Pilot Area and facilitate the coordination between Guangzhou and Shenzhen. We will fully unleash the potential of the GBA and Shenzhen Demonstration Pilot Area in overall demonstration, resource agglomeration, synergistic and strategic development and leadership role. We will strengthen reform integration, with emphasis on an array of innovation-driven and exemplary reforms in key areas and critical links. We will build a high-standard market system, advance the opening-up in scope, coverage and depths, expedite the construction of a world-class, market-oriented and law-based business environment to make Guangdong a leader in reform and opening-up.

We will continue to strenuously support the coordinated regional as well as urban and rural development. We will further implement the coordinated regional development strategy, advance the cross-regional layout and co-construction of industries in a coordinated way, facilitate the commercialization and sharing of innovation resources and deliveries and expand the scope of services. We will deepen the mechanism coordination of the “Two Cores (Guangzhou and Shenzhen) + Two Sub-centers (Shantou and Zhanjiang)”, the “GBA + Coastal Economic Belt” and the pairing assistance between the PRD and Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong. Such efforts will boost the formation of “One Core Region, One Belt and One Area”, a regional development pattern with clearly defined functions, complementary advantages and high-quality development. We will reinvigorate rural areas in an all-round way and intensify the efforts to encourage urban and rural infrastructure interconnectivity, inclusive and shared public services, equal exchange of resources and full connectivity of production factors. Notable results are expected in five years and radical changes in ten years as we strive to take the lead in modernizing the agricultural sector and rural areas.

We will create happier lives for people in Guangdong. Adhering to the people-oriented development philosophy, we will attach even more importance to common prosperity for all people, improve the basic public service system and social development and speed up to nurture the reputation of Guangdong for its cultural atmosphere, education quality, sports and the actions to lead a healthy lifestyle. We will encourage the all-round development of people and the overall progress of society, make greater efforts to protect the environment, set examples of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and satisfy people’s growing demand for a better life.

We will continue to coordinate development and security. Taking a holistic approach in safeguarding national security, we will consider security in the whole process of development, resolutely prevent and resolve all kinds of risks, promote the rule of law in the governance from all respects, and ensure political, economic and public security, as well as the safety of people’s lives. We will build Guangdong into one of the regions with the safest, fairest and most stable environment and the most developed legal system in China.

III. Work Plans for 2021

The year 2021 celebrates the centenary of the CPC and marks the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It is therefore of great significance to accomplish the arrangement we have made in this year. With the COVID-19 still ravaging the world and many Chinese cities reporting sporadic and cluster outbreaks, we must not relax in our efforts to prevent COVID-19 from entering China and domestic resurgence. We must combine regular and targeted prevention measures with local emergency response to avoid imported cases and resurgence at a large scale, so as to create favorable conditions for the stable and healthy development of the economy and society. The main goals for the economic and social development of Guangdong this year are:

• GDP growth by more than 6%;

• General public budget revenue growth by about 5%;

• Total fixed-assets investment up by about 8%, total retail sales of consumer goods up by more than 6%, positive growth in import and export and the added value of industries above designated size up by about 5%;

• Steady growth in the per capita disposable income of residents;

• Consumer price index increase by about 3%;

• 1.1 million new urban jobs created, with the urban surveyed unemployment rate at about 5.5%;

• Overall grain productivity at 12 million tons;

• Energy intensity reduced to meet the objectives made by the central government.

To blaze new trails in exploring strategic fulcrums of the new development paradigm, we must conscientiously implement the “1+1+9” work plan and focus on the following ten assignments:

(I) Boosting the development of the GBA and Shenzhen Demonstration Pilot Area, pushing forward the coordination between Guangzhou and Shenzhen and creating an engine for high-quality development.

Promoting rule and mechanism harmonization among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. We will comprehensively and accurately implement the “One Country, Two Systems” policy and take up the important responsibilities of building the GBA. We will implement the Wan Qu Tong, establish a high-standard market system that allows the efficient and convenient flow of cross-border factors and build a “Digital GBA” to elevate market integration. We will facilitate law, medical, architecture and engineering professionals from Hong Kong and Macao to work in the GBA, work together to achieve more breakthroughs in such areas as intellectual property rights (IPRs), public services and standard certification and innovate the regulation on medicines and medical devices in the GBA. We will pace up to set up the GBA International Commercial Bank and move forward with pilot projects of integrated cross-border financing and cross-border wealth management schemes. We will deepen cooperation in people’s livelihoods and advance the construction of Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base to encourage youth exchange. We will pace up the construction of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Qianhai, Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao All-round Cooperation Demonstration Zone in Nansha. We will emphasize on innovation in institutional integration and create demonstration platform of standards harmonization.

Accelerating the creation of a “GBA on Rail”. We will promote the integration of the trunk railways, intercity railways, urban (suburban) railways and urban rail transit in the GBA and the interconnection of metro systems in the PRD to establish a one-hour traffic network among major GBA cities. We will expedite the construction of the GBA intercity railway network and innovate the investment, construction and operation models with the focus on Guangzhou and Shenzhen metropolitan areas. We will complete the construction of Foshan-Dongguan Intercity Railway, accelerate the construction of the extension line of Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway and start the construction of Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Railway, the extension line of Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway and the extension line of Dongguan-Huizhou Intercity Railway. We will push forward the preliminary work of Shenzhen International Airport-Dayawan Intercity Railway, Nansha-Zhuhai (Zhongshan) Intercity Railway and Foshan-Jiangmen section of Guangzhou-Foshan-Jiangmen-Zhuhai Intercity Railway. Such endeavors represent a rapid intercity railway network in the GBA.

Advancing comprehensive pilot reforms in Shenzhen Demonstration Pilot Area for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. We will formulate provincial-level measures to support Shenzhen in carrying out comprehensive pilot reforms, devise a negative list for managing provincial administrative authority and make breakthroughs in system innovation, power decentralization, vitality stimulation and enabling environment creation. We will support Shenzhen in building a higher-level factor market system, setting up a trading scheme for natural resource assets, becoming a global marine center and creating a digital currency innovation pilot zone. We will increase the supply of high-quality education, medical care and cultural resources, introduce trial programs to ease the market access for new medicines developed overseas and grant greater autonomy to institutions of higher education. We will explore new paths for mega-city governance, introduce pilot programs of the use of natural space, land and forest to reach a higher level of professional, smart and detail-oriented urban governance.

Promoting in-depth cooperation and coordinated development between Guangzhou and Shenzhen. We will improve the Guangzhou-Shenzhen strategic cooperation mechanism, comprehensively support the coordination in key areas such as technological innovation, modern industries, infrastructure, business environment and public services. The two cities will jointly undertake a number of major technological infrastructure, implement several major projects in strategic emerging industries and build world-class industrial clusters and develop transportation hubs to fully tap their potential as core engines. We will support Guangzhou the same way as we support Shenzhen to press ahead with its Four-thronged Urban Rejuvenation Initiative to bring new vigor to this historical city, speed up urban renewal and renovation, and inherit and innovate Lingnan culture. We will also support Guangzhou to develop Sino-Singapore (Guangzhou) Knowledge City and Guangzhou Science City, create a pilot zone for artificial intelligence and digital economy, strengthen its role as the provincial capital and pace up to become an international metropolis.

(II) Implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand, vigorously promoting the linkage with other regions, and enhancing both internal circulation and dual circulations.

