Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on October 16, 2025

2025.10.16

On the morning of today (October 16), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held the seventh 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 “Building a New Xuhui, Advancing on a New Journey,” Cao Liqiang, Secretary of the CPC Xuhui District Committee, introduced the construction and development achievements of Xuhui District during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. Wang Hua, deputy district Party Secretary and district chief, Deng Dawei and Chen Yong, deputy district chiefs, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Xuhui District has pursued the vision of “Building a New Xuhui and Advancing on a New Journey.” By reinforcing its strengths, leveraging its advantages, optimizing spatial planning, and enhancing functional capacities, the district has worked to establish itself as a powerful growth engine for high-quality development, a cultural landmark in Shanghai’s transformation into an international metropolis, and a model of people-centered urban construction, contributing the “Xuhui Mode” to Shanghai’s drive toward socialist modernization. Over the past five years, Xuhui has demonstrated steadfast commitment to national strategies and a pioneering spirit, leading to the rapid flourishing of its artificial intelligence innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.On April 29, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center (SMC) on the Xuhui Riverside, encouraging the district to take the lead in advancing AI development and governance, and to set an example for others to follow. Guided by his instructions and committed to its mission, Xuhui is now accelerating its transformation into a national hub for artificial intelligence.Over the past five years, Xuhui District has seized emerging opportunities to build a complete ecosystem for AI innovation and industrial development. Notably, in 2023, the district completed the construction of SMC, China’s first foundation model innovation hub, in just 38 days, sparking a nationwide wave of AI innovation. Today, Xuhui is home to more than 1,500 AI enterprises, including 755 foundation model companies and 62 registered foundation models, representing 61% of the city’s total. The district’s AI industry now generates an annual output of hundreds of billions of yuan. Building on this strong foundation, Xuhui is advancing three key priorities. First, driving scientific and technological innovation. Serving as the home base for national innovation teams such as the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Shanghai Innovation Institute, Xuhui brings together cutting-edge research centers from Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, alongside emerging R&D institutions including Shanghai Academy of Future Internet Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Industrial Technology Innovation Research Institute, and the Shanghai Academy of AI for Science. The district actively promotes original innovation while empowering enterprises to play a leading role in advancing technology. Notably, all five of Shanghai’s foundational AI models were born in Xuhui. Second, focusing on real-world applications. Through the “AI+” initiative, Xuhui is driving integration across 15 key sectors, including manufacturing, culture and tourism, education, and governance, to foster high-value application scenarios. The district is also home to Shanghai’s first smart product experience center, enabling AI to empower diverse industries and bring intelligent solutions into everyday life. Third, strengthening ecosystem support. Xuhui continues to build innovation and entrepreneurship platforms such as the Beiyang Artificial Intelligence Innovation Town, while enhancing the key elements that sustain AI development such as computing power, algorithms, data, capital, and talent. Funds such as the National Artificial Intelligence Sub-Fund have already been established, with a total scale exceeding 100 billion yuan.Over the past five years, Xuhui District has focused on improving the quality of development and enhancing reform efficiency, achieving a historic leap in regional economic growth.Development has remained Xuhui’s top priority. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the district’s GDP crossed two successive 100-billion-yuan milestones and is projected to surpass 400 billion yuan, ranking first among Shanghai’s central urban districts. Per capita GDP has doubled, while district-level general public budget revenue exceeded 30 billion yuan, up more than 10 billion yuan from five years ago.First, industrial momentum is being rapidly restructured. The service industry above designated size achieved an average annual growth rate of 10.2%, while the total industrial output value of enterprises above designated size ranked first among Shanghai’s central urban districts. Four major industrial clusters, namely digital economy, life sciences and healthcare, cultural and creative industries, and sci-tech innovation finance, continued to thrive, together reaching an output scale of nearly 400 billion yuan. Meanwhile, emerging industries such as smart terminals and green, low-carbon technologies are expanding at a fast pace.Xuhui remains firmly committed to innovation-driven development. The district’s R&D investment intensity has reached 6.46%, with enterprises accounting for half of total R&D