In the heart of the Chinese mainland, the Yangtze River Delta is setting a new standard for high-quality growth. Marking seven years since Beijing elevated its integrated development to a national strategy, this powerhouse region—spanning Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui—now accounts for 24.8% of China’s total economic output in the first half of 2025.
Far from enforcing uniformity, the Delta’s model thrives on strategic roles, industrial specialization, and healthy competition. Cities collaborate across sectors and forge global partnerships, fueling a world-class industrial network:
- Integrated circuits: 60% of the national total
- Artificial intelligence: about one-third of China’s output
- New-energy vehicle production: roughly 40% of the country’s volume
Within this dynamic ecosystem:
- Shanghai leads on integrated circuits and new-energy vehicles.
- Nanjing excels in software development and information services.
- Hangzhou is a hub for cloud computing, large AI models, and video security.
- Wuxi is rising in the Internet of Things and aircraft engines.
By breaking down administrative barriers without redrawing jurisdictions, the Yangtze River Delta turns bold blueprints into real-life progress. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, its journey offers fresh insights on building resilient, collaborative economies—proof that when cities unite around complementary strengths, they can create miracles.
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The Yangtze River Delta serves as a model for Chinese modernization
cgtn.com