Increasing infrastructure investment. We will promote the pilot programs of the province aiming to build China into a country with a strong transportation network, aim for commencing the construction of Hepu-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway, Zhuhai-Jiangmen section of Zhuhai-Zhaoqing High-speed Railway and Shenzhen International Airport-Heao section of Shenyang-Haikou Expressway; speed up the construction of high-speed railways connecting Guangzhou and Zhanjiang, Guangzhou and Shantou via Shanwei, Shenzhen and Jiangmen, Shenzhen and Shanwei, and Meizhou and Longchuan, as well as Jieyang-Huizhou freight line and the Maoming Bohe Port freight line; construct Ganzhou-Shenzhen High-speed Railway and Nansha Port Railway; expedite the preliminary work of Shenzhen-Nanning High-speed Railway, Guangzhou-Zhuhai (Macao) High-speed Railway, Guangzhou-Qingyuan-Yongzhou High-speed Railway, Meizhou-Wuping High-speed Railway and Luoding-Cenxi Railway. We plan to improve the capacity of Maoming Northbound Railway and Guangdong section of Shantou-Kunming High-speed Railway. We will expedite the construction of cross-river and sea-crossing passages such as Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, Huangmao Sea Bridge, Lianhuashan Tunnel and Shiziyang Tunnel, widen and improve bottleneck sections of trunk expressways, and renovate and upgrade national and provincial highways and dangerous bridges. We will see to the smooth progress of the Phase III expansion of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the construction of the third runway of Shenzhen Bao’An International Airport and the PRD Air Hub, in addition to completing Zhanjiang Airport and Shaoguan Airport. We will accelerate the construction of key port and waterway projects and push forward the preliminary work for the waterway capacity expansion of Dongjiang River and Beijiang River and the treatment of mainstream of Xijiang River. We will advance projects such as the PRD water resource allocation and Guangdong water resource allocation along the Beibu Gulf rim project, ensure the completion of the connection project of Hanjiang River, Rongjiang River and Lianjiang River and plan to build a water resource network for Guangdong. The construction of Huizhou Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant will continue to receive proper support and the construction of Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant and Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant will commence. Backbone natural gas pipeline network will achieve full coverage of all counties. We will boost the construction of new-type infrastructure facilities such as data centers and industrial Internet, achieve full 5G coverage of major urban areas in Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong and create a cluster of 5G-enabled cities in the PRD. We will relax access restrictions to encourage investment from the private sector.

Fully unleashing consumption potential. Efforts will be made to ensure employment, protect income and spur consumption. We will insist on taking a holistic approach on expanding consumption and improving people’s quality of life and orderly cancel some administrative restrictions on consumption. We will support Guangzhou and Shenzhen to transform to international consumption centers, foster a number of cities into regional consumption centers and construct urban duty-free shops with local characteristics to attract consumption that could otherwise have been made overseas. We will implement the principle of “The Same Production Lines, Standards and Quality Requirements” (the products sold domestically should be produced on the same production lines with the same standards and quality as those for export). We will implement the “Guangdong Trade Nationwide” initiative and actively explore the domestic market. We will boost the development of high-quality business districts and create the brands of consumption festivals. We will attach importance to the rural consumption demand and fully tap the consumption potential of counties and townships. We will encourage trading-in used automobiles for new ones and upgrade home appliances. We will promote the development of new types of consumption, support information-oriented consumption and new business types such as smart stores and smart restaurants, and form service consumption and other new growth points. Public consumption will be reasonably increased and the efficiency of public expenditures on education, culture, medical care, elderly care, childcare and sports will be improved.

Expediting the construction of a modern logistics system. We will improve the modern comprehensive transportation system, coordinate the layout of logistics hubs, distribution centers and backbone cold chain logistics networks and develop high-speed rail freight, air freight and multi-modal transport. We will improve the modern commercial logistics system, upgrade the commercial logistics facilities to be smarter, guide conventional retail, wholesale and logistics businesses to embrace integrated online and offline development and focus on fostering leaders in modern commercial logistics. We will improve logistics systems of urban and rural markets and support rural e-commerce to form a two-way logistics pattern where agricultural products are sold in cities and agriculture-related funds materials consumer goods in rural areas. We will assist eligible enterprises to expand the global warehousing and distribution network, while attracting major retailers to set up procurement and logistics centers in Guangdong.

Optimizing and enhancing opening-up and cooperation. We will enhance the innovation-driven development capacity of Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone and special economic zones in the province to create a demonstrative and leading effect. We will implement the Ten Major Projects to boost high-quality trade and establish Guangdong as a pivotal player in trade. We will steadfastly carry forward the “Guangdong Trade Worldwide” initiative and boost the quality and efficiency of major expos such as Canton Fair, China High-tech Expo, Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo and China Processing Trade Products Fair. We will seize the opportunities presented by major mechanisms such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, vigorously explore regional markets such as the ASEAN, Japan and ROK and strengthen trade cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road. We will continue the practice of processing international trade through an Integrated Service Window, reform customs clearance procedures, facilitate cross-border trade and support new business types such as market procurement, cross-border e-commerce, digital trade and offshore trade. Several import trade promotion platforms will be launched. We will build the Nansha Import Trade Promotion and Innovation Demonstration Zone into an import goods distribution center with a nationwide reach. We will make better use of foreign investment and attract industry-leading companies and headquarters to settle in Guangdong. We will strengthen our awareness in preventing risks regarding overseas investment and improve the policy and service system that promotes and protects overseas investment.

(Ⅲ) Acting to cultivate a more robust system supporting strategic technologies, basic research, technological breakthroughs, innovation-driven development and independent innovation capabilities.

Pacing up to develop the GBA into a hub of international technological innovation. We will transform the GBA into a prime cradle inspiring technological innovations on par with leading international level and into a comprehensive national science center. We will speed up the construction of pilot zones such as Guangming Science City and Songshan Lake Science City, as well as the coordinated development zone of Nansha Science City. We will apply high standards to develop platforms such as Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Zone and Xili Lake International Science and Education City, and strengthen Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong and Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Corridors. We will optimize the laboratory system, advance the construction of national laboratories and improve the capabilities of the ten provincial laboratories and support Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong to construct provincial laboratories. A batch of advanced biosafety laboratories will be built, renovated or expanded. Envisioning a world-influencing cluster of scientific infrastructure, we will pace up the construction of projects such as the Phase II of China Spallation Neutron Source project in Dongguan, Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory and High Intensity Heavy-ion Accelerator Facility in Huizhou.

Making breakthroughs in critical and core technologies. More resources will be allocated to basic research, with an emphasis on focal areas for application. We will take a more active part in national strategic science programs and work to launch a new round of key projects jointly promoted with national ministries in such areas as information photonics and new materials. We will carry forward the Powerful Guangdong-Made Chip Initiative and shore up the weakness in integrated circuits, industrial software and high-end equipment. More tailored approaches will be taken to carry out R&D programs in key areas designated by the province, major basic research projects and joint funding projects for technological innovation collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong/Macao. We will aim at scientific frontiers such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum technology, life science and seed engineering, increase R&D forces and cultivate future-oriented industries.

Backing enterprises to expedite technological innovation. We will improve the technological innovation system in which the enterprises, as the main players, follow market signals and seek in-depth industry-university-research cooperation. We will encourage enterprises to increase their R&D input and establish R&D centers. We will also support corporate champions and industrial-chain leaders to establish innovation consortium consisting of higher learning institutions, businesses and research institutes to spark integrated innovation across the upper and lower industrial chains and large, medium and small enterprises. Uninterrupted efforts will be made to support high-tech enterprises to set up industrial benchmarks and upgrade their performance, reinforce the competitiveness of core enterprises on industrial chains and incubate future-facing ones with promising expectations. We will expedite the construction of GBA National Technological Innovation Center, National Printing and Flexible Display Center and High-performance Medical Device Innovation Center, and prepare to finance a new batch of provincial manufacturing innovation centers. We will launch the campaign of One Feature Industry in One High-tech Zone and take actions to achieve full coverage of national high-tech zones in all cities above the designated level.

