Spread across Shanghai and its neighboring provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, the Yangtze River Delta covers just 4% of the Chinese mainland’s land area yet is home to 17% of its population and generates nearly a quarter of its economic output.
A National Strategy Takes Shape
In November 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping elevated integrated development of the delta to a national strategy at the First China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Since then, Xi has made repeated visits and led key meetings to steer the region toward a modern economic system with higher standards for reform and opening up.
Seamless Supply Chains in Action
A single new energy vehicle now showcases the delta’s synergies: chips and software from Shanghai; batteries from Changzhou in Jiangsu; and die-casting equipment from Ningbo in Zhejiang—all within a four-hour drive. This tight network underpins the region’s ranking as the world’s second-largest metro cluster by GDP at $4.65 trillion in 2024, trailing only the Boston–Washington corridor.
Innovation as the Engine
Recognizing long-term, high-quality growth, Xi has pushed cross-region collaboration in tech and industry. In late 2023, stakeholders from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui launched a Yangtze River Delta science and technology innovation community. Their 2024 action plan includes a joint fund, a shared legislative framework and 29 collaborative research projects—from millisecond-level intelligent 6G to advanced materials.
By mid-2024, the delta hosted 26 national advanced manufacturing clusters—32.5% of the mainland total—spanning large aircraft, biomedicine and high-end equipment. R&D intensity climbed from 2.81% of GDP in 2018 to 3.34% in 2023. Internationally, Shanghai-Suzhou and Nanjing ranked fifth and ninth in the 2024 Global Innovation Index’s top tech clusters, cementing the region’s role as a global innovation hub.
Reference(s):
Why China is advancing integrated development of Yangtze River Delta
cgtn.com
