In 2023, which marked the beginning of implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, facing a complicated and changeable external environment and the arduous task of revitalizing development, under the strong leadership of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee and Changchun Municipal Government, the entire city earnestly studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during the Symposium on Promoting the Comprehensive Revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era, fully implemented various decisions and deployments of the Central and Jilin Provincial Committees of CPC, and resolutely expanded domestic demand, optimized structures, boosted confidence and prevented risks. The city's economy maintained a trend of recovery and positive development, marked by steady improvement in market demand, continuously strengthened endogenous power, and solidly advanced high-quality development. The city successfully achieved the first-year goal of the three-year campaign for new breakthroughs in comprehensive revitalization, improving the economy effectively in quality and reasonably in quantity.

 

Preliminary calculations show that the gross regional product in 2023 reached RMB 700.21 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 6.6% at constant prices, which is 0.3 percentage points higher than the provincial average and 1.4 percentage points higher than the national average. Looking at the breakdown by industry, the value added of the primary industry was RMB 53.1 billion with an increase of 4.8%; the value added of the secondary industry was RMB 261.65 billion with an increase of 6.8%; and the value added of the tertiary industry was RMB 385.46 billion with an increase of 6.7%. The three industrial structures changed from 8.2:40.0:51.8 in the previous year to 7.6:37.4:55.0, with the proportion of the tertiary industry in the GDP increasing by 3.2 percentage points compared to the previous year.

 

The grain production reached a new high, while industrial production was accelerated and improved in quality.

 

In the workshops of Jilin Maixiunian Food Co., Ltd., fruit corn and sweet corn with plump kernels are transformed into beautifully packaged "Changchun Brand" fresh corn to be marketed; in the production workshops of Changchun Zhongpin Food Industry Co., Ltd., hundreds of workers are intensively fulfilling orders for live pigs; and at the black bull breeding demonstration base of Haoyue Halal Meat Co., Ltd., fat and robust beef cattle and a variety of deeply processed products such as beef products, protein powder, and Mingyue capsules are displayed. Additionally, the company's "Company + Base Benefiting Farmers" order-based breeding model has driven several hundred thousand farmers to become wealthy by raising cattle. All of this has vividly illustrated the high-quality development of modern agriculture in our city.

 

In 2023, the whole city actively responded to the impact of flood disasters. The total grain output for the year reached 25.49 billion jin, with an increase of 640 million jin over the previous year and a growth rate of 2.6%, accounting for 30.4% of the province's total and contributing 30.4% to the province, reaching a new historical high. The sown area of grains in the city was 23.796 million mu, with an increase of 126,000 mu over the previous year and a growth rate of 0.5%. The yield of grains per mu was 535.6 kilograms, with an increase of 10.7 kilograms over the previous year and a growth rate of 2%. The annual output of live pigs was 7.179 million, achieving an increase of 5.8%; the output of cattle was 746,000, an increase of 12.6%; and the output of sheep was 764,000, an increase of 2.9%.

 

The intelligent battery electric cars launched by FAW Hongqi attracted much attention, conveying FAW Group's firm determination to promote the new energy strategy; the "Fuxing" intelligent EMU of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. shined at the Olympic Winter Games and Asian Games; the "Jilin-1" with 108 satellites in orbit became the world's largest sub-meter commercial remote sensing satellite constellation; OLED Material Tech Co., Ltd. achieved overtaking on the curve, with over a hundred core technologies of OLED materials breaking through foreign technical barriers... In 2023, the city's industry embarked on an innovation-oriented path, empowering the transformation and upgrading of the real economy with innovation, forging new productive forces, and expanding new advantages and new momentum, so as to build a national advanced manufacturing highland.

 

In 2023, the value added of industries above designated size in our city achieved year-on-year growth of 9.3%, which was 2.5 percentage points higher than the provincial average and 4.7 percentage points higher than the national average. All seven key industries achieved growth, among which, the automobile industry led the rapid development of industries above designated size in the city, with its output value increasing by 11.4% year on year, contributing 75.5% to industries above designated size in the city and driving their growth by 6.7 percentage points; the proportion of the equipment manufacturing industry and electronic industry, dominated by advanced manufacturing and optoelectronic information, in industries above designated size in the city, has increased, with their output value accounting for 6.9% and 3.7%, respectively, up from 5.7% and 3% in the same period last year; and the pharmaceutical industry represented by biomedicine achieved a full-year output value increase of 0.1%, ending negative growth since September. Production of products in high-end or emerging fields grew rapidly, with the output of automobiles, EMUs, and electronic components increasing by 16.7%, 157.1%, and 33.3%, respectively.

 

The service industry experienced rapid growth, while the consumer market was brimming with vitality.

 

With vibrant enterprises, accelerated project implementation, distinct characteristics in service industrial districts, and more, our city vigorously constructed a new pattern for high-quality development in the service industry, which was centered around industrial integration, digital empowerment, cultural tourism stimulation, and urban agglomeration.

 

In 2023, the value added of the service industry in our city increased by 6.7% year on year, surpassing the national average by 0.9 percentage points. Specifically, the value added of accommodation and catering, transportation, warehousing and post services, wholesale and retail, finance, and other service industries grew by 20%, 11.4%, 10.3%, 4.7%, and 6%, respectively. From January to November, the operation revenue of service enterprises above designated size increased by 8.7% year on year. Specifically, the operation revenue of culture, sports, and entertainment industries, leasing and business service industries, as well as Internet and Internet-related services experienced growth rates of 23.5%, 22.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. The release of demand for ice and snow tourism consumption drove rapid recovery in cultural tourism-related industries. From January to November 2023, the operation revenue of travel agencies above designated size and related services, scenic area management, zoo and aquarium management services, amusement parks, and art creation and performance industries in the city increased by 2.6 times, 1.2 times, 2 times, 1.1 times, and 1.1 times, respectively. Currently, constructing a high-quality and efficient service industrial system is the cornerstone of our city's efforts to promote stable economic growth, build a modern industrial system, and enhance people's well-being.