Unleashing the innovation vigor of talents. We will implement talent projects targeting top-notch, specialized and highly demanded talents, and introduce and incubate more world-leading professionals and innovation teams. We will improve the evaluation system of technical professionals and the rights sharing mechanism of on-duty inventions. We will modify the administration system of scientific and technological projects and introduce a Dare-to-Undertake mechanism to mobilize the participation enthusiasm through open bidding. We will carry forward the incubation scheme of the “Double Thousand Program”, double the number of instructors for business start-ups, increase financial support for innovation and enhance the effectiveness of commercializing scientific and technological achievements. We will emphasize training innovative talents, launch projects for knowledge upgrading and skill training and build a strong team of high-level engineers and skilled personnel. We will standardize ethical practices and regulate work style, professionalism and integrity in science and technology-related activities, popularize the knowledge of science and enhance the awareness of the public to keep up with the scientific and technological development.

(IV) Unswervingly promoting the quality development of the manufacturing industries, accelerating to form a modern industrial system and continuing to consolidate the fundamentals of the real economy.

Boosting advanced manufacturing. We will carry out the “Six Major Projects of High-quality Manufacturing Development”, focus on key areas such as the new generation of information technology, smart home appliance and high-end equipment and develop 20 strategic industrial clusters. We will firmly transform and upgrade rural industrial clusters and establish three large-scale industrial parks in Zhanjiang, Zhuhai-Jiangmen area and Shantou. We will allocate more financial resources for the investment in advanced manufacturing industries, secure the supply of resources such as land and energy and thus attract more advanced manufacturing projects to settle in Guangdong. We will expedite the construction of such projects as Sino-Venezuela Guangdong Petrochemical (Jieyang), BASF Zhanjiang, ExxonMobil Huizhou, CSPC, the Maoming PDH project, CSOT panel plant and hydrogen fuel cell system of Hyundai Motor. The investment in equipment upgrading and technological transformation will be raised. We will push forward the program of quality improvement and strengthen capacity building in standardization, measurement, certification, inspection and testing and IPR protection.

Modernizing industrial chains. We will actively take part in the national endeavors of rebuilding industrial foundations and secure a solid foundation in basic components, basic techniques and key basic materials. We will explore to implement a “chain leader” system by cultivating a batch of industrial chain leaders and corporate champions of industrial ecosystems with a greater influence and louder voice in respective industries. We will link R&D, design, manufacturing and integrated services to establish a whole industrial chain ecosystem with controllable core technologies developed independently. We will launch programs to cultivate industry-leading enterprises, develop top-notch, specialized and innovation-driven ones and incubate hidden champions focusing on niche markets with strengths in certain areas. We will carry forward the cross-regional development of industries and orderly distribute the industries in the PRD to Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong.

Optimizing the development of the modern service industry. Policies and measures in favor of supply-chain enterprises will be announced. We will upgrade producer services, further develop modern finance, industrial design, technological innovation services, as well as business and exhibition services and provide more and better legal, accounting, auditing and consulting among other professional services. We will make more efforts to incubate a batch of leading local service enterprises as we burnish the brand of Guangdong Services. We will facilitate an in-depth integration between the modern service industry and advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture and digitize the service industry. We will diversify and improve daily-life services and guide the commercial, catering and accommodation sectors to develop in chains and brands.

Vigorously developing the digital economy. We will speed up the pace of constructing a national innovation-driven development pilot zone for digital economy and facilitate an in-depth integration of the digital economy with the real economy. We will reinforce the edges of digital industries and prosper artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain and Internet of Things. Vigorous actions will be taken to advance the 5G industry, promote the construction of UHD video development pilot zone and facilitate the large-scale application of 4K and 5G technologies. We will build a demonstration zone and establish a platform for industrial Internet, support the on-cloud and platform-based development of enterprises on the industrial chain, develop software and digital applications for manufacturing technologies and techniques and facilitate industry software upgrading. We will advance open exchange and utilization of data resources and strengthen the protection of data property and personal information.

Boosting the marine economy. We will introduce a guiding document on comprehensively enhancing Guangdong’s strength in marine economy and focus on developing marine industrial clusters. We will strive to take the lead in offshore wind power projects, promote the construction of offshore wind farms and support the construction of the whole industrial chain base of offshore wind power project in Yangjiang, the R&D center for offshore wind power units in Zhongshan and complete unit assembly, maintenance, ocean engineering equipment and auxiliary base in Eastern Guangdong. We will push forward the development of 10GW offshore wind power project in Eastern Guangdong and CNOOC Wushi Oilfield, exploit natural gas hydrates in an orderly way and boost the marine energy industry. We will strengthen the shipbuilding industry and construct marine engineering equipment industrial bases in Longxue (Guangzhou) and Gaolan Port (Zhuhai) and press ahead with the establishment of a provincial laboratory for marine science and engineering. We will make more efforts to develop large-scale smart breeding platforms in the deep and far sea, support deep-sea fishing and promote featured development such as coastal and cross-island tourism.

(Ⅴ) Stepping up efforts in coordinated regional development, enhancing the intrinsic potential for development and bolstering new development under the “One Core Region, One Belt and One Area” Initiative.

Optimizing the development of the core region of the PRD. We will accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the industries on the east and west banks of the Pearl River estuary, promote the innovation-driven development of the electronic and information industry on the east bank, strengthen the dominant industries such as the advanced equipment manufacturing industry on the west bank, build the GBA (West Bank of Pearl River) High-end Industry Cluster Development Zone and foster a world-class manufacturing industry cluster. Guangzhou and Shenzhen will play the roles as core drivers and improve the level of Guangzhou-Foshan urban integration in all areas, Guangzhou-Qingyuan integration and Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone. Foshan and Dongguan will focus on the real economy, upgrade the manufacturing industry and lead the high-quality development among prefecture-level cities. Huizhou will grow its pillar industries such as electronic and information technology and petrochemical industry, expand the scale of the economy and create a new growth pole on the east bank of the Pearl River. Zhuhai will bolster up its competitive industries including intelligent home appliances, bio-pharmaceuticals and aerospace, accelerate the development of the GBA Macao-Zhuhai pole. We aim to make Zhuhai a core city on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary and a modern and international special economic zone. Zhongshan will actively seek cooperation with cities on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary, accelerate the fostering of emerging pillar industries and give major support for the integrated development of the east and west banks of the Pearl River estuary. Jiangmen and Zhaoqing will fully utilize their advantages in land resources, focus on the development of the major platforms such as the Greater Guanghai Bay Economic Zone and Zhaoqing New Area and introduce large projects and foster major industries.

