Shanghai aims to tap innovation to boost growth quality and efficiency
Shanghai will rev up innovation and reform efforts next year to foster economic growth as the city acts to further improve its business environment, top city officials said yesterday.
High-quality growth and further reform and opening-up will require the city to lure more talented professionals and provide efficient services to help enterprises do their business in the city, officials said at the third plenary session of the 11th Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China.
The session reviewed the local Party committee’s work in the past year and identified priorities for the new year.
“We have made strong progress in promoting reform and opening up, realized steady and healthy economic and social development, and continuously improved people’s living standards,” said Li Qiang, Party Secretary of Shanghai, at the meeting. “We will give priority to high-quality growth, bolster reform and innovation, and cater to people’s needs.”
Li said that Shanghai will step up efforts to streamline services and facilitate innovation in its pilot free trade zone with an aim to building Shanghai into a global center for economy, finance, trade, shipping, as well as scientific and technological innovation.
Reform and opening-up will be highlighted in 2018, which marks the 40th anniversary of the namesake initiative in China. As part of efforts to launch more reforms, Shanghai will also enhance industrial upgrades and supply-side structural reform, according to Li.
Shanghai is dedicated to making the brand of “Made in Shanghai” globally known. To achieve this goal, Shanghai will develop high-end and intelligent manufacturing, while promoting cross-industry cooperation, especially by the use of information technology.
In order to improve the city’s business environment, the government will further simplify regulatory processes to reduce burden on enterprises. Policies are designed to ignite market vitality and creativity.
Favorable measures are under discussions to attract more high-end professionals to Shanghai. Also, to meet people’s demand for good life, the city will strive to improve efficiency and quality of public services by promoting reasonable and smart urban management.
The city aims to forge an advanced cultural industry so that citizens will enjoy high-quality cultural services. Environmental protection efforts will be enhanced to provide citizens with more good-quality foods.
Elsewhere, Shanghai will promote the brand of “Shanghai Shopping” to make the city a global shopping destination. Shanghai will host the first China International Import Expo next year. Li said that the city shall seize the opportunity to guide people to upgrade their consumption habits.