spending. It ranks first citywide in the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people. Xuhui also leads central districts in high-tech achievement transformation and certification projects, total international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and the total value of technology contract registrations. Twenty high-quality incubators have been established, including three recognized at the municipal level, representing one-fourth of Shanghai’s total. The deep integration of science, technology, and industry is accelerating, generating strong innovative synergy.Second, the district’s functional structure continues to be optimized. Xuhui has established five major functional zones: Greater Xujiahui, Xuhui Riverside, Caohejing Hi-tech Park Expanded Zone, Xuhui Midtown, and Huajing Gateway. The new round of urban renewal planning and research now covers 44% of the district’s total area. A total of 108 renewal projects are in full progress, with more than 21 million square meters of major developments launched or completed. The district’s urban landscape is constantly evolving, its living environment steadily improving, and every street stroll reveals new beauty, reflecting Xuhui’s growing confidence and determination to “build a new Xuhui.”In particular, the Xuhui Riverside Functional Zone is entering a new stage of high-quality development after a decade of careful planning and construction, with the vision of creating a world-class waterfront district. High-end functional clusters, such as the West Bund Media Port, AI Valley, Financial City, AVANT, Show Stage, Central Park, and Entrepreneurs Community, are being comprehensively planned and steadily advanced. New city landmarks, including the Gate M West Bund Dream Center, West Bund Theater, and West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center, are coming together to form a dynamic new urban chain, further lighting up the west bank of the Huangpu River.Third, reform dividends have been fully unleashed. A total of 242 key reform tasks have been comprehensively implemented, with more than 40 pioneering initiatives leading the way at the national and municipal levels. The UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education, China’s first UNESCO Category 1 Global Center, has been established in Xuhui. The district has also been designated as one of the first Linked Innovation Zones of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and one of the city’s first equity investment clusters. Xuhui launched Shanghai’s first intellectual property securitization project during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, further strengthening the innovation-finance nexus. The number of regional headquarters and foreign-funded R&D centers of multinational corporations has reached 174, continuing to rank first among central urban districts. The actual utilization of foreign capital is projected to increase by 79.2% compared with the 13th Five-Year Plan period.Over the past five years, Xuhui District has remained committed to nurturing people and empowering businesses through culture, continuously strengthening the city’s cultural soft power.Anchored in the guiding spirit of red culture and the defining character of Shanghai culture, Xuhui is striving to build itself into a leading district of an international cultural metropolis.First, revitalizing historical heritage. Xuhui continues to delve deeply into the spiritual legacy embodied in landmarks such as the Longhua Memorial Park of Revolutionary Martyrs and the site where the March of the Volunteers was recorded, carrying forward the revolutionary spirit that defines the district’s cultural roots.Elevating the Shanghainese cultural brand. The Wukang Road-Anfu Road area has been recognized as one of China’s first national-level tourist and leisure districts. The Xujiahui Academy and Wukang Mansion have emerged as iconic new cultural and tourism landmarks, while the Tou-Se-We Museum known as the “cradle of Shanghainese culture,” continues to showcase its unique charm and amplify the city’s contemporary cultural voice.Enriching public cultural life. The district has advanced a range of public-benefit cultural projects, including the construction of Longhua Square and the Huang Daopo Memorial Park, and has hosted more than 60,000 cultural and sports events, bringing tangible cultural benefits to over 16 million residents and visitors.Second, promoting cultural and tourism consumption. Xuhui deepened the integration of commerce, culture, tourism, sports, and exhibitions, developing new consumption formats such as the debut economy, night-time economy, and sports and entertainment economy, turning popularity into productivity and vitality into economic growth. