Taiyuan city, capital of North China's Shanxi province, has undergone great changes over past decades under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, or the CPC.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the city has established and implemented major strategies -- covering such areas as industry-powered, talent-driven and environment-based city development, innovation, military-civilian integration and rural revitalization -- so as to fully promote its transformation and development.
The annual GDP of the city has now exceeded 400 billion yuan ($61.91 billion) and the per capita GDP has risen from 18th in 2015 to 15th in 2020 among the provincial capital cities. Its growth rate for fixed asset investment, ranked at front of provincial capitals in China.
The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the local economy have developed in coordinated way. Agriculture industry has achieved greener and more efficient development, while the service sector has realized high-quality and diverse improvement. Emerging industries -- including high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials and information technology -- have fully engaged in cluster developments.
Innovation has developed strongly in Taiyuan, with many national-level innovation carriers now operating in the city. Moreover, the city has accelerated the construction of the National Sustainable Development Agenda Innovation Demonstration Zone and has been approved as a key city for the construction of a national intellectual property operations service system.
Progress on further reforms and its opening-up has been made. Taiyuan has extended its energy revolution and local development zone system innovations.
It has developed major events and incorporated such signature events as the Yaocheng (Taiyuan) International General Aviation Conference and the Taiyuan International Marathon into its brand events.
The city has also taken on a new look in terms of its urban appearance and environment. Urban villages, shanty towns and old communities have been renovated; urban roads, bridges, utility tunnels, parks and green spaces have been established and a multimodal transport network has been established.
The comprehensive management of the ecology and environment of the East and West mountains and the establishment of forests around the city have been remarkable. The Taiyuan section of the Fenhe River basin has completely eliminated all water bodies inferior to Grade V -- the lowest level of water classification that cannot meet standards for drinking, or industrial or agricultural usage.
As for the quality of life of the locals, the incomes of urban and rural residents is understood to have increased significantly.
Yangqu and Loufan counties -- under the administration of Taiyuan -- have been lifted out of poverty, while the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic has made substantial progress.
In addition, Taiyuan has continuously improved its grassroots governance, in the course of establishing a safe and harmonious society.