Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on July 28, 2023

2023.07.28

On
the morning of today (July 28), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality
held the fourth press briefing on the theme of “High-Quality Development in Shanghai,”
which is Chongming District special session focused on “Promoting the
Construction of a World-class Eco-Island with High Standards.” Miao Jing,
Secretary of the CPC Chongming District Committee, presented the details of the
progress of Chongming District in promoting the construction of a world-class
eco-island. Li Jun, chief of Chongming District, Zhang Lixin, director of the
Chongming District Development and Reform Commission, Gong Xia, director of the
Chongming District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Ni Xiangdong,
director of the Chongming District Administration of Culture and Tourism
attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.

High-quality
development stands as the foremost objective in our comprehensive efforts to
advance the construction of a modern socialist country, and it remains an
inherent imperative in our pursuit of transforming Chongming into a world-class
eco-island under the highest standards. Chongming District has embraced Xi
Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization with unwavering commitment, actively
fostering and championing high-quality development. With firm determination, we
aspire to script a remarkable chapter of green development in Chongming,
showcasing our unique Chinese-style modernization journey.

1.
Comprehensively build strengths on the ecological environment, and continuously
bolster inherent excellence on ecological civilization

Embracing
green as the foundational essence of Chongming, we are resolute in safeguarding
the ecological environment as if cherishing our very eyes. To this end, we are
unwavering in our commitment to furthering the ecological protection of the
Yangtze River. We actively promote the restoration of beaches to the river’s
embrace, while implementing a comprehensive flood control project around the
island. As part of our conservation efforts, we deepen the existing ten-year
fishing ban along the Yangtze River, extending it to encompass key waters
within the Yangtze River Basin. Celebrating a significant achievement, the
Chongming Dongtan Birds National Nature Reserve has been officially nominated
as a world natural heritage site. Central to our pursuits, we focus on
enhancing the ecological environment’s quality, diligently implementing a
rolling three-year action plan for the construction of the eco-island. In
parallel, we are continuously bolstering ecological governance across various
domains, such as water, soil, forestry, and air. The proportion of surface
water sections that meet the standard in environmental quality assessments has
reached 100%, and we have achieved a 100% safe utilization rate for polluted
cultivated land and polluted plots. The forest coverage rate was 30.7%, and the
rate of high air quality stood at 88.6%. Moreover, our thriving ecosystem is
home to 12 water bird species, each accounting for over 1% of the global
population, while the total number of bird species has reached 298. Pioneering
the green transformation of production and daily life, we report that new
energy power generation constitutes 31% of our overall energy mix. Embracing
sustainability in transportation, the entire region enjoys full coverage of new
energy buses and taxis, further supplemented by the successful launch of the
first domestic new energy vehicle-passenger ferry. Additionally, we take great
pride in achieving the first-class A standard for rural domestic sewage water. At
the forefront of combating climate change, we accelerate the development of the
carbon-neutral demonstration zone. Our initiatives include comprehensive
accounting of the gross ecosystem product (GEP) and meticulous management of
carbon emissions. Notably, the Shanghai Changxing Carbon Neutral Innovation
Industrial Park has been established, and we have officially launched the innovative
full-cycle carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) demonstration project
with the 100,000-ton coal-fired turbine at the Changxing Island Power Plant. In
pursuit of a more sustainable future, we have achieved a recycling rate of
42.2% for domestic waste resources.

