山东省省长周乃翔发表二〇二四年新年贺词

新 年 贺 词

New Year Address

Zhou Naixiang, Governor of Shandong Province

As a new year begins, everything takes on a new look. As we ring in the new year, I would like to, on behalf of Shandong Provincial People’s Government and over 100 million people of Shandong, extend my sincere regards and New Year wishes to our fellow countrymen and women in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, in Taiwan, and overseas, as well as to friends from various sectors for your interest in and support for Shandong’s development.

The year just past is the first year for fully implementing the guiding principles laid down at the Party’s 20th National Congress, and also a year for economic recovery and growth after the easing of pandemic controls. Over the past year, the whole province has implemented the important instructions and requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping for Shandong’s work, and put into action the decisions and directions from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Led by the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, we have pushed the building of the pilot zone for green, low-carbon and high-quality development forward in a concerted effort and achieved solid progress, leaving an indelible chapter in the development history of Shandong.

This year has recorded our efforts of keeping the instructions in mind and taking the lead. General Secretary Xi Jinping has high expectations for Shandong’s development, and gave Shandong the mission of “taking the lead and opening up new prospects”. He visited Shandong again in September 2023, demonstrating his high regard for Shandong's development and his deep affection for the people of Shandong. We always bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions, fully implement the major national strategy of ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, and, by facilitating the building of the pilot zone for green, low-carbon and high-quality development, make solid steps in building Shandong into a strong modern socialist province in the new era. With concrete actions, we firmly support establishing Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole as well as the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership. We have launched theoretical study programs for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and encouraged the Party officials to learn the theories, strengthen their Party spirit, and make new achievements. People across the province have been motivated to pursue development endeavors with enterprising spirit and enthusiasm, and they are marching vigorously forward in the new journey of building a strong province.

This year has seen us shoulder the responsibility of surmounting challenges and difficulties to make progress. We have stayed confident and focused, and coordinated efforts to improve supply, expand demand, stabilize growth, enhance quality and efficiency, and mitigate risks. We have focused on 3 major actions plans, namely exploring new ground in 10 areas, taking 10 actions to boost demand, and developing 10 major industries, thus the economy of Shandong has shown a momentum of steady improvement. It is expected that the regional GDP will reach 9 trillion yuan throughout the year, the total grain output 56.55 billion kilograms, the number of market entities over 14.6 million, the total installed capacity of new energy and renewable energy power generation over 90 million kilowatts, and the mileage of high-speed rail over 2,800 kilometers, ranking first in the country. We have added more substance, driving force and momentum to high-quality development.

This year has been filled with our relentless pursuit of innovation, aiming for breakthroughs through self-reliance and self-improvement. We have implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, accelerated the building of the big science and technology market in Shandong, promoted closer enterprise-led collaboration between industries, universities, and research institutes, and taken solid steps towards becoming an important regional innovation hub in China. Innovation platforms have been upgraded and expanded. There are 21 key national laboratories and 202 national enterprise technology centers in Shandong, and the National Technological Innovation Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land was inaugurated in the province. Innovation achievements have been emerging rapidly. We have launched 110 major scientific and technological projects and 3 technological demonstration projects. A number of landmark achievements have been made in fields such as integrated circuits, machine tools, advanced nuclear energy, and gene editing. The number of innovative entities has continued to grow. The number of new- and high-tech enterprises and small and medium sci-tech enterprises exceeded 30,000 and 45,000 respectively, and the total number of human resources has surpassed 15 million. The land of Shandong is vibrant with innovation and creativity.

This year has resounded with the exciting symphony of pushing for reforms and opening-up. We have advanced reforms in various sectors, such as state-owned assets and enterprises, integration of domestic and foreign trade and market-based allocation of production factors. Great efforts have been made to facilitate “getting things done efficiently” and establish a regular communication mechanism between the government and enterprises. We have accelerated the building of digital government, rolled out reform of “certificate exemption services” across the board, and the overall business environment of our province has ranked among the top in China. We have reinforced the leading role of opening-up, and become an active player in the Belt and Road cooperation. We have launched a market expansion plan of hosting 100 plus exhibitions overseas, made China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area more open and innovative, built Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation with forward-looking plans, and advanced reforms and innovation in the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The “Qilu” China-Europe Railway Express has completed more than 2,500 services. These efforts have further released the vitality for opening-up and development.

