21st Century Business Herald:

China's economy has entered a stage of high-quality development. Judging from the results of the fifth national economic census, what achievements have been made in high-quality economic development in the country? What are the specific performances and highlights?

Kang Yi:

Thank you for your questions. High-quality development is the first and foremost task in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. Over the five years, the whole country has unwaveringly focused on the primary task of high-quality development, fully and faithfully implemented the new development philosophy on all fronts, and accelerated the construction of a new development paradigm. We have not only successfully withstood various internal and external risks and challenges and maintained sustained economic growth, but also taken solid steps and achieved positive results in transforming the growth model, improving the economic structure, and fostering new drivers of growth. The data from the fifth national economic census fully demonstrates the significant achievements made by the country in high-quality development. These achievements are not only the result of our collective efforts and perseverance over the five years, but also give us the confidence to continue moving forward steadily in the future. In summary, there are several achievements and highlights.

First, new achievements have been made in building an innovative nation. In the five years, the country thoroughly implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, led industrial innovation with sci-tech innovation, strengthened the position of enterprises as the main body of innovation, vigorously developed new industries and new momentum, and effectively stimulated the innovative vitality and creative potential of the whole of society. R&D investment has continued to increase. In 2023, the full-time equivalent of R&D personnel in legal entities of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 61.6% compared with 2018; R&D expenditure increased by 61.9%, and the ratio of R&D expenditure to operating income reached 1.54%, an increase of 0.31 percentage point from 2018. A large number of innovation achievements have emerged. In 2023, the number of patent applications by legal entities of industrial enterprises above designated size was 1.566 million, of which 614,000 were invention patent applications, increasing by 63.6% and 65.1%, respectively, compared with 2018. A report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shows that the country's global innovation index ranking jumped to 12th in 2023, up five places from 2018. In 2024, we moved up another place to 11th in the world.

Second, coordinated development has taken on a new pattern. Over the five years, the country has continued to deepen supply-side structural reform, promoted coordinated development between urban and rural areas, thoroughly implemented regional coordinated development strategies and major regional strategies, adjusted and optimized the economic structure, and improved the balance and coordination of development. The industrial structure is moving toward the medium- and high-end. At the end of 2023, the operating income of high-tech manufacturing enterprises above designated size accounted for 19.1% of manufacturing enterprises above designated size, an increase of 2.4 percentage points over 2018. Major regional strategies have been effectively implemented, and economic agglomeration effects have continued to emerge. By the end of 2023, the number of legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Yangtze River Delta region, and the nine provinces and regions along the Yellow River Basin had increased by 27.5%, 56.6%, 50.2% and 60.8%, respectively, compared with the end of 2018; and the number of employees increased by 6.1%, 12.1%, 7.6% and 15.5% respectively.

Third, the comprehensive green transformation has shown new prospects. In the five years, the concept of green development has become more popular, circular development and low-carbon development have made solid progress, green production and lifestyles have been formed at a faster pace, and comprehensive green transformation has achieved remarkable results. Thanks to its supersized market, complete industrial systems, abundant human resources and sufficient market competition, China's new energy industry is developing vigorously, and product performance and quality are constantly improving. It is gradually becoming a new competitive industry for China. In 2023, the production of NEVs accounted for more than 60% of the world's total, making a sustainable contribution to global green development. The output of green products, such as lithium-ion power batteries for automobiles, monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon, has grown rapidly, injecting "green momentum" into the high-quality development of the economy.

Fourth, new progress has been made in ensuring and improving people's well-being. Over the five years, we have always regarded employment as the top priority for improving people's well-being, adhered to the employment-first policy, improved basic public services, continuously expanded job opportunities, and effectively ensured people's well-being. According to the census, the number of employees in legal entities in the secondary and tertiary sectors nationwide reached 420 million at the end of 2023, up by 11.9% compared to the end of 2018. Among them, the proportion of those employed in the tertiary industry is steadily increasing, and the largest increases in employment were all in the tertiary sector. Industries that are closely associated with people's daily lives, such as resident services, and cultural and recreational industries, are also developing rapidly, better meeting the needs of residents and improving their living standards. At the end of 2023, there were a total of 876,000 corporate units in the resident services, repair and other services nationwide, an increase of 82.9% compared to the end of 2018. There were a total of 817,000 corporate units in the culture, sports and recreation sectors, an increase of 44.1%.

In addition, over the five years, we have continuously promoted high-standard opening up, fostered a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. We have comprehensively relaxed restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, expanded market access in service sectors, such as telecommunications and health care, steadily expanded institutional opening up, and further unlocked more drivers of development.

Of course, we are also aware that achieving high-quality development is a complex systematic project that requires perseverance, unremitting efforts and continuous progress. We must adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, remain unwavering in our pursuit of high-quality development, and not cease in reform or opening up, in order to form synergy that promotes high-quality development. Thank you.