On September 1, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee held a press conference on China in the Past Decade: Beijing. Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, delivered a themed speech and took questions from the press.
Chen said that since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has inspected Beijing ten times and made important remarks concerning Beijing on 18 occasions on which he addressed the critical issue of "what China's capital should be like and how to build it". We have stayed committed to the Party's decision to establish Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and to establish Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding principle. We have resolutely upheld General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in both the CPC Central Committee and the entire Party and upheld the CPC Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's expectations, we have worked tirelessly to fulfill our historic missions. The new development philosophy has been implemented in both letter and spirit, and the Five Key Initiatives incorporated into the new development dynamics. We have forged ahead with a realistic and pragmatic approach and given priority to developing Beijing as the national capital instead of just another city. We have stepped up the coordinated development between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Beijing's growth model, once a resource-intensive one, has been transformed to pursue development by relocating functions non-essential to Beijing's role as the capital. Governance of a super-large city has taken the place of the past model of city management. Our great city has undergone profound transformation and new historical changes.
Chen said that over the past decade, we have greatly strengthened Beijing's role as the national capital and made breakthroughs in the coordinated development of the region. With resolute measures to relocate non-essential functions, Beijing has become the first super-large city in China that has achieved growth with reduced input. We ensured quality services for a number of major events, including the celebrations of the People's Republic's 70th anniversary and of the centenary of the CPC. Beijing, together with Hebei province, staged a Winter Olympics that will add a glorious chapter to the history. Beijing has also become the world's first and the only city that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. We have offered support to Xiong'an New Area as if their endeavors were part of our own duties, and promoted the high-quality development of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC). Beijing Daxing International Airport has come into service.
Chen said that over the past decade, great advancements in technological innovation and a historic leap forward with high-quality economic development have been made. We have prioritized innovation as the key to overall development and a number of world-leading proprietary results in science and technology have been obtained. Beijing ranks first among Chinese cities in the number of national high and new technology enterprises, unicorn companies and specialized, high-end and innovation-driven businesses that provide distinctive products or services. We have cut 60% items, 74% documents, 320 certifications and 300 items that need intermediary services. The time needed for getting things done has been shortened by 71% and 98% of public service items at the municipal level are now available online during the whole process. GRP rose from 1.9 trillion yuan to 4.03 trillion yuan. The per capita GRP soared from 92,800 yuan to 184,000 yuan, ranking the top in the country, equivalent to that of medium-level developed economies.
Chen said that over the past decade, we have significantly improved the environment through unprecedented pollution control efforts. Solid steps were taken to prevent and control pollution against all odds, and steady progress was made in carbon neutrality on top of the carbon peak we have reached. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing dropped to 33 μg/m3 in 2021, down 63.1% over 2013. Beijing's success in air pollution control has been hailed by the United Nations Environment Program. The quality of cross-sections of water bodies is above Class V in the national surface water assessment. All five major rivers including Yongding River now see water flowing. The groundwater table in the flatlands has risen for six consecutive years, and the city's forestry coverage has been raised from 38.6% to 44.6%.
Chen said that over the past decade, we have improved people's lives and upgraded the city environment. We have put in place an innovative mechanism of giving quick answers to calls made by residents and swift response to public complaints. A model for super-large city governance underpinned by this mechanism is being created. We have advanced the application for UNESCO recognition of the Central Axis as a World Cultural Heritage Site to better protect the old town. We have improved the environment of 3958 backstreets and alleys. While upgrading the living conditions there, we also managed to keep alive their cultural elements and special appeal. Strenuous efforts have been made on waste sorting and property management, the two important "minor details" in people's lives. Now, the coverage of public-benefit kindergartens reaches over 88%, and a total of 847,000 units of government-subsidized housing have been delivered. Beijing's per capita disposable income rose from 36,800 yuan to 75,000 yuan.
Chen said that over the past decade, the Party's leadership has grown stronger and we have secured historical progress in strengthening the Party. Enhancing the political commitment to the Party has been taken as our top priority, while full and strict self-discipline over Party organizations and members has been steadily advanced. We have protected and made good use of Party heritage, such as the Red Building of Peking University and the revolutionary memorial sites in the Fragrant Hills. We have given priority to strengthening primary- and community-level Party organizations and ensured that Party branches meet their standards in development so that the Party's flag may fly high at primary- and community-level Party organizations. We have maintained a tough stance against corruption and violations of Party discipline and laws. All this has created a political atmosphere of good conduct in the Party.
Chen said that all this shows that the General Secretary Xi Jinping's support and guidance are crucial to every step forward we have taken and the changes taking place in Beijing. In all the work we do, we should translate Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into concrete actions here in Beijing and deliver solid outcomes to meet people's expectations for a better life. Looking ahead, we will rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will follow General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions and forge ahead, redouble efforts to promote the development of Beijing as the capital of the nation in the new era, strive to lead the country in basically achieving socialist modernization, and make good preparations for the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress with concrete actions.
Chinese and foreign journalists raised questions on topics such as technological innovation, the national cultural center, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, making good use of Party heritage in Beijing, the plan of development for BMC, and environment protection. Chen Jining answered these questions together with Mo Gaoyi, Member of the Standing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Cui Shuqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing.
(Written by Gao Zhi)