Supporting faster development of Shantou and Zhanjiang as two provincial sub-centers. We will establish a mechanism for in-depth collaboration between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang / Shenzhen and Shantou and accelerate the creation of important development poles on the east and west wings of a modern coastal economic belt. We will tap Shantou’s potential in serving and supporting port and railway development, improve the level of Overseas Chinese Economic and Cultural Cooperation Experimental Zone and Harbor-related Economic Zone, speed up technological transformation and quality improvement on traditional pillar industries, enhance the inheritance and protection of culture and improve the comprehensive quality of the city. We will support Zhanjiang in participating in the construction of a new western land-sea corridor, cooperating with Hainan Free Trade Port, pushing forward the port and navigation integration across Qiongzhou Strait, upgrading the supporting capacity of its infrastructure including high-speed railways, ports and airports, constructing the Donghai Island, vigorously developing advanced manufacturing industry and improving the overall strength of the city. We will strengthen the roles of Shanwei and Yangjiang as fulcrums, support the development of major platforms such as Maoming Binhai New Area, Jieyang Yuedong New Town and Chaozhou New Area and build the transfer destinations, industrial chains extension zones and auxiliary bases for industries in PRD. We will make overall plans for the infrastructure construction in the east and west wings, work for a better allocation of major industrial projects and scientific and technological innovation resources, and expand and strengthen the clusters of such industries as green petrochemicals, clean energy and equipment manufacturing.

Bolstering the development of a green economy in Northern Ecological Development Area. We will introduce guiding documents on the support of the ecological compensation and industrial development of Northern Ecological Development Area. We will push forward the construction of Nanling National Park, expand the scope of the impact and promote the development of green industries such as cultural tourism. We will plan on the further construction of major transportation infrastructure across Northern Guangdong, accelerate the construction of Nanling tourist expressway and the South China Research and Learning Center of Education History, and boost the development of all-for-one tourism. We will bolster the growing and marketing of characteristic and high-quality agricultural products like fruit, vegetables, flowers and traditional Southern Chinese herbs and build an agricultural product supply base for GBA. We will advance the development of Shaoguan New Area, Shenzhen-Heyuan Industrial Co-construction Demonstration Zone in Heyuan, Guangzhou-Qingyuan Economic Special Cooperation Zone, Meixian-Xingning-Wuhua-Fengshun Industrial Agglomeration Belt in Meizhou and Yunfu Hydrogen Power Industrial Base. We will develop environmental-friendly industries such as clean energy, bio-pharmaceuticals and green mining.

Vigorously promoting new-type people-centered urbanization. We will enhance the clustering function of the five modern metropolitan areas, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, the west bank of the Pearl River estuary, Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang and Zhanjiang-Maoming. We will encourage an orderly relocation of permanent residents to central cities, city clusters and towns and properly allocate public service resources such as education, medical care and sports based on the number and makeup of permanent residents. We will improve the quality of life in counties, strengthen the comprehensive service capacity of county towns and support the construction of national new urbanization demonstrative county. We will improve urban governance in a detail-oriented way and speed up urban renewal as well as the renovation of old urban neighborhoods and urban villages. We will focus on resolving the outstanding housing problem in large cities, construct more affordable rental housing and regulate the development of the long-term rental market. We will increase the land supply, make a separate land planning for rental housing, explore in the construction of rental housing on the collective construction land or the idle land of enterprises and public institutions and diligently develop common property housing.

(Ⅵ) Implementing the rural revitalization strategy in an all-round manner, improving working and living conditions and accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Strengthening farmland protection and agriculture-related engineering. We will strictly observe the red lines of farmland protection, firmly limit new construction that occupies farmland and prohibit the occupation of farmland for afforestation and man-made lakes in violation of applicable regulations. More efforts will go into addressing the issue of using farmland for house-building in rural areas and the use of farmland for non-agricultural, non-grain-producing purposes will be forbidden. We will strictly observe the balance of farmland occupation and replenishment, speed up the restoration and expansion of arable land, actively seek more methods to improve the newly-added and existing farmland and strengthen the dynamic monitoring and regulation of farmland protection. We will launch a new round of the three-year plan for paddy field reclamation. We will advance the high-standard agriculture-related engineering, improve agrarian water conservancy facilities, introduce more incentives for the restoration of abandoned farmland and promote more efficient use of farmland.

Promoting the quality and efficiency of agriculture. We will implement a modern agricultural industry cluster project, build a whole-county demonstration zone of agricultural modernization, create a modern agricultural industrial system marked by “Cross-County Clusters, One Agricultural Industrial Park for One County, One Pillar Industry for One Town and One Featured Product for One Village” with a high standard. We will speed up the development of advantageous and characteristic agricultural belts and urban agriculture, improve the quality and efficiency of advantageous agricultural products such as Lingnan fruits and aquatic products, and forge the “Guangdong Brand” in agricultural products. We will support Heyuan Dengta Basin to become a national agricultural high-tech demonstration area. We will implement the “Rice Bag” (grain supply) and the “Green Basket” (non-staple food supply) programs, ensure the stability in food production and promote the transformation and upgrading of hogs, poultry and fishery industries. We will vigorously develop digital agriculture and promote rural tourism. We will carry out the “Strong Seeds for a Strong Guangdong” project, set up Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture as well as Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center, improve the protection and utilization of germplasm resources as well as the construction of the seed bank and establish Guangdong Seed Industry Group. We will further the comprehensive reform of supply and marketing cooperatives and develop a comprehensive platform for serving farmers’ production and living activities. We will spur the development of leading agricultural enterprises, farmers’ cooperatives and family farms. We will enhance the quality and safety of agricultural products and strengthen the prevention and control of major animal and plant epidemic diseases such as African Swine Fever.

Pushing forward rural development programs. We will coordinate the planning and construction of towns and villages under the jurisdiction of counties, carry out development projects on farmhouse management and countryside landscape improvement and properly protect and revitalize ancient villages and dwellings, building beautiful rural areas with the charm of the Lingnan region. Pilot programs of township improvement will be conducted in Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong, improving the quality of rural development. We will continue to push forward the “Green Rural Revival” program and the “Five Beautifications” Campaign to create beautiful countryside in the whole area, and further the construction of inter-provincial corridors. We will upgrade the infrastructure in rural areas, speed up the solving of problems in water, electricity, road, gas, communication and logistics, promote the revamp of rural lavatories and improve the treatment of household waste and sewage. We will speed up the full coverage of centralized water supply in villages. We will check and fix safety hazards in rural houses and identify geological disaster risks. We will also accelerate the implementation of such projects as “Rural E-commerce”, “Rural Craftsmen” and training sessions for farmers to make them more educated and technologically savvy.

Deepening rural reforms. We will steadfastly push forward the second round of pilot program to extend the land contract for another 30 years after expiration. We will speed up the orderly transfer of the management rights over contracted land and steadily explore the reform of releasing rural collectively-owned commercial construction land into the market. We will strictly carry out the policy of “Only one piece of housing land for each rural household” and steadily promote the pilot reform of rural housing land system. We will improve the agricultural support and protection system, give priority to rural revitalization when adjusting the use of land transfer income, step up the integration of agriculture-related funds, improve the fund for agricultural supply-side structural reform, strengthen the facilitating services for agriculture from rural commercial banks, establish Guangdong Financial Alliance for Agriculture Aid and promote the high-quality development of agricultural and rural insurance. We will deepen the reform of the rural collective property rights system and boost the rural collective economy. We will improve the system and mechanism for the integrated urban-rural development and develop the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Junction Area, a national urban-rural integrated development experimental zone, with high quality. We will promote rural governance and focus on the demonstration project of “One Hundred Towns and One Thousand Villages”.

Linking the consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievement with rural revitalization. We will fully implement the requirement of “Four On-going Measures” (making sure those lifted out of poverty will still receive policy support, relevant assistance and supervision and designated officials will continue to work conscientiously). The monitoring and supporting system against the re-occurrence of poverty will be improved. We will integrate the poverty alleviation policies, mechanism and funds into the rural revitalization strategy and strengthen capital and asset management and supervision for poverty alleviation projects. We will implement a new round of paired assistance programs within the province and fixed-point support for rural revitalization and carry out the “10,000 Enterprises Enriching 10,000 Villages” program. The support mechanism for low-income rural residents and underdeveloped areas will be bolstered as we continue the development of poverty alleviation industries. We will ensure employment for people lifted out of poverty and enable farmers to increase their income. We will give strong support to old revolutionary base areas and those with large ethnic minority population in achieving high-quality development. The collaboration between the east and the west, as well as the smooth progress of the paired-up assistance and cooperation will be guaranteed.

