On the morning of February 19, the 2024 Beijing High-Quality Economic and Social Development Conference was held to further mobilize officials and plan for work on all fronts. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, stressed the importance of fully implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, the Central Economic Work Conference, and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important remarks on Beijing. He emphasized the need to uphold Chinese modernization as the principal political objective, and pursue high-quality development as the top priority in the new era. Based on the strategic positioning of the capital city, he urged officials to be proactive, innovative and pioneering in their work approach. Efforts should focus on accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development to ensure a good start in the first quarter and the accomplishment of goals and tasks for the year. This is how the capital city will contribute to the advancement of Chinese modernization, and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with excellent results. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, laid down the work plan on Beijing’s high-quality economic and social development in 2024. The conference, moderated by Liu Wei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, was attended by Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress; and Wei Xiaodong, Chairman of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee.
Yin Li pointed out that high-quality development requires a focus on the development of new quality productive forces. By leveraging its advantages, Beijing should create a dynamic development pattern for new quality productive forces that aligns with the capital’s functions, presents its innovation edge, lays a green foundation, and enhances regional coordination. It is essential to tap into the capital’s strengths in education, technology and talent. We will implement the initiatives to lead in basic research and make breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas. An innovation-driven modernized industrial system should be established, which focuses on strategic emerging sectors such as integrated circuits and biomedicine, and fosters future-oriented industries like quantum information and robotics. We will expedite efforts to build Beijing into a global pacesetter in the digital economy, and create a digital industry cluster with international competitiveness. We will speed up the construction of world-leading sci-tech parks and further carry out preliminary trials to create a first-rate innovation eco-system in Zhongguancun. Efforts will be made to build Beijing into a high-caliber talent hub. New growth drivers such as fintech and green finance will be fostered to offer greater support to the Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE). We will stimulate more new impetus in the information service sector to help it thrive across all aspects. We will ensure key projects in the manufacturing industry contribute more to growth by getting them into steady production as soon as possible. It is important to enable more agritech innovations to make the High-Tech Agricultural Z-Park more technologically competitive.
He highlighted the importance of leveraging Beijing's huge market. New models of online and offline consumption will be developed by providing more high-quality supply, growing producer services, and improving consumer services. To foster new quality productive forces, more investment will be made to strive for breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas, as well as in emerging sectors such as new-type infrastructure and power batteries. New energy and technologies should be applied to the "Three Major Projects", urban renewal, and post-disaster reconstruction. Progress should be made in reforming key areas related to science and technology systems, business environment, investment and financing, and people’s livelihood. It is necessary to harness the "Two Zones" and "Four Platforms" to expand opening-up and develop institutions and mechanisms compatible with new quality productive forces. The advantages of green development should be maximized. Adherence to the Green Beijing Strategy is essential in preventing and controlling pollution. We will further promote the "One Microgram" Campaign and draw up district-specific annual work plans to ensure stability in both the number of days with good air quality and the average concentration of air pollutants. We will continue efforts to keep our waters clean and our lands free of pollution, as well as to build Beijing into an all-area forest city and garden city. We will develop new energy sources such as photovoltaic and renewable energy, transform the industrial structure, and encourage green and healthy lifestyles, so as to bring about higher-value industries driven by green development. The benefits of regional coordination should be fully utilized. We should make better use of Beijing's central role and foster new quality productive forces for coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. We will remain committed to relieving Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the capital and continue to implement the development plans of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC). By fully supporting the construction of Xiong'an New Area and pursuing coordinated development between Beijing and Tianjin, a modern capital metropolitan area will be built at a faster pace. Coordinated innovation and industrial collaboration should be a top priority. We should make solid progress in mapping the spectrum of industrial chains in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, thereby enhancing the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.
