Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on September 23, 2025

2025.09.23

On the morning of today (September 23), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held the fifth press briefing in Shanghai’s “14th Five-Year Plan Achievements” series under the banner “Delivering Solid Results through Action, Advancing the New Blueprint.” With a focus on the theme of “Shaping an International Boutique Urban Area with Global Influence,” Zhang Wei, Secretary of the CPC Changning District Committee, introduced the construction and development achievements of Changning District during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. Liu Ping, deputy Party Secretary and district chief, Yu Shuang, director of the Changning District Development and Reform Commission, Yang Jian’an, director of the Changning District Commission of Science and Technology, Huang Jiping, director of the Changning District Construction Administration Committee, and Liu Yupeng, director of the Changning District Bureau of Talent Work, attended the briefing and answered questions from reporters.Changning serves as a vital gateway linking Shanghai with the Yangtze River Delta and the wider world. With its prime location, strong digital profile, and tradition of openness, the district has embraced the vision of building an international boutique urban area with global influence during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Seizing the strategic opportunities of “Greater Hongqiao” and “digitalization,” Changning has steadily advanced development, reform, governance, and public well-being, driving upgrades in urban quality and competitiveness while showcasing a new model of people-oriented city building. In 2024, Changning’s GDP reached 278.9 billion yuan, 1.8 times that of 2020, growing at an average annual rate of 7.8 percent over the first four years of the plan. The district-level general public budget revenue rose to 18 billion yuan, with an average yearly increase of 8.8 percent. These achievements underscore the district’s progress in economic and social development, reflected in six key areas.1. Leap in Economic Scale. During the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Changning achieved breakthroughs across the “1 billion, 10 billion, 100 billion, and 1 trillion” benchmarks. 1 billion in fiscal revenue increase: The district’s general public budget revenue grew by over 5 billion yuan, averaging more than 1 billion yuan annually, providing a stronger fiscal foundation for development. 10 billion in building output: The Jin Hongqiao International Center became a landmark “10-billion-yuan building” in tax revenue, setting a city record for tax contribution among commercial buildings. Meanwhile, 74 key commercial buildings added nearly 20 billion yuan in tax revenue, making space use more intensive and efficient. 100 billion in industry scale: Four 100-billion-yuan industrial clusters have taken shape — software and information, transportation, wholesale and retail, and leasing. These pillar industries have become stronger growth drivers. In particular, the software and information services sector grew at an average annual rate of 24.8 percent, ranking first in the city. 1 trillion in digital economy: E-commerce platforms generated a total transaction volume of 1.62 trillion yuan, rising 17.7 percent annually on average and accounting for one-third of the city’s total. Building on its strong digital and aviation service foundations, Changning is also pioneering new growth tracks such as the industrial internet and low-altitude economy, aiming to shape a “second curve” of development.2. Reform as a Driver of Breakthroughs and Innovation. Seizing the Greater Hongqiao opportunity: Changning is fully implementing the national strategy for the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub. Tax revenue in the East Hongqiao area has grown by an average of 13.6 percent annually, contributing over 40 percent of the total in the Hongqiao International Central Business District. The district is advancing the development of an overseas headquarters cluster and building a comprehensive platform to support enterprises in “going global.” Through the “Headquarters Capacity Enhancement Initiative,” 22 new regional headquarters of multinational corporations have been established since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, bringing the total number of headquarters and R&D centers to 153. Building a first-class business environment: Changning continues to enrich its “eight distinctive features” for the business environment. It has been designated as one of the first national, and the only citywide, online market supervision and service demonstration zones. The district also issued China’s first comprehensive license for a wholly foreign-owned shopping center. In addition, it pioneered the nation’s first notarized deposit platform for prepaid funds in the fitness and education sectors, offering greater financial security for consumers.3. Technological Innovation Gathers Momentum. By bringing science and technology innovation back to the urban area, Changning is nurturing new quality productive forces. Activating the “main engine” of sci-tech innovation: Changning is building the Shanghai Silicon Alley science and technology innovation district to world-class standards. The area has already attracted nearly 900 innovative enterprises and nurtured a number of national and municipal-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises, such as BLACKLAKE and WESTWELL. Working with the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology and the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the district is establishing the Digital Silicon Alley (Shanghai) Incubator. A full chain of technology services is also being expanded — from the Integrated Circuit Application Innovation Proof-of-Concept Center to platforms that accelerate the commercialization of scientific breakthroughs. The vision of “writing code under sycamore trees, conducting research in a historical and cultural block, holding morning meetings in cafés, and sparking innovation in the bustle of city life” is gradually becoming reality. Fully inspiring the “innovation circle” across the district: The district is boosting technology-finance integration through the “Ning Chuang” service station, setting up a state-owned private equity fund management institution that has entered substantive operation, and participating in Phase III of