(Ⅶ) Deepening reform on key areas, accelerating the creation of a market-oriented international business environment based on the rule of law and better stimulating market vitality.

Advancing the development of digital government. We will improve the information application infrastructure for government affairs in Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong and complete the construction of the big data center and cloud infrastructure for municipal government affairs. We will promote data sharing between provincial and municipal platforms, expand the application of provincial integrated government services platform, and implement a three-year action plan for “One Platform for Overall Administration”, making marked achievement in economic performance, natural resources, eco-environment, water conservancy and emergency response. We will promote the standardization of government services and optimize the procedures. We will accelerate the integration of online and offline government affairs platforms, expand the application and service range of such administrative mobile service platforms as Yue Sheng Shi, Yue Shang Tong and Yue Zheng Yi, promote other administrative mobile service platforms such as Yue Ping An and Yue Zheng Tu and allow more administrative affairs to be handled on one platform. In this way, people will be able to basically handle some common administrative affairs such as education, social insurance, medical care, enterprise registration and business license across the country. As the host of the first Digital Government Development Summit, we will strive to make it a success.

Deepening the comprehensive reform of the business environment. We will continue to promote the reforms designed to delegate powers, improve regulation, provide better services, and optimize the list of provincial, municipal and county-level government authority and responsibilities. The market-oriented reforms of land, labor, capital, technology and data will be boosted. We will explore the pilot system for the confirmation of business registration, strengthen the oversight during and after the process and improve the “Two Randoms and One Release” regulation and the market exit mechanism. We will continue to push forward the full coverage of reforms to separate permits and certificates from the business license and boost the notification and commitment system for production permits and certification. We will deepen the reforms on the approval system of construction projects and work to integrate different forms of certifications or reviews required of businesses into a single one (Multiple Certification or Review in One) for natural resources-related projects. We will transform Guangdong into a leader of IPR development, better protect the IPR and make IPR infringement subject to penalties. We will improve social credit system. We will also support Guangzhou and Shenzhen in developing national-level pilot cities in business environment innovation.

Ensuring the healthy development of various market entities. We will carry out the three-year action plan for the reform of SOEs, focus on improving the function orientation of province-owned enterprises with an emphasis on core business and strengthen, improve and expand state-owned capital and enterprises. We will seek closer strategic cooperation with central SOEs and ensure the smooth implementation of signed projects in energy, chemical engineering and finance. We will optimize the development environment of the private sector, remove the hidden barriers restricting the development of private enterprises, continue to seek convenient and low-cost financing channels for small, medium and micro-sized enterprises and equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and entrepreneurs by the law. We will support the sound development of businesses run by self-employed individuals, helping them solve problems related to rents, taxes, administration fees and social insurances. We will foster a cordial and transparent relationship between government and business and improve the communication between them. We will also promote entrepreneurship, spirit of model workers and craftsmanship.

Deepening reforms on the fiscal, tax and financial systems. We will improve the budget management system, strengthen the overall planning of financial resources, establish a budget mechanism that favors the concentration of resources for major undertakings and bolster the financial support for major strategic tasks. We will continue the reform to separate the fiscal powers and expenditure responsibility among the provincial, municipal and county-level governments and strengthen the support for community-level public services. We will promote data sharing and coordinated tax administration and improve tax collection. We will bolster the financial industry in the province, enhance the financial capabilities of key cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, deepen the reform of urban and rural commercial banks, and strengthen and expand local financial institutions. We will focus on the establishment of Guangzhou Futures Exchange and support Shenzhen Stock Exchange in improving its listing system and launching the pilot program of board-transfering of companies listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ). We will also vigorously develop green finance.

Actively forestalling and defusing major risks in the economy. We will strengthen anti-monopoly measures, prevent disorderly capital expansion, formulate guidelines on the innovation-driven and regulated development of the platform-based economy, encourage companies to voluntarily accept oversight and enhance the supervision capabilities. We will fully put the review system for fair competition into practice and strengthen law enforcement against monopoly and unfair competition. We will improve the local financial supervision system, promote financial innovation while following prudential supervision and properly forestall and defuse the risks of illegal fund-raising and small and medium financial institutions. We will improve government debt management, deal properly with local government special bonds and rigorously prevent new hidden debts. We will strengthen the supervision on state-owned capital and effectively prevent investment and operation risks. We will stick to the principle that “houses are for living in and not for speculative investment” and promote the sound and stable development of the real estate market.

(Ⅷ) Making solid efforts in pollution management and ecological conservation, improving economical and intensive use of resources and promoting the harmony between human and nature.

Improving the dual control of energy consumption. We will meet the requirements of the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, promote the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions by regions and industries and push forward carbon emission trading pilots. We will accelerate the optimization of energy structure by proactively developing clean energy like natural gas, wind power, solar power and nuclear power and increasing the proportion of natural gas in primary energy use. We will study and establish an energy consumption budget management system and strictly control new projects which are high energy-consuming. We will formulate stricter standards of environmental protection and energy consumption and push traditional manufacturing industries such as non-ferrous metal, building materials, ceramic, textiles and dyeing and paper-making to be greener with lower carbon emissions. We will foster stronger energy-saving and environmental-friendly industries and promote energy-saving, low-carbon products and green buildings.

More thorough efforts in pollution prevention and control. We will continue the improvement of the water environment, better treating the streams, branches and banks of Maozhou River and Lianjiang River as well as the black and odorous waters in cities. We will focus on the prevention and control of pollution in coastal waters and build beautiful bays. We will focus on the reduction of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, and build up the air pollution prevention and control system based on the prevention and control of ozone pollution. We will promote the use of new energy transportation, develop clean shipping in inland rivers, take stronger action against illegal and low-quality fuel, strengthen joint prevention and control of oil-consuming vehicles and vessels, promote the project of replacing coal and oil with natural gas and strictly control dust from construction sites and open burning. We will improve sewage treatment facilities and enhance the quality and efficiency of urban domestic sewage treatment, generally promote garbage classification and recovery of resources and improve the capacity of recycling and disposing hazardous waste. We will strengthen the prevention and control of soil pollution from the source and strengthen the treatment of agricultural pollution.

Promoting economical and intensive use of resources. We will take concrete actions to build the province into a model of high-level protection and efficient use of natural resources and strengthen spatial layout, management and control of the use of land. Coordinated efforts will be made to set red lines for ecological protection, permanent basic farmland and urban development boundary. We will implement the mechanism for linking the increment and stock of construction land, advance the renovation of old towns, old factory buildings and old villages and revitalize industrial land in stock. We will set up a grid-based control system of the ecological environment under the guideline of “Three Lines and One List”. We will improve the supportive policies for the development of green industries and explore the trading mechanisms for sewage discharge, and water and energy consumption rights. We will implement the strictest water resource management system, promote the rectification of small hydro-power stations and small reservoirs and vigorously carry out water conservation campaigns.