 

In 2023, our city witnessed the emergence of numerous distinctive commercial complexes such as MIXC and Grand Shopping Center, with an additional business area of 500,000 square meters, which attracted a large number of citizens and tourists to visit, effectively stimulating the commercial atmosphere, enhancing consumption taste, and driving consumption levels. Furthermore, the formulation and introduction of the first-store support policy successfully assisted in establishing 112 first stores, achieving a year-on-year increase of 12%. The "Time-honored Brand" selection method was also launched, designating the initial 40 "Time-honored" enterprises to support their development and expansion.

 

In 2023, the total retail sales of social consumer goods in the city amounted to RMB 210.98 billion, achieving a year-on-year increase of 10.6%, surpassing the provincial average by 1.6 percentage points and the national average by 3.4 percentage points. Segmented by consumption types, retail sales of goods increased by 8.5%, while catering revenues surged by 25.1%. Automotive consumption made a significant contribution, with retail sales of units above designated size increasing by 31.9%. Notably, the consumption of new energy vehicles and used cars continued to rise, with retail sales from units above designated size increasing by 1.5 times and 1.7 times, respectively. Upgraded consumption also saw rapid growth, with retail sales of units above designated size of gold, silver, and jewelry, cosmetics, sports and entertainment goods, and communication equipment increasing by 43.8%, 29%, 19.8%, and 12.6%, respectively. Retail sales through the Internet by units above designated size in the city increased by 32.6%.

　

Fixed asset investment increased, while the import and export trade maintained steady growth.

 

Investment, consumption, and foreign trade are the three drivers of economic growth. Investment played a significant role in the recovery and improvement of the city's economy. Particularly, the robust growth in fixed asset investment highlighted the tremendous new momentum unleashed by Changchun's innovation-oriented development in the new era.

 

In 2023, the city's fixed asset investment increased by 4.2% year on year, exceeding the provincial average by 3.9 percentage points and the national average by 1.2 percentage points. In terms of sectors, infrastructure investment increased by 13.3%, while industrial investment surged by 16%. Excluding real estate development investment, private investment in the city grew by 5.3%. Investment in high-tech industries increased by 5.2%, outpacing overall investment by 1 percentage point. Among them, investment in high-tech manufacturing surged by 40.3%. The city's commercial housing sales area reached 5.722 million square meters, with an increase of 5.8% and sales amounting to RMB 48.4 billion, up by 4.6%. Behind these remarkable achievements lies the courage of our city in industrial transformation and the confidence of strategic investors in Changchun. The courage and confidence can be felt from the progress of major projects such as Audi FAW's new energy vehicles, FAW FinDreams's power batteries, the Sino-French Intelligent Industrial Park, and the Northeast Asia International Expo Center.

 

We strengthened follow-up services for foreign trade enterprises, focused on key foreign trade enterprises with stable import and export operations, and implemented dynamic "regular scheduling" and monitoring analysis of foreign trade operations; we promoted foreign trade cooperation and connection and organized collective overseas development for enterprises to expand their development channels; and during the 6th China International Import Expo, our city's intended procurement amount reached USD 981.4917 million, accounting for 98.64% of the provincial total... The total import and export volume for 2023 reached RMB 122.59 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.7%, surpassing the provincial average by 3 percentage points and the national average by 10.5 percentage points. Among the top 50 cities in terms of total import and export volume in China, we ranked among the leaders in growth, with exports reaching RMB 33.13 billion, a 58.9% increase, exceeding the provincial average by 34 percentage points and the national average by 58.3 percentage points. The export delivery value of industries above designated size in the city reached RMB 13.26 billion, up by 28.8%.

 

Support elements were stable and robust, and the price level remained stable.

 

In 2023, the total electricity consumption for the whole year reached 32.59 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 11.5%, with industrial electricity consumption reaching 14.99 billion kilowatt-hours, up by 12.7%. Local fiscal revenue reached RMB 57.65 billion, up by 25.4%. The balance of domestic and foreign currency deposits in financial institutions reached RMB 1.88399 trillion, up by 11.8%; and the balance of domestic and foreign currency loans reached RMB 1.79537 trillion, up by 4.9%. The freight volume reached 208.617 million tons, up by 18.8%; the freight turnover reached 55.27 billion ton-kilometers, up by 12.8%; the volume of passenger transportation reached 27.89 million, up by 58%; and the passenger turnover reached 1.72 billion passenger kilometers, up by 41.8%. The total telecommunications service volume reached RMB 30.69 billion, up by 8.6%. In 2023, the annual consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.2% year on year. In terms of categories, food and tobacco prices fell by 1%, clothing prices rose by 1%, housing prices remained unchanged, prices of daily necessities and services rose by 0.7%, transportation and communication prices fell by 2.4%, education, culture, and entertainment prices rose by 1.3%, medical and healthcare prices rose by 0.4%, and prices of other goods and services rose by 4.1%.

 

In the next stage, our city will focus on high-quality development as the top priority, comprehensively implement the high-quality development strategy of "One Main Focus and Six Pairs of Coordinated Tasks", closely revolve around the three-year campaign for new breakthroughs in comprehensive revitalization, and adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability with progress, and prioritizing establishment before breakthroughs. We will effectively enhance economic vitality, improve social expectations, consolidate and enhance the momentum of economic recovery and improvement, and continue to promote effective qualitative leaps and reasonable quantitative growth in the city's economy.