He emphasized that high-quality development should always prioritize people's needs. "Seven accesses" and "five expectations" should guide the efforts to improve social governance and enhance people's well-being. We should address each and every matter related to people’s well-being with care, and focus on solving the most pressing difficulties and problems that matter most to the people. A sound mechanism for supporting and promoting employment will be developed, with priority given to employment. For the elderly, medical services, health management and elderly care will be better coordinated to make more efficient use of resources; For very young children, sound birth policies and childcare systems that benefit all will be introduced. Work will be done to strengthen health reforms, integration of medical treatment, medical insurance and medicines supply, the role of family doctors, and the hierarchical diagnosis mechanism. More efficient and smarter transportation, which demands intelligent and detail-oriented governance, will be phased into public transportation services connecting schools, hospitals, and tourist attractions. We will align high-quality population development with the improvement of people's livelihoods, develop a full-life-cycle policy system and establish a mechanism to ensure that the provision of public services adapts to demographic changes.
He underlined the necessity to fully unleash social vitality. Efforts should be made to deliver better services, especially to mixed-ownership and non-public enterprises, as well as new types of economic and social organizations and groups in new forms of employment. The goal is to be responsive while avoiding unnecessary disturbances. Raising awareness of the "Beijing Service" policy will help fully mobilize business entities and all sectors of society. Business service hotlines should serve as an open channel for companies to voice their concerns. We should try every possible means to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) solve their problems, as they drive job creation, technology commercialization, and market stimulation. It is vital to improve the social governance system. We should consolidate the foundation at the primary level and improve the management system and operation mechanism of sub-districts and townships. It is important to abstain from formalism and bureaucratism, minimize unnecessary meetings and paperwork and proritize tangible results. This approach will reduce the burden on primary-level officials, giving them more time and resources to effectively perform their duties. We should adhere to the principles of collaboration, participation, and shared benefits, and improve mechanisms for public participation in governance, so as to encourage public initiative and creativity in promoting development. Efforts should be made to foster systemic thinking, strengthen law-based governance, and enhance technological empowerment. We should commit to swift response to public complaints and addressing problems by focusing on one topical issue per month to improve the performance of social governance.
He stressed the need to maintain security while pursuing development by building a robust defense against risks. Prioritizing stability and enhancing risk assessment are key to safeguarding people’s lives and properties as well as maintaining social stability. It is essential to stay alert to potential dangers, adopt a precautionary mindset, and detect problems early and correct them when they are nascent, so as to nip all kinds of risks and dangers in the bud. We should remain vigilant about safety by continuously eliminating hazards in areas such as firefighting, gas, hazardous chemicals, transportation, and construction. By holding primary-level officials, manufacturers, and legal persons accountable, a complete chain of responsibility will be established to prevent and control major and serious accidents.
He also highlighted the need for strengthening organizational leadership, consolidating and building upon the gains of the education campaign, and approaching endeavors with enthusiasm. It is imperative to follow the guiding principles of the central government and fully comply with the requirements set by the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. Efforts should be made to overcome challenges, strengthen reform and innovation, and address institutional and systemic obstacles. Providing incentives for hard work and dedication demonstrates clear support for officials who are willing and able to deliver. Well begun is half done. We should roll up our sleeves and strive for a good start in the first quarter, working proactively to accomplish the year’s tasks. We should strengthen coordination, focus on development goals and tasks, highlight priorities and keys, and work toward common goals. Policies must be synchronized for effective collaboration. To ensure the success of high-quality development, each district should pursue development based on its own positioning and according to their development plans and binding constraints, while also fostering healthy competition with each other. It is important to enhance capabilities and maintain a sense of urgency to broaden our knowledge base. We should eye the frontier of development, develop a global vision, continuously upgrade our knowledge, experience, and skills in reform and innovation, and strive to become experts in our field. Strengthening publicity and guidance is essential for creating a healthy climate, and responding to public concerns in a timely manner. We should carry forward China’s fine traditional culture, drive cultural development as a pacesetter of social trends, and promote positive values in society. It is also pivotal to strengthen our international communication capacity and tell the story of Beijing as the capital of a major country, so as to elevate the city’s image, appeal, and influence.
Officials attending the conference at the main venue and sub-venues included the heads of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; the secretary-generals of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee; the chiefs of competent authorities, institutions, mass organizations, state-owned enterprises, and financial institutions; and leaders of all districts, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, sub-districts, and townships.