This year has written a vivid story of our practice of "creative transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture". Shandong has taken on new missions of promoting innovative cultural advancement, building an outstanding cultural sector, and contributing to the enrichment of modern Chinese civilization. We have strengthened cultural inheritance and innovation through building a national cultural park as well as cultural experience corridors along the Yellow River, the Grand Canal, the Great Wall of Qi, the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, and the Qingdao-Jinan railway line, implementing "Shandong Cultural Lineage" project, and elevating the influences of World Internet Conference Nishan Dialogue on Digital Civilization and Nishan Forum on World Civilizations. We have accelerated the deep integration of culture and tourism through holding Shandong Tourism Development Conference and promotional event in Beijing to highlight the "Friendly Shandong, Remarkable Shandong" brand. Shandong is endowed with breath-taking natural scenery between the mountains and the sea as well as a unique poetic charm. Choosing Shandong for work and for life has become a general consensus.

This year has witnessed our commitment to the founding aspiration of serving the people. To secure a better life for our people is what we aim to achieve in everything we do. We have endeavored to deliver concrete benefits that warm the hearts of the people and solve the concerns about their livelihoods. The proportion of public financial expenditure on people's livelihoods remained stable at around 80%. Twenty key livelihood-improving initiatives were implemented. Over 1.2 million new jobs were created in urban areas, while 619,000 jobs for public welfare purposes were added in urban and rural areas. The standards of assistance and protection provided to 9 disadvantaged groups were raised. The proportion of reimbursement for hospitalization in primary healthcare institutions increased to more than 85%. Remarkable progress was made in the all-out fight to keep our skies blue, our waters clear, and our land pollution-free. The people of Shandong are gaining a stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security in this province that becomes more beautiful everyday.

Great courage and perseverance are revealed from hardships, and only after polish can a jade presents its beauty. Looking back on the past year, shining were the days of hard work, unforgettable were the warm memories, worthy of praise was everyone striving for better tomorrows! The hard-won achievements are the result of General Secretary Xi Jinping's visionary instructions and the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, hard work of the Shandong people under the guidance of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, as well as the care, support and assistance of friends from all walks of life at home and abroad. Here, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you!

Taking the next step is the only way to finishing a long journey. The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and a critical year for the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. In the new year, we will follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly implement the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping for the work of Shandong, focus on “taking the lead and opening up new prospects”, and adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and establishing the new before abolishing the old. We will carry out the national strategy of ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and step up the building of the pilot zone for green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, coordinate the expansion of domestic demand and the deepening of supply-side structural reforms, integrate new forms of urbanization and overall rural revitalization, and balance high-quality development and high-standard security. Our steady and down-to-earth work will help shape new advantages in modern industries, effective demand, digital economy, rural revitalization, coordinated regional development, reform and opening-up, green and low-carbon development, people's well-being, safe development, and public opinion, thus writing a new chapter of the Shandong’s practice of Chinese modernisation.

Without the accumulation of soil and rocks, Mount Tai does not stand tall; without the convergence of rivers and streams, the ocean does not become deep. Shandong, a land of natural blessings and inclusiveness, is proactively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm. By building and making better use of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation and other open platforms for international cooperation, we strive to break new ground for opening-up and share our opportunities with the world for a win-win future. We warmly welcome friends at home and abroad to the "Friendly Shandong, Remarkable Shandong". Learn about the cultural legacies of the Qi and Lu States, take a look at our lush mountains and blue sea, feel the pulse of our development and surging momentum, experience our folk customs and warm hospitality, and meet with your second hometown and people of utmost integrity. We will continue to foster a market-oriented and law-governed business environment up to international standards, making Shandong the first choice for investment and business, a fine destination for innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as a happy home for life. Shandong will become a place of dreams where every go-getter and visionary can realize their goals for a successful career and a wonderful life.

The land of Shandong holds deep affection for its people, bursting with new vitality everyday. The new journey leads to new dreams, and the new year nurtures new hopes. Let us join hands on the road forward with perseverance, diligence, and great ambition. Together, let’s create a better tomorrow in Shandong!

I sincerely wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best!