the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Fund. This is building a more complete, diversified, and relay-based financing ecosystem for innovators. Meanwhile, the upgraded Hongqiao One-stop Service Center for Overseas Talent has served more than 140,000 domestic and international professionals, creating a welcoming hub where ideas flow freely and innovation emerges naturally.4. Urban Renewal: A Transformation of Vitality. Guided by the principle of holistic and in-depth renewal, Changning has advanced 169 projects that blend development momentum with livability and charm. Creating intensive and diverse production spaces: The district has pioneered the preservation and renewal of historical and cultural areas. Yuyuan Road, Wuyi Road, and Columbia Circle Panyu Road have been designated national and municipal tourism and leisure districts, becoming “cover-worthy” destinations for visitors. Landmark projects such as WYSH and New Quadrant Wuyi. have been completed, while the Hongqiao Development Zone has been chosen as one of the city’s first pilot areas for comprehensive commercial renewal. Building livable and secure communities: Renewal of old urban areas, comprehensive renovation of old housing, and redevelopment of urban villages have accelerated. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, 4.72 million square meters of high-quality housing have been launched, 132,000 square meters of sanitary facilities in new lane houses renovated, and over 1,100 elevators installed. More than 10,000 affordable rental units have been supplied, including the Hongqiao Talent Apartments — the largest affordable housing project in the central city — which will provide over 5,400 units upon completion. Revitalizing green and shared ecological spaces: The Suzhou Creek waterfront has undergone comprehensive upgrades. Century-old landmarks such as the East China University of Political Science and Law campus and Zhongshan Park have been further integrated into public life. The Suzhou Creek Middle Ring Bridge Underpass Renewal Project was selected by the Ministry of Natural Resources for national promotion, while the “Suhe Super Tube” earned the World Landscape Architecture Awards. The district has also promoted the park-city model, establishing 27 habitat gardens, with Leyi Habitat Garden named a UN Biodiversity 100+ Outstanding Case. The Outer Ring Forest Belt Greenway now offers citizens a scenic cycling route, where they can stumble upon urban “castles in the sky” and “Wizard of Oz” moments along the way.5. Public Services with a Human Touch. Changning is committed to serving its residents with the highest-quality public services. Through the comprehensive rollout of the 15-Minute Community Life Circle and the annual Practical Services for the People initiatives, the district strives to deliver on four key “haves.” Elderly care: Changning now provides 7,411 nursing beds, the highest availability per 10,000 elderly residents among Shanghai’s central districts. It is also the first district to achieve full dementia-friendly coverage across all subdistricts and towns. Excellent education: The concept of “dynamic education” continues to deepen. Changning has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as a National Pioneer District for Quality and Balanced Compulsory Education. The International Department of the Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University has opened, further enriching the district’s international education resources. Effective healthcare: Named a national model district for healthy city development, Changning is advancing key projects such as the renovation and expansion of the Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital and the relocation of Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. A regionally distinctive medical alliance based on the coordination of comprehensive and specialized hospitals is also taking shape. Employment security: Through the “Human Resources and Social Security Services into Buildings” initiative, Changning has established 22 community employment service stations, continuously improving convenient, efficient job services both “at the doorstep of the building” and “at the doorstep of home.”6. Broad Participation in Urban Governance. Changning actively advances the principle of whole-process people’s democracy, empowering the modernization of urban governance systems and capacity. Building channels for public participation: The district continues to expand grassroots legislative liaison points and has created a “1+10” matrix for collecting public suggestions. The innovative Ning Lai Shuo platform further promotes the idea that “matters of common concern should be discussed by all.” At the same time, “multi-grid integration” governance has been strengthened, with six targeted initiatives addressing key public concerns — from improving subway accessibility to reducing cooking fume pollution — turning community “pain points” into new “touchpoints of happiness.” Refining urban management with precision: Through two rounds of three-year action plans, Changning has pursued meticulous “embroidery needle” governance. A total of 145 kilometers of overhead cables have been buried and pole boxes renovated, making it the first district in Shanghai to fully eliminate overhead lines on municipal roads and unveil a clearer skyline. Some 15.37 square kilometers of sponge city construction have been completed, covering 41 percent of the built-up area. The district has also rolled out smart recycling bins and bulky waste removal services, and was selected for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s Zero Waste City initiative. The ethos of refined, high-quality care is steadily extending to every corner of Changning.Changning is now accelerating the formulation of its 15th Five-Year Plan, a pivotal period for economic transformation and upgrading. Guided by the central and municipal authorities, the district will align the 15th Five-Year Plan with the long-term vision for 2035. It will pursue new progress in integrating scientific and industrial innovation, new breakthroughs in deepening reform and opening up, new advances in serving major national strategies, and new achievements in modernizing urban governance. With firm resolve, Changning is moving toward its goal of becoming an international boutique urban area with global influence, contributing fresh momentum to Shanghai’s drive to build itself as a modern, socialist and international metropolis with global influence.