On the morning of today (November 12), a municipal government press briefing titled “Building a New Benchmark for Urban Development and Driving Hongkou’s High-Quality Growth,” the 11th session of the “Delivering Solid Results through Action, Advancing the New Blueprint: Achievements under Shanghai’s 14th Five-Year Plan” series, was held. Li Qian, Secretary of the CPC Hongkou District Committee, introduced the district’s development achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Jiang Rui, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hongkou District Committee and acting district chief; Chen Shuai, deputy district chief; Tong Ke, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hongkou District Committee and director of the Hongkou District Administration of Culture and Tourism; and Yang Jing, director of the Hongkou District Commission of Development, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.Located at the confluence of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, Hongkou District enjoys one of Shanghai’s most scenic vantage points and is home to the Grand Halls. The district stands out for its strategic location, rich cultural heritage, and long-standing spirit of openness. Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hongkou has pursued its strategic goal of becoming a “new benchmark for urban development in the new era,” with the development of the North Bund serving as its key driver. The district has advanced high-quality development, deepened reform and opening up, enhanced quality of life, and improved governance efficiency, achieving notable breakthroughs in regional economic growth and elevating its core urban competitiveness. Hongkou’s GDP has risen from 100 billion yuan to 150 billion yuan, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.8%. District-level general public budget revenue has exceeded 20 billion yuan, with an average annual increase of 15.0%. Total fixed-asset investment has grown from 20 billion to 30 billion yuan, averaging 7.8% annual growth. These achievements have translated into five major new milestones for the district.1. A New Leap Forward in Regional DevelopmentThe 14th Five-Year Plan period marks the first five years of a new phase in the North Bund’s development and construction. Guided by a unified blueprint, Hongkou District has achieved three major upgrades in its overall development.First, its urban image and landscape have been significantly enhanced. The new 480-meter landmark tower in Puxi is rising at a pace of one meter per day and is expected to surpass 100 meters by the end of the year. The 3.4-kilometer waterfront along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek has been fully opened to the public, where international cruise liners, yachts, and sightseeing boats now converge. The area has become a stunning highlight of Shanghai’s international cityscape and is actively developing toward national-level tourist resort status. Second, its asset value has steadily increased. Over the past five years, more than 70 communities, about one-fifth of the district, have undergone urban renewal. The Grand Halls, completed to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China, has become a key venue for conferences and exhibitions and a vital gateway for Shanghai’s engagement with the world.Third, its core functions have been continuously strengthened. The North Bund Forum has been successfully held for five consecutive years, with General Secretary Xi Jinping sending a congratulatory letter to the inaugural session. The area has since evolved into a pilot zone for high-end service industry clusters, one of the first Free Trade Zone linkage innovation zones, and one of Shanghai’s initial equity investment clusters. The North Bund International Legal Services Port is now fully operational, serving as a key platform for the integrated development of Shanghai’s “Five Centers.” Over the past five years, the number of foreign-invested enterprises has quadrupled, while the number of headquarters enterprises has grown fivefold to 112.2. New Advantages in Industrial Development MomentumAnchored in industrial transformation and upgrading as the cornerstone of Hongkou’s high-quality development, the district is accelerating the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation to build a modern industrial system with three distinct tiers.First, pillar industries are advancing toward higher-end segments. Shipping and finance together contribute more than 40% of the district’s economic output. the International Chamber of Shipping has opened a representative office in the area. The district has achieved a series of national firsts, including ad hoc maritime arbitration, bulk refueling with domestically produced green methanol, and the creation of a national-level seafarer assessment center. One-quarter of the country’s quantitative private equity firms with assets exceeding 10 billion yuan are based here. Major foreign-invested projects have also been introduced, such as Amundi for China’s first wholly foreign-owned financial technology firm, and Aegon for the first wholly foreign-owned insurance asset management company.Second, emerging industries are clustering in specialized fields. Jointly promoted by the municipal and district governments, the “Top Leader” initiative for green and low-carbon development has gained strong momentum, successfully hosting the China Carbon Market Conference and growing into an industry worth nearly 80 billion yuan. By focusing on niche areas such as intelligent testing equipment and biotechnology, Hongkou has built a sci-tech innovation alliance including Tiangong Kaiwu Incubation Center and Beikechuang Biotech Industrial Park, attracting over 240 specialized and sophisticated enterprises, doubling their total number within just a few years.Third, distinctive industries are expanding into resource-based businesses. The district is actively developing the silver economy and the “sweetness industry,” building signature brands such as the “Never-Ending Senior Expo” and “Dang Hong Wedding Events.” The “Tianai Road Marriage Registration Center” has opened to couples nationwide, with the number of marriage registrations surging by more than 80% this year.3. New Space Unlocked with Urban Renewal By advancing systematic urban renewal as a key pathway to high-quality development, Hongkou District has revitalized its urban landscape and significantly enhanced the overall value of its built environment, successfully accomplishing three major tasks.First, completing the renewal and renovation of old residential areas. In June 2022, the district achieved full completion