The 2019 government work report for Sichuan province

The second session of the 13th Sichuan Provincial People's Congress began Jan 14 in Chengdu with the release of the annual provincial government work report by Yin Li, the governor of Sichuan province.

GDP in Southwest China's Sichuan province was predicted to rise by 8 percent to over 4 trillion yuan ($581.07 billion) and fixed investments of the whole society grew by 10.2 percent. Total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 11 percent in 2018.

Sichuan's per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents rose by 8.1 percent and 9 percent in 2018 while the consumer price index rose by 1.7 percent. The revenue from local general public budgets saw growth of 9.3 percent year-on-year.

The province has been accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading, developing five pillar industries – electronic information, equipment manufacturing, food and beverages, advanced materials and energy, and chemicals – and promoting the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy.

A total of 20 policies and measures were launched in 2018 to support the healthy development of the private economy. Reforms such as an electric power system, State-owned assets, State-owned enterprises and commercial systems have been carried out in the province.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has signed strategic cooperative contracts with 20 cities or autonomous prefectures in order to promote coordinated development among different areas in Sichuan.

The province has been elevating its degree of openness, accelerating the construction of several pathways that link Sichuan with other areas such as the high-speed railway line linking Chengdu, Nanchong, Dazhou and Wanzhong and the intercity railway line connecting Chengdu, Zigong and Yibin.

A total of 347 World Top 500 companies have settled in Sichuan and 17 consulates have opened in the province. Sichuan has been able to host 114 airlines that head to foreign countries and regions. More than 2,600 international trains operated in 2018.

Projects by companies such as BOE Technology Group Co Ltd and CEC-Panda Group in Sichuan have finished construction and been put into operation.

Luzhou Lantian Airport has relocated and the new Luzhou Yunlong Airport was put into use in September 2018. The construction of the airport in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture and Bazhong Enyang Airport has been basically finished.

The section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway between Chengdu and Ya'an, and the intercity railway line linking Chengdu and Pujiang county have been put into traffic along with highways linking Sichuan and Shaanxi province and from Ya'an to Kangding. By the end of 2018, the total length of highways in Sichuan had reached 7,238 kilometers.

Sichuan has made great progress in poverty alleviation, carrying out 22 special projects along with 34 supportive measures in 12 fields and building 155,000 apartments to relocate impoverished people.

In 2018, Sichuan has enabled 1.04 million people to overcome poverty together with 3,513 impoverished villages. Thirty counties in the province met the acceptance criteria for no longer being impoverished.

Sichuan has launched six major scientific and technological special projects, arranging 125 major science and technology projects and establishing more than 1,500 innovation platforms. A total of 32 Sichuan projects have won 2018 State Science and Technology Awards.

The province has promoted the development of the rural economy, establishing 13 national agricultural demonstration zones and renovating or building 26,000 km of rural roads.

Efforts have also been made in improving people's livelihoods. More than 2,600 new sports and fitness facilities and over 2,700 km of new greenways have been built in the province. Projects to build the Sichuan Grand Theatre and the art expo park are also underway.

A total of 1.07 million new jobs have been created in urban areas and 38 measures were launched to protect the rights of farm workers. In 2018, 1,229 hospitals were able to support direct settlement of medical expenses at different places within the province.

Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan province also accelerated the construction of ecological barriers, applying the "lake chief" system with more than 280 people overseeing protection of lakes in their jurisdictions. The largest clean energy base in China has also been built in Sichuan.

In 2019, Sichuan province is expected to achieve growth of 7.5 percent in regional GDP and 10 percent in fixed investments of the whole society. The total retail sales of consumer goods will increase by 10 percent.

The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents will rise by 8 percent and 9 percent in 2019 while the CPI will rise by 3 percent. The registered unemployment rate in urban areas will be kept under 4.5 percent, while the surveyed unemployment rate will be maintained below 5.5 percent.

It is estimated that 500,000 impoverished people, 1,482 impoverished villages and 31 impoverished counties will overcome poverty in 2019.

Air pollution control in city clusters such as southern and northeast Sichuan will be accelerated, and comprehensive treatment for key river valleys such as the Tuojiang, Minjiang and Beijiang rivers will be undertaken.

Sichuan will further participate in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and deepen its cooperation mechanism with Hong Kong and Macao. It will promote the development of its pilot free trade zones and turn Chengdu International Railway Port and Luzhou Port into national open ports.

Railway construction projects such as the Chengdu-Zigong-Yibin Railway and the Ya'an-Linzhi section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be pushed forward along with the construction of the highway between Ma'erkang and Jiuzhi county in Qinghai province.

The new airport in Sichuan, Tianfu International Airport, will be mostly completed and a comprehensive three-dimensional traffic corridor in the Yangtze River Economic Belt will be established.

Sichuan will further promote the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster and support the development of four city clusters and seven cities which serve as regional centers.

More products manufactured in Sichuan will be promoted outside the province, and the province will keep upgrading the cooperation level of construction of industrial zones with other countries including Germany, France, Italy, South Korea and Singapore.

A modern industrial system will be established. Key industries such as steel, cement and coal will be integrated and upgraded. Construction of new types of infrastructure in areas such as artificial intelligence, industrial internet and internet of things will be put underway. The newest 5G technology is expected to be put into commercial use as soon as possible.

Sichuan will boost the development of its modern service industry in 2019, supporting Chengdu and Leshan as two pilot cities for the comprehensive reform of the national service industry and accelerating the establishment of Sichuan Bank.

The province will devote efforts to developing cultural tourism, turning Chengdu into a famous city for cultural tourism and attracting more inbound tourists.

Furthermore, 20 measures will be implemented to promote the healthy development of the private economy and set up a provincial service platform for enterprise rights protection.

Sichuan will look to protect ancient villages and buildings and renovate or build 20,000 rural roads to make these areas more livable. Distinctive industries such as Sichuan wine, tea, cuisine and fruits will be further expanded.