Strengthening ecological protection and restoration. We will fully implement the river/lake/forest chief system, make comprehensive efforts in strengthening systematic governance of mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, farmland and grassland, carry out important ecological system protection and restoration projects, construct the Clean Waterway Project and promote high-quality afforestation. Such efforts will help the PRD establish an ecological system with the mountains of Nanling and the coastal zone as natural shields, the national cluster of forest cities in the PRD as the core and connecting with the green water network of the Pearl River. We will strengthen the protection of high-quality water and ecological conservation and ensure the safety of drinking water. We will promote the integration and optimization of natural reserves and strengthen the protection and restoration of mangroves and wetlands. We will better protect bio-diversity, deepen the reform of comprehensive administrative law enforcement for ecological and environmental protection, push forward auditing on natural resource assets when officials leave their posts and improve the reward and punishment mechanism for environmental protection and green development.

(Ⅸ) Making Guangdong prominent in culture, strengthening its sense of cohesion and leading position and striving to create cultural advantages matching Guangdong’s economic strength.

Carrying forward the core socialist values. We will further implement the publicity project of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, enhance moral education as well as ideological and political work of educational institutions. We will strengthen cultural confidence, enhancing the education in the history of the CPC, the PRC, the reform and opening-up and the development of socialism. We will step up education in fostering patriotism, collectivism and socialism, promote the great spirit of the Party and people in the endeavor during various historic periods and forge a strong sense of community among the Chinese people. We will promote cultural and ethical advancement projects in the new era from all respects, stress the importance of family values, upbringing and traditions and focus on the good manners both online and in society.

Improving the quality of cultural programs. We will build iconic public cultural facilities such as the “Three Museums in One” with high standards and improve the utilization of museums, cultural centers and libraries. We will carry out the “Two Creates” program on Lingnan culture by renovating, conserving and selecting a new batch of cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage representative projects at provincial level, so as to prosper and develop outstanding traditional Lingnan culture such as Lingnan Fine Arts, Cantonese Music and local opera. We will work to bolster the rejuvenation and utilization of the historical and cultural blocks, the revolutionary sites and industrial heritage, enhance the protection and study of cultural relics from overseas remittance, continue the excavation, sorting, research and interpretation of Lingnan archaeology and promote the development of science and technology archaeology as well as public archaeology. We will launch an all-media communication project, accelerate the in-depth integration of media and make the new-type mainstream media stronger. We will reinforce the exhibition and performance of fine literature and artworks, innovate international communication and help Lingnan culture go global. We will make philosophical and social sciences thrive and activate historical documents such as literature, history and local chronicles.

Promoting the high-quality development of culture, tourism and sports. We will implement the strategy of digitization of cultural industry and foster new formats, enterprises and products in the cultural industry. We will vigorously promote 4K/8K movie and television programs as well as digital publishing, host such exhibitions as China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair and Guangzhou Cultural Industry Fair and accelerate the development of a modern culture market system. We will boost the reform and revitalization of Guangdong TV, Zhu Jiang Film Group and literary and art institutions and upgrade their quality and efficiency. We will promote the integration of culture and tourism and focus on the development of iconic scenic spots and cultural heritage trails in the GBA, develop themed tourist routes such as red tours and South China Historical Trail and villages of ethnic minorities and foster world-class tourist destinations. We will develop Guangdong into an athletic province, successfully host the 3rd Asian Youth Games, extensively carry out fitness activities for the general public, encourage public sports venues and facilities to be open to the public for free or at a low charge, build community sports parks and other sports facilities and vigorously develop the sports industry.

(X) Proactively advancing the development of various social programs, striving to improve people’s living standards and seeing a growing sense of satisfaction, happiness and security of people.

Striving to achieve more adequate and higher-quality employment. We will introduce the “Nine Policies on Promoting Employment 3.0”, implement the employment and entrepreneurship promotion plan for college graduates, improve the employment support system for key groups such as laid-off and unemployed workers, migrant workers and veterans, facilitate the employment of those in extreme difficulty, secure at least one job for “zero-employment” families and establish mechanisms to encourage job creation through business start-ups and other flexible forms. We will support and regulate the development of new forms of employment. Focusing on skills and quality, we will advance the three training programs of “Cantonese Chef”, “Guangdong Technician” and “Nan Yue Housekeeper”. We will make strenuous efforts to improve the high-quality development of vocational education, support the development of a batch of technical colleges and improve the skills of workers. We will improve the mechanisms of the minimum wage standard adjustment and collective negotiation on salary and continue to eradicate the malpractices of not paying wages in full and on time, so as to build harmonious labor relations.

Speeding up building a modern education highland. We will fully implement the Party’s guideline on education and fulfill the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. We will implement the project of developing high-quality primary education, increase the content and improve the quality of inclusive preschool education, promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education and increase seats in senior high schools with a good education level. We will accelerate the construction of Phase II & III projects of the Guangdong Vocational Education Town, and complete the expansion in the enrollment of vocational education with a great level of quality. We will press ahead with the program of building well-established universities into first-class ones, improving the performance of universities in less developed areas and enhancing the featured disciplines of specialized universities. The 11 newly-built college campuses in the province will be completed within this year and open for enrollment, making sure that all the cities above the prefecture-level will have at least one college or vocational college. We will promote the fair and integrated development of special education, do well in enhancing further education, improve the lifelong learning system, and support and regulate private education. We will speed up the planning of the establishment of Greater Bay Area University and Zhongshan University of Science and Technology and the development of the Guangzhou campus of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We will vigorously carry out the reform of education evaluation in the new era and deliver satisfactory education to people. We will focus on the teachers’ professional ethics and competence, launch a new round of training sessions for teaching and improve the professional skills of teachers.

Comprehensively implementing the Healthy Guangdong Initiative. We will implement the three-year action for public health crisis prevention and treatment capabilities, improve monitoring and early warning, medical treatment, science and technology support and material supply systems, advance the construction of a provincial public health medical center and a high-level disease control center and plan to build a provincial emergency medical rescue base. We will increase the supply of high-quality medical resources and balance their regional distribution and speed up the construction of the national medical centers, regional medical centers on state level and international medical centers. We will support the construction of 20 new high-level hospitals, enhance the service and capabilities of the municipal-level medical institutions in Eastern, Western and Northern Guangdong and initiate the upgrade of county-level hospitals. We will deepen the coordinated reforms of medical systems, develop smart health care and promote the high-quality development of both public and private hospitals. We will improve the prevention and control systems of endemic, chronic, occupational and infectious diseases. We will inherit and innovate the TCM, accelerate the development of a TCM highland in the GBA and vigorously build the National Pilot Zone of Comprehensive Reform of the TCM. We will also provide better services for prenatal and postnatal care, and develop an affordable children care and nursery system. We will carry on the Patriotic Health Movement and advocate a healthy lifestyle.

Steadily improving the level of social security. We will fully implement the social insurance coverage plan for all, improve the multilevel pension system and promote the provincial-level coordination of medical and unemployment insurances and the provincial-level management of the basic endowment insurance fund for urban and rural residents. We will carry out the tasks to let the medical insurance programs for employees and for urban and rural residents cover their target populations respectively, improve the mechanisms of diagnosis-intervention packet (DIP) and dynamic adjustment of payment standards, fully implement group procurement of medicines and medical consumables, improve medical insurance and rescue system for major diseases, explore long-term care insurance systems, and strengthen the long-term mechanism for supervising the medical insurance fund. We will improve the mechanism for determining and adjusting the payments of the social securities, steadily increase pension, unemployment, and work-related injury payments, improve enterprise annuity and occupational annuity systems and regulate the development of the “third pillar” of pension insurance. We will actively respond to the aging of the population, improve the welfare subsidy system for the elderly, create a 15-minute public service circle for the elderly living at home or in the community care centers and build an elderly care system consisting services provided by homes, communities and professional institutions as well as combining medical care and health services. We will protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, improve the care and service system for the disabled and orphans, implement the program of setting up a social work office in each urban community and township and ensuring access to social work service of all residents in difficulty and groups with special needs and promote the development of social assistance, social welfare and charity.