of all large-scale renovations of old-style houses below Grade II standards. By August this year, scattered old housing renovations were also completed, and the long-standing “chamber pot” issue was largely resolved. The renovation of old prefabricated concrete housing is on track for completion by the end of the year.Second, accelerating area-wide renewal in a systematic manner. A total of 26.4 hectares of inefficient industrial land has been revitalized, driving comprehensive renewal of the surrounding neighborhoods. The “Feng”-shaped urban renewal project along North Sichuan Road has been included among Shanghai’s first batch of demonstration projects, covering an area of about 37 hectares. Meanwhile, the North Bund and North Central Ring Science and Technology Innovation Clusters are advancing a “dual-north linkage” development pattern. Construction of Metro Lines 19 and 20, as well as the North-South Corridor, is set to begin soon, enhancing connectivity across the district and opening a major new chapter in Hongkou’s spatial restructuring.Third, pioneering sustainable renewal models. The century-old alleyway Ruikangli has piloted diverse resettlement methods, including relocation, repurchase, and leaseback, forming a financially sustainable, replicable, and scalable mechanism for balanced redevelopment. At the same time, innovative urban renewal models such as R&D in high buildings and vertical mixed-use development have effectively fostered a better integration of living and working spaces.4. New Vitality Inspired by the “Three Cultural Hubs”  In line with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s recognition of Hongkou as the “Three Cultural Hubs,” or Birthplace of Shanghai-Style Culture, Source of Advanced Culture, and Gathering Place of Cultural Celebrities, the district has been advancing the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional culture, striving to build a model area for the practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.First, cultural brands have gained stronger visibility and influence. Under the citywide Grand Ideological and Political Education initiative, Hongkou has created hundreds of themed educational spaces, allowing advanced culture to play a greater guiding role in values and identity. A series of activities marking the 100th anniversary of Party branch building were held, the Memorial Hall of the Fourth National Congress of the Communist Party of China surpassed one million visitors, and the Lu Xun Cultural Week drew more than one million participants. Meanwhile, Chin Woo Culture has spread to 82 countries and regions, vividly reflecting Hongkou’s growing cultural confidence and self-reliance.Second, cultural resources have been revitalized through adaptive transformation. Venues such as Victory Cinema, Mass Audience Cinema, and The INLET have been renovated in synergy, forming a new cluster of performing arts spaces. The historic Lester School and Henry Lester Institute of Technical Education has been transformed into a creative hub for the Design Universe, preserving the district’s urban memory while injecting new vitality into its high-quality development.Third, cultural enrichment has elevated the public’s sense of participation and experience. Hongkou has been honored as a National Civilized District in the seventh batch. The district established Shanghai’s first cultural talent apartments, and the Heping Library now lights up the city’s nights with its “cultural glow,” attracting over two million annual visitors and earning the title of the world’s Public Library of the Year. The integration of culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibitions continues to deepen, with new cultural IPs such as the Coffee Culture Festival, the Anime Music Carnival, and the Game Developers Conference enlivening the Huangpu Riverfront, as the district hosts an average of over 3,000 performances each year.5. A New Look for People-Oriented Urban DevelopmentGuided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s earnest instructions, the district remains committed to a people-centered development philosophy, ensuring that the fruits of reform and growth are shared more broadly among all residents.First, stronger public services have enhanced people’s sense of fulfillment. Over the past five years, spending on people’s livelihood has accounted for 45.3% of district-level fiscal expenditure, up 1.8 percentage points from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. The district has implemented several national pilot programs, including initiatives to strengthen home- and community-based elderly care services and to build a vibrant and prosperous business community. By linking these efforts with citizen service stations, the district has enriched and refined the “15-minute community life circle,” making public services more accessible and visible in daily life.Second, better grassroots governance has boosted people’s sense of happiness. Garbage sorting has become a new social norm, a “low-carbon lifestyle habit” that residents practice almost unconsciously. Initiatives such as creating community meeting spaces and enabling top leaders to directly hear grassroots voices have helped build an urban governance alliance where everyone participates, takes responsibility, contributes, and shares the benefits.Third, smarter city operations have strengthened people’s sense of security. The district pioneered a “Three-in-One Collaboration” mechanism, bringing together police stations, judicial offices, and law firms through formal agreements to jointly mediate conflicts, successfully resolving 98.9% of disputes at the local level. By integrating multiple management grids and enhancing community-level “whistleblowing and rapid response” systems, issues are now addressed directly where they arise. This approach has made urban governance more stable and efficient, continuously boosting residents’ sense of safety and satisfaction.Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hongkou is entering a pivotal stage of economic growth, functional upgrading, and industrial restructuring. The district will fully implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, remain steadfast in advancing the mission of building the “Five Centers,” and align its efforts with the long-term goals for 2035. Moving forward, Hongkou will seize emerging opportunities to accelerate its transformation into “Shanghai’s North Bund, a new urban benchmark,” serving as a key showcase of Chinese modernization and making greater contributions to Shanghai’s rapid development into a modern, socialist and international metropolis with global influence.