City government work review: a fruitful 2023

Video by Han Shuang

Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong presented a 2023 work review in the government report at the opening of the Fifth Session of the Seventh Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress today. 

Economic development 

The economy maintained steady recovery and made solid progress in high-quality development. The vitality of market entities has maintained its momentum. 

The number of commercial entities amounted to 4.226 million, up 26.4%. 

Industrial investment surged by 43%, with its share of fixed-asset investment rose to 23.6%.

Investment in infrastructure exceeded 206.9 billion yuan (US$29.09 billion) with some 122.3 billion yuan in new-type infrastructure facilities. 

Shenzhen issued 21 measures to bolster consumption. The sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and online retail sales rose by 45.9% and 26.1%, respectively. 

Additionally, the turnover in the accommodation and catering industries increased by 14.3% and 14.9%, respectively.

Shenzhen added a total of 1,008 first stores, flagship stores, and new-concept stores. 

The general trade of imports and exports grew by 14.4%. 

Shenzhen has also sped up the building of a leading global advanced manufacturing center. Meanwhile, the output value of NEVs increased by 85.3%, while the added value of the financial and logistics sectors rose by 5.8% and 6%, respectively.

Shenzhen has introduced regulations for promoting the low-altitude economy, marking the country’s first dedicated legal framework aimed at propelling the low-altitude economic sector to new heights.

Reform and opening-up 

Shenzhen has consistently optimized its business environment and has won the title of City with Best Reputation for Business Environment in China for the fourth consecutive year. 

Shenzhen opened 55 international passenger and cargo flights, and the city’s container throughput reached 29.88 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2023. 

The city received visits from nine heads of state and prime ministers last year, and it has also been promoting cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao as well as the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

Shenzhen unveiled 28 measures to provide convenient services for residents in Hong Kong and Macao to shop, travel, and do business in the city. So far, Hong Kong and Macao professionals in 22 sectors can directly work in Qianhai after registration. 

The city has also accelerated the construction of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone to enhance Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation. 

People’s well-being, urban civilization 

The city launched 13 hospital renovation and expansion projects, and initiated 126 affordable housing projects. 

The city further improved care services for frontline workers such as deliverymen and online car-hailing drivers. 

Shenzhen added 210,000 square meters of public cultural facilities areas and about 1.5 million square meters of sports venues, and held various cultural and sports activities. 

Xichong in Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen has been officially recognized as the first International Dark Sky Community in China. 

The city received 170 million visits last year, up 66.9%; and achieved tourism revenue of 238.1 billion yuan, up 105%. 

Ecological environment protection 

Shenzhen’s annual average PM2.5 density stood at 17.6 micrograms per cubic meter. 

The market penetration rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs) reached 67.9%.

The water quality of the city’s eastern sea area has maintained to first class status for a long time. 

The city built 161,000 charging piles for NEVs and put 161 supercharging stations into use. 

In terms of energy saving, the city added 25 million square meters of green construction areas and constructed 680,000 square meters of low carbon, zero, or near zero carbon projects. 

In 2023, Shenzhen newly built and renovated 365 kilometers of greenway and completed 420 kilometers of hiking trails. 

A project linking five urban parks in the city center — Lianhua Hill, Bijia Hill, Central, Meilin Mountain, and Yinhu Mountain parks, were completed.