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the district’s total commercial sales are expected to exceed 800 billion yuan, with total retail sales surpassing 130 billion yuan.The transformation of the Xujiahui business district is accelerating, with landmark commercial complexes such as ITC and New No. 6 Department Store. The Sports and Entertainment Economy Alliance has been established. The district hosts nearly 50 major concerts and sporting events each year, and it ranks first nationwide in per capita sports spending.Leveraging the Xuhui Riverside’s reputation as a global hub for new product launches, the district continues to host signature events such as the FISE World Series, the International Light Festival, and major brand launch events. A new “land, water, and air” cultural tourism scene is also taking shape, featuring Huangpu River cruises, low-altitude sightseeing, and drone shows.Building on the unique advantages of the Hengshan Road-Fuxing Road Historical and Cultural Block and the Caohejing Hi-tech Park, Xuhui is creating distinctive destinations such as the “Billion-Yuan Shopping Street” and the Neo World, fostering diversified consumption and driving sustainable economic growth.Over the past five years, Xuhui District has focused on nurturing the well-being of its people while charting a new course toward building the people’s city.The district has consistently ensured that every increase in financial resources translates into tangible improvements in residents’ lives, enabling citizens to share in the dividends of reform and development. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, investment in people’s livelihoods is expected to have doubled compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.  First, continuously improving the living environment. Xuhui implemented the public welfare initiative on “homes refreshed, neighborhoods renewed, residents thriving,” benefiting approximately 210,000 households. The district achieved a complete elimination of sporadic old buildings and old prefabricated concrete housing, and expropriated 544,000 square meters of land for urban renewal. A total of 9,877 households across 27 plots, including Dong’an No. 1 and No.2 Residential Quarters, Changqiao New Residential Quarters, and Zhangjia Lane, relocated to new homes. Sixteen demolition and reconstruction projects covering 113,900 square meters revitalized more than 3,100 households. Additionally, 11.5 million square meters of old housing were renovated, 2.7 times the volume achieved during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, covering nearly 400 communities and benefiting 180,000 households. The district also installed 1,330 elevators, ranking first in the city for three consecutive years.The district has advanced refined and precise urban management through initiatives such as the “100 Parks, 100 Roads, 100 Miles of Rivers” project. A “100 Parks District” has been established, road network density has increased by 6.03%, and 160 landscape roads, known as “beautiful blocks,” have been completed. Management and restoration efforts are underway for over 60 kilometers of river channels, creating a harmonious blend of blue and green. In Xuhui, the integration of city and garden landscapes has made urban life more poetic and picturesque.Second, continuously optimizing public services. Xuhui has upgraded the “15-minute community life circle,” building 40 multifunctional “living boxes” and earning “excellent” ratings for 28 community senior dining halls, ensuring residents can access high-quality, convenient services right at their doorstep.Social undertakings have seen comprehensive advancement. Nine new schools of various levels and types were constructed, and five were renovated. The district has been designated a National Zone for High-Quality and Balanced Development of Compulsory Education, a National Zone for Universal and Affordable Preschool Education, and a National Pilot Zone for Science Education in Primary and Secondary Schools. Xuhui has also become a national model for integrated medical and elderly care, with 18 new or renovated medical institutions. Half of outpatient appointments at municipal and district hospitals have been shifted to community-level facilities. Selected as one of Shanghai’s first child-friendly pilot zones, the district has added 21 comprehensive community elderly care centers and 1,137 beds for dementia patients, pioneering the “property management integrated with home-based elderly care” model.Third, continuously enhancing governance capabilities. Xuhui has been creating an urban governance community of participation, responsibility, contribution, and shared benefits for all by pioneering the integration of multiple management grids with district-level governance. Mechanisms for expedited handling of public and business affairs have been implemented, making services more accessible for residents and more convenient for enterprises. The district has also advanced the digital transformation of governance. The Online-offline Government Service platform has been selected as a national pilot program for government service standardization. In addition, the pioneering networked management with the Chief Data Officer system has been implemented, continuously strengthening urban security, resilience, and efficiency.Looking back on the 14th Five-Year Plan, Xuhui District has upheld the leadership of the Party, maintained confidence and self-reliance, focused on core priorities while serving overall interests, pursued development for and with the people, and relied on reform and innovation to overcome challenges. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, Xuhui will take decisive action to build an “Innovative Xuhui, Quality Urban Area,” characterized by stronger economic strength, more distinctive industrial features, enhanced innovation incubation capabilities, greater cultural appeal, improved quality of life for residents, and more efficient urban governance. The district aims to become a leading demonstration area in Shanghai’s journey toward a modern, socialist and international metropolis with global influence.