Government invests billions for an even better Zhuhai

The city will spend 64 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) this year to generate additional social and economic benefits. This includes 1.9 billion yuan ($281 million) for transportation and 1.6 billion yuan ($237 million) on attracting investment.

The annual budget was approved on Jan 24 at the 7th Session of the 9th Zhuhai Municipal People's Congress as it met at the Great Hall of Zhuhai in Old Xiangzhou.

Allocated is 268 million yuan ($40 million) to develop domestic and foreign economic and trade categories. The real economy remains the focal point, with strong financial support guaranteed for priority industries. Incentive funds for various investment activities are also increased.

Zhuhai Opera House

A total 440 million yuan ($65 million) will be spent on implementing the Zhuhai Talent Program. It will be used for rewards and subsidies for introduced talents, high-caliber talented personnel, innovative and entrepreneurial teams, returned overseas scholars, and more.

Meanwhile, 360 million yuan ($53 million) is for upgrading roads, renovating highways, improving greenery, maintaining river quality, and enhancing cityscapes.

Bus fares in Zhuhai have been reduced to 1 yuan (15 cents) and therefore a special fund of nearly 1.3 billion yuan ($192 million) will keep them there. The fund promotes the use of public transportation and covers some operational costs.

Another earmark is of 330 million yuan ($49 million) to support museums, galleries, and cultural centers, and to protect intangible cultural heritage items. An equal amount goes toward brand events such as the China International Circus Festival, WTA Elite Trophy, and other large-scale events.

Physical education in Zhuhai [File Photos courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

The city also assigns 713 million yuan ($105 million) for rural revitalization, 558 million yuan ($83 million) to rural infrastructure, 500 million yuan ($74 million) for infrastructure on Wanshan Island, and 408 million yuan ($60 million) toward poverty relief.

More than 1 billion yuan ($148 million) is designated to provide 12 years of free education, for development across different levels of education, and building faculty.

In addition, 862 million yuan ($127 million) subsidizes basic medical insurance, the operation of rural health service centers, and development of Zhuhai People's Hospital and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. An investment of 567 million yuan ($84 million) is for construction of the satellite campus of the Zhuhai Women's & Children's Hospital and building the Zhuhai Center for Chronic Disease Control.