2.
Make every effort to build an ecological industrial system, and focus on
creating highlights for development

With
a firm grasp of the imperatives of high-quality development, we remain resolute
in augmenting the momentum of green growth, thereby providing robust material
support for the construction of the eco-island. Our commitment to modern new
agriculture is unwavering, as we actively introduce cutting-edge technology and
collaborate with leading agricultural enterprises from both home and abroad. We
prioritize the advancement of key core technologies, such as germplasm
resources, and drive the digital transformation of agriculture. To promote
excellence among farmers, we have launched the unified logo of the “Three
Brothers on Agricultural Excellence” and established the platform of “Chongming
Rice Taste.” As a result, the entire district boasts a remarkable green food
certification area of over 90%, securing the top rank in the country’s
agricultural green development index. Recognizing the significance of the advancing
manufacturing industry, we ardently facilitate the green upgrading of our
industrial structure. We are dedicated to hastening the transformation of
various industrial parks towards scientific and technological research and
development, ecological and cultural advantages, and intelligent manufacturing.
Pioneering efforts in the marine economy, we strive to build a thriving
100-billion-yuan-level marine equipment industrial cluster in Changxing.
Notably, leading enterprises like Hudong Zhonghua and Jiangnan Shipyard have
successfully delivered several world-leading ships, underscoring our prowess in
the marine sector. With a keen focus on the burgeoning new service industry, we
actively foster and cultivate diverse sectors such as tourism and leisure,
culture, sports, and wellness. We are steadfast in our endeavors to establish
the Xisha Pearl Lake National 5A-level Scenic Area, propelling the homestay
industry towards high-quality development. As a testament to our commitment to
tourism, we continue to augment our collection of A-level scenic spots,
national rural tourism key towns, and China beautiful countryside destinations.
To enhance cultural and tourism experiences, we hold the eco-tourism festival, UCI
Women’s WorldTour, and other cultural and tourism festival brands and major
events, continuously amplifying their driving effect on economic development.

3.
Accelerate efforts to benefit people with ecological initiatives and
wholeheartedly serve the people’s livelihood

Determined
to uphold a people-centric approach, we persistently work towards enhancing the
lives of our citizens, fostering a strong sense of belonging, and maximizing
the benefits of ecological development for all. With deep-rooted commitment, we
actively implement the rural revitalization strategy, embarking on
comprehensive rural construction actions to improve the living environment for
our rural communities. As a result, we proudly announce the successful creation
of 14 municipal-level rural revitalization demonstration villages and 45
municipal-level beautiful rural demonstration villages. These endeavors
demonstrate the growing ecological, economic, and aesthetic value of our
countryside. In our pursuit of progress, we place great emphasis on major
ecological projects. The construction of the Metro Chongming Line and the
Chongming Section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway is well
underway. The Chongming Ecological Avenue and the first phase of the Yangtze
River Island Ring Embankment were completed and put into use, basically forming
a network of four horizontal and seven vertical roads, making traffic more
convenient and smoother for the residents. To better serve our populace, we
continuously elevate the quality of public services. Innovating within our
systems, we have implemented ecology-related employment, ecological inclusive
insurance, and ecological pension subsidies. Our commitment to education reform
runs deep, ensuring full coverage of integrated development and interactions
among schools in the same community. Implementing the Healthy Chongming Action,
we focus on establishing a robust regional medical consortium, promoting comprehensive
healthcare services. With great care for our elderly and youth, we reinforce
the service guarantee for them. We have successfully added a group of
comprehensive elderly service centers, catering facilities, and care centers.
Furthermore, the proportion of public kindergartens with nursery classes has
reached 91.4%. With an eye on urban renewal, we actively accelerate the
transformation of the urban village with the revitalization of Limin Village,
Chengqiao Town. In parallel, we advance the orderly renovation of partly shared
employee residences and apartments with weak structures. Steadfastly moving
forward, the comprehensive renovation of Pearl Garden is underway, with the
first batch of relatively concentrated resettlement houses completed and handed
over to residents.

Chongming
District is steadfast in its commitment to promote the construction of a
world-class eco-island, setting exemplary standards to achieve this vision. We
are dedicated to innovating and harnessing the full potential of our ecological
advantages, with the goal of creating a national ecological civilization brand
and becoming a benchmark for green development along the Yangtze River.