Better implementing the Peaceful Guangdong initiative. We will resolutely defend national security and strictly guard against and crack down on the infiltrative, sabotaging, subversive and separatist activities. We will further the campaign of creating a safe environment, severely crack down on criminal activities such as telecom scams and loan frauds, advance the three-year action plan on combating major drug problems, and push forward the campaign to root out organized crime and local mafia with forceful measures regularly. We will adhere to and build on the Fengqiao experience in promoting social harmony in the new era, strengthen and be innovative in the social governance at the community-level, and enhance the effectiveness of community organizations participating in the comprehensive governance of local areas. We will promote the reform and innovation of the public complaints and proposals and accelerate the standardization of “the supermarkets for solving the public complaints” (the comprehensive service centers for solving disputes and conflicts) at the county-level. We will strictly hold relevant parties accountable for production safety, promote the three-year special action of production safety improvement, strengthen the rectification of key areas such as “two kinds of passenger buses, one kind of dangerous goods transport vehicles and one kind of heavy goods vehicles” and strengthen food and medicine safety supervision. We will improve the response mechanism for major emergencies, build up the Eastern and Southern China Emergency Rescue Center and four regional emergency rescue centers at provincial-level and improve the capabilities of aviation emergency rescue and disaster prevention and mitigation.

Consolidating the solidarity between the armed forces and the government / the armed forces and the people. We will vigorously support national defense and armed forces enhancement, improve national defense mobilization capabilities, provide national defense education, promote mutual support between the military and civilian sectors, provide special care to the entitled groups and do our best in improving air defense and coastal defense. We will improve the military-civilian coordination mechanism and develop the defense technology industry. We will improve the system for veteran services, support and upgrade the capabilities of service centers (stations) for veterans and further the implementation of “Veterans in Guangdong”, a project of boosting the employment and entrepreneurship of veterans. We will ameliorate the “Bright Future for Veterans” working mechanism, improve the management of retired veteran services, and steadily carry on the resettlement of wounded, sick and disabled soldiers. We will deepen the education of passing on the traditions of revolution and implement projects to renovate martyrs’ memorial facilities.

This year we will continue to follow through with the ten livelihood programs. First, we will improve the availability and quality of inclusive preschool education. Second, we will continue to implement the training programs of “Cantonese Chef”, “Guangdong Technician” and “Nan Yue Housekeeper”. Third, we will provide free birth defects screening. Fourth, we will increase the basic living allowances for subsistence allowance recipients, people with extreme difficulties and orphans and increase living subsidies for the impoverished disabled and nursing subsidies for people with severe disabilities. Fifth, we will carry forward the renovation of old and dilapidated urban neighborhoods. Sixth, we will improve the centralized water supply and domestic sewage treatment facilities in rural areas. Seventh, we will renovate all the rural roads and bridges to improve safety. Eighth, we will strengthen the capabilities of oversight and test for food and medicine safety. Ninth, we will carry out the public cultural project for the benefit of people. Tenth, we will substantially expand the coverage, increase types and raise standards of agriculture-related insurances. Following the new expectations of our people, we will improve the work of livelihood programs and start from one small task after another to make greater improvements and boost people’s sense of satisfaction, happiness and security.

Fellow deputies, the new missions and tasks have put forward higher requirements for the government’s self-improvement. We must continue to put political advancement in the first place. We will study and practice Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in a deep and earnest way, keep sharpening our political judgment, understanding and execution. We kept firmly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core and keep in alignment. We strengthened our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We resolutely upheld the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping and upheld the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership. We will strictly implement the Ten-System Mechanism of Resolutely Implementing “the Two Uploads” of the CPC Guangdong Committee and strictly observe political disciplines to strengthen the overall Party leadership in all realms and respects of the government work.

We must enhance the development of democracy and the rule of law. We will accelerate the building of a rule-of-law government, thoroughly implement the Constitution and the Civil Code among others, promote government legislation, regulate decision-making process of major administrative affairs. We will strictly regulate the law enforcement in a fair and civil manner, improve the open operation system of government affairs in various fields, and give full play to the role of government legal advisers. We will strictly implement the resolutions and decisions made by the Guangdong People’s Congress and its Standing Committee, and proactively report to the CPPCC Guangdong Committee. We will earnestly act on the advice of deputies of the Guangdong People’s Congress and proposals from CPPCC Guangdong Committee while proactively listening to the views of other political parties, federations of industry and commerce, public figures without party affiliation and people’s organizations.

We must improve our governance capabilities. We will build a stronger team in implementing the new development philosophy and constructing a new development paradigm by enhancing officials’ ideological cultivation, political experience, practical exercise and professional training, and strengthening their ability to solve practical problems and specialized competencies. We will promote the building of new type of think tanks and make good use of government counselors.

We must strengthen the development of a clean government. We will assume primary responsibility for ensuring full and strict discipline over the Party, act in strict accordance with the Central Committee leadership’s Eight-point Decision on Conduct and its implementation rules and address the practices of formalities for formality’s sake and bureaucratism.We must keep our belt tightened when it comes to government spending. We will pay special attention to the prevention and control of corruption risks in critical areas, important departments and key positions, promote in-depth and full auditing-based oversight and foster a healthy political climate of integrity.

Fellow deputies, let us rally even closer around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, remain true to our original aspiration, keep our mission firmly in mind, strive unceasingly and press forward with indomitable will, day and night alike however the hardship may be. Let us strive to be a forerunner on the journey of building China a modern socialist country by creating new glories. Let us celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China with excellent achievements, making new and greater contribution to the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Appendix 1

Ten Livelihood Programs of Guangdong Province for 2021

1. We will improve the availability and quality of inclusive preschool education. We will actively respond to the demand related to inclusive preschool education capacity. We will increase 96,000 inclusive kindergarten seats for children, including 60,000 in public kindergartens. We will work toward the goal that over 50% of preschoolers are enrolled in public kindergartens and over 80% in public and private inclusive kindergartens. We will increase the minimum annual public spending on inclusive preschool education from 400 yuan to 500 yuan per child. We will carry out a demonstration program of proper preschool education named “New Curriculum” consisting of 135 preschool courses, continue to improve the resources system of “New Curriculum” and enhance the education quality in kindergartens of various types.

2. We will continue to implement the training programs of “Cantonese Chef”, “Guangdong Technician” and “Nan Yue Housekeeper”. We will make unstinted efforts to ensure employment and continue to build on the distinctive “Cantonese Chef” brand by training more than 10,000 chefs and helping 30,000 people to be employed or start businesses. We will vigorously promote the training of “Guangdong Technician” and provide one million personnel subsidized vocational skills training sessions. We will comprehensively and deeply advance the high-quality development of the “Nan Yue Housekeeper” project by providing housekeeping service training for more than 160,000 personnel and helping 300,000 people to find jobs or entrepreneurship opportunities.

3. We will provide free birth defects screening. We will put in efforts to improve the health of the newly-born population in the province, provide 870,000 pregnant women throughout the province with free prenatal screening for thalassemia, Down syndrome, and fatal and disabling structural deformities and 1.09 million new-born babies with free screening for congenital hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency (favism), phenylketonuria, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and newborn hearing disabilities.

