Fujian Province develops rapidly thanks to new development policy

The Chinese coastal province of Fujian has undergone tremendous change since the founding of the People's Republic of China, thanks to the country's reform and opening-up and the introduction of new development policies.

Fujian was one of the most under-developed provinces when the New China was founded in 1949. But great changes have taken place in the 70 years that have followed. The province is now at the frontier of China's drive for reform and opening-up.

Fujian's gross domestic product was nearly 3.6 trillion yuan in 2018, or over 520 billion U.S. dollars.

That represents a year-on-year increase of 8.3 percent.

The province is now pushing for higher quality development.

Yu Weiguo is the Secretary of Fujian Provincial Party Committee.

Photo shows Gulangyu Island in Xiamen City, Fujian Province. [Photo: IC]

"From 2012 to 2018, Fujian's GDP has grown at an average annual rate of 9.1 percent, which is higher than most provinces in eastern China. The per capita GDP grew from 53,000 yuan to 91,000 yuan. The disposable income of urban residents increased by 64 percent; for rural residents it increased by 75 percent. Over half of the energy used in the province is now clean energy. And more than two-thirds of the province has forest coverage.

Alongside Fujian's economic development, the health of the environment in the province has also improved.

Official data shows that 96 percent of the water in the major rivers in Fujian is in good quality, and its major cities have good air quality more than 98 percent of the time.

Yu Weiguo said the government has prioritized environmental protection.

"The air in our province is fresh. The average level of PM 2.5 in Fujian was 26 last year. The amount of major pollutants including ammonia nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides has been below half of the national average for many years."

Fujian Province is an important part of the Belt and Road initiative, the network of trade routes that stretch from China across the world.

The governor of Fujian, Tang Dengjie, said the province is committed to the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

"We're committed to developing maritime, land, and air transportation. The province has opened 34 sea routes that are serviced by hundreds of freighters. The freight train service to Central Asia and Europe now has 6 regular lines covering 9 countries and 13 cities. And our Silk Road flight project now includes 79 overseas flights, which reach the world's major cities."

Fujian Province has also become a world leader in the development of new energy vehicle technology.

Officials say the provincial government will work with Taiwan, which has a strong auto parts industry, to boost the development of their new energy vehicle sector.

For CRI, this is Wen Jie.