Firstly,
we aim to create an unparalleled ecological benchmark that exemplifies the
harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. To achieve this, we remain
steadfast in our approach of intensively cultivating ecological advantages. We
reinforce the protection of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River and
undertake ecological restoration of water areas. Emphasizing the significance
of preserving vital biological habitats and safeguarding aquatic germplasm
resources, we actively work towards the ambitions of an international wetland
city, a national forest city, and China’s “natural oxygen bar.” Moreover, we
are dedicated to supporting the declaration of the second phase of the world
natural heritage for the Yellow Sea/Bohai Sea Migratory Bird Habitat, further
embellishing the ecological Chongming brand. We are also committed to advancing
comprehensive ecological management across all facets. We meticulously
implement the outline of the world-class eco-island development plan and the
three-year action plan for the construction of the eco-island. Strengthening
the management of water systems, curbing soil pollution at its source,
optimizing forest community structures, and enhancing early warning systems and
ecological environment monitoring, we ensure thorough control over alien
invasive species. Our efforts extend to encompass ecological environment
protection across all directions, regions, and stages of development. In line
with our commitment to sustainability, we vigorously promote the construction
of carbon-neutral demonstration zones. This includes rigorous and refined
management of carbon emissions, expediting the development and utilization of
renewable energy, and advancing the creation of a green transportation system.
We further intensify our endeavors to foster a green and low-carbon
transformation within the construction sector’s entire life cycle, paving the
way for a “zero-waste city.”

Secondly,
our mission involves vividly showcasing the Chongming case to illustrate that
“clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and
silver.” With a resolute focus on serving to build a new development pattern,
we are driven to accelerate the convergence of various development elements,
fostering the continuous emergence, empowerment, and activation of the new
economy rooted in robust ecology. To enhance the quality of international
circulation, we lend our support to Changxing’s marine equipment companies,
enabling them to seize a prominent position in the global industrial value
chain. Concurrently, we strive to lure leading marine institutes and create a
world-class marine equipment industry cluster, an illustrious hub where
Shanghai’s manufacturing prowess takes center stage, and a leading epicenter
for marine technology innovation. To bolster the endogenous strength of the
domestic circulation, we leverage the construction of the eastern Metro Chongming
Line and the western Chongming Section of Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed
Railway as a high starting point to actively promote the functional development
of Changxing Island, Chenjia Town, and Chengqiao region. Our focus lies in
vigorously developing digital agriculture, smart agriculture, high-end
agriculture, brand agriculture, and germplasm resources-focused agriculture.
Additionally, we continuously optimize the supply of ecological products,
including boutique homestays, ecological tourism, cultural and sports events, while
exploring and nurturing high-end medical care, elderly care, medical beauty,
and other wellness-related industries. We are committed to deeply aligning our
efforts with the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integrated development
pattern of the Yangtze River Delta.

Thirdly, our vision
revolves around creating a comprehensive and delightful living environment,
where every individual finds happiness and beauty. Guided by the essential
principles of being a people’s city, we wholeheartedly embrace the practice of
cultivating ecological wealth, material wealth, and spiritual wealth, seeking
to fashion a home that exudes happiness and beauty for all. Our dedication to
modernizing agriculture and rural areas remains unwavering. We endeavor to
consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of rural revitalization demonstration
villages, propelling the comprehensive reform of agriculture and rural sectors
forward. With thoughtful planning, we work towards orderly living arrangements
for farmers, increasing the proportion of their asset and equity-related
incomes, and speeding up urban-rural integration. In our pursuit of urban
renewal, we vigorously promote the organic rejuvenation of urban spaces,
optimizing the spatial structure and functional layout of old urban areas.
Solidifying our commitment, we actively implement the three-year action plan
for renewing and renovating old housing, while also advancing the
transformation of the urban village, the revamp of partly shared employee
residences and apartments with weak structures, and planning of affordable
housing for leasing and construction of apartments for relocated residents. Additionally,
we expedite the installation of elevators in existing multi-story residences, and
step up efforts to clean up overhead cables and wires, in a bid to create a
friendly and accessible community suitable for all ages. To elevate grassroots
governance systems and capabilities, we diligently explore the path of
co-construction, co-governance, and sharing, which resonates with the
contemporary trends, embraces Chongming’s unique characteristics, and reflects
people’s rich creativity. By doing so, we aim to create a vibrant, charming and
livable paradise in Chongming.