4. We will increase the basic living allowances for subsistence allowance recipients, people with extreme difficulties and orphans and increase living subsidies for the impoverished disabled and nursing subsidies for people with severe disabilities. The average monthly payments to subsistence allowance recipients in urban and rural areas to guarantee the minimum living standards will be increased from 609 yuan and 276 yuan to 631 yuan and 286 yuan respectively. The basic living standard for people with extreme difficulties will be no less than 1.6 times of the local minimum living standard guaranteed. The average minimum monthly living standards for orphans or de facto orphans will be increased. The monthly standards for orphans brought up in orphanages will be increased from 1,820 yuan per person to 1,883 yuan per person, and the monthly standards for orphans and de facto orphans with no fulfilling guardians brought up in individual foster families will be increased from 1,110 yuan per person to 1,227 yuan per person. The average monthly living subsidies for the disabled people in poverty and nursing subsidies for severely disabled people will be increased from 175 yuan and 235 yuan to 181 yuan and 243 yuan per person per month respectively.

5. We will carry forward the renovation of old and dilapidated urban neighborhoods. We will make efforts to improve the living environment of old communities and improve the quality of life in old and dilapidated neighborhoods. We will start to renovate more than 1,300 neighborhoods, benefiting over 250,000 households. We will make the transformation according to local conditions, focusing on the renovation of supporting infrastructure, public service facilities and public space of buildings in old and dilapidated urban neighborhoods.

6. We will improve centralized water supply and domestic sewage treatment facilities in rural areas. We will speed up the advancement of centralized water supply in natural villages throughout the region and provide centralized water supply for an additional two million rural residents. We will promote rural domestic sewage treatment according to local conditions and complete the domestic sewage treatment projects for at least another 1,000 natural villages.

7. We will renovate all the rural roads and bridges to improve safety. We will consolidate the achievement of building, managing, maintaining and operating 180,000 kilometers of rural roads well by focusing on the reduction of safety hazards in bridges with renovation of 343 highway bridges across the province (including 136 Type III bridges, 173 Type IV bridges and 34 Type V bridges). We will ensure that 100% of newly-rated Type IV and Type V highway bridges are renovated so as to improve the safety of rural highway bridges.

8. We will strengthen the capabilities of oversight and test for food and medicine safety. We will complete no less than 600,000 random inspections on food with a 100% disposal rate of substandard food. Manufacturers of dairy products, infant formula milk powder and health food will be 100% covered in random inspections. We will complete quick inspections on no less than 8 million batches of edible agricultural products, covering no less than 2,000 farm produce markets in all counties and districts of the province, including a full coverage of wholesale markets of edible agricultural products and no less than 900 batches for each wholesale market per month. The random inspections rate of the varieties of national essential medicines and pharmaceutical preparation produced within the province will reach 100%.

9. We will carry out cultural projects in the public interest. We will present 100 exhibitions, 100 lectures, 100 performances and 100 singing shows for communities, project 150,000 motion picture films for rural residents and build up 10 Lingnan Academies, 50 new-type reading spaces resembling “Guangdong Reading Bar” and 100 new-era civilization practice demonstration stations. We will conduct 50 projects to protect and utilize cultural preservation institutions with Lingnan characteristics and hold museum exhibitions as well as hold 50 activities advertising and displaying intangible cultural heritages. We will deepen the reform of literary and art institutions, create more literary and artistic works that are popular among the general public and present 100 exquisite large-scale stage art performances to the public. We will optimize 57 county-level convergence media centers to provide comprehensive mobile cultural services for communities.

10. We will substantially expand the coverage, increase types and raise standards of agriculture-related insurances. With regard to the coverage expansion, we will popularize forestry and aquaculture insurance and insure 100% of all fruit varieties grown in the province. New insurance products will be introduced to increase the coverage rate of the main advantageous and characteristic agricultural products in the province. The standards of the insured amount will be raised, with that for per Mu of paddy from 800 yuan to 1,000 yuan, for per breeding sow from 800 yuan to 1,400 yuan, for per growing-finishing swine from 1,000 yuan to 1,500 yuan and for per Mu of forest from 500 yuan to 1,200 yuan.

Appendix 2

Explanation of Terms

1. “Four Things to Do Early” and “Four Concentrations”: to detect, report, quarantine and treat early; to concentrate medical experts and resources to treat all infected patients in the designated hospitals.

2. “Four Key Jobs”: epidemic prevention and control, medical treatment, pre-judgment and pre-control, public opinion guidance.

3. “Nine Tasks Requiring Unstinted Efforts”: strengthening the unified leadership of the party committee and government; strengthening the comprehensive inter-agency response and encouraging the public engagement in epidemic prevention and treatment; treating patients in a scientific way; enhancing the overall deployment of material supplies across the province; responding to the travel rush when people return to Guangdong Province; ensuring the adequacy of medical manpower; increasing people’s awareness of the epidemic prevention and control through media; preventing and controlling the epidemic in key areas, and providing targeted guidance for different areas and sectors with different risk levels; maintaining social stability.

4. “Ten Goals that Must be Realized by All Means Possible”: promoting the resumption of work and production; securing market share and orders; advancing the construction of major projects; promoting restorative and compensatory consumption; stabilizing international trade and foreign investment; stabilizing employment; benefiting, assisting, stabilizing and reassuring enterprises; seizing opportunities brought by new business forms, modes and industries; resolving risks in the economy; mobilizing the whole society to take the initiative and work passionately.

5. “Two New Types and One Major”: new types of infrastructure and urbanization; major projects of transportation, water conservancy among others.

6. “The Same Production Lines, Standards and Quality Requirements”: encouraging export-oriented enterprises to make products that can be both exported and sold domestically on the same production lines with the same standards and quality requirements, which helps them adapt to both domestic and overseas markets easily.

7. “Integrated Service Window”：creating an integrated platform where all parties involved in international trade and transportation can submit standardized information and documents to meet relevant laws, regulations and management requirements, thus promoting trade facilitation.

8. “Double Thousand Program”: building 1,000 scientific and technological business incubators and more than 1,000 maker spaces.

9. “Six Major Projects of High-quality Manufacturing Development”: the projects of strengthening technological innovation as the core competitiveness, establishing pillar industries, moving up the industrial chain, optimizing the industrial layout, improving quality and enhancing development environment.

10. “Five Beautification” Campaign: special campaigns to build beautiful homes, farm fields, rivers and lakes, industrial parks and corridors.

11. “One Platform for Overall Administration”: integrating various data resources in the big data center of government administration and building an integrated platform where all the administrative activities are overseen, all instructions are given and all decisions are made throughout the whole province.

12. “Multiple Certification or Review in One” : to integrate the construction projects location review and land use review into a single one, and the construction land planning certification and land use certification into one. Both are issued by the Department of Natural Resources.

13. “Three Lines and One List”: the ecological protection red line, the environmental quality bottom line, the resource utilization upper limit line and the list of environmental-friendly enterprises that are allowed to operate.

14. “Three Museums in One” Project: Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangdong Exhibition Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Guangdong Museum of Literature will be integrated into one museum.

15. “The Coordinated Reforms of Medical Systems”: the coordinated reforms of the health care, the medical insurance and the medicine production and circulation systems.

16. “Two Kinds of Passenger Buses, One Kind of Dangerous Goods Transport Vehicles and One Kind of Heavy Goods Vehicles”: passenger buses along certain routes and tourist-chartered vehicles above Type III; dangerous goods transport vehicles; heavy-duty trucks with a total load of 12 tons and above.

*Mu: One Hectare is equivalent to 15 Mu.