During a recent fact-finding trip to Guangdong province, Premier Li Qiang urged the region to focus on high-quality development and keep its mission in the national strategy firmly in mind. He called for strengthening advantages in innovation-driven growth and leading in reform and opening-up. The visit underscores the urgency to advance economic and social development for a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
Premier Li Qiang conducted a fact-finding trip to Guangdong province from Saturday to Monday, urging the region to stay focused on high-quality development. As a pacesetter, pioneer, and pilot zone for China's reform and opening-up, Guangdong in southern China houses three of the country's first four special economic zones. Its GDP surpassed 14 trillion yuan ($2 trillion) in 2024.
In Shenzhen, Li was briefed on the planning and development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. He stressed reinforcing the principal role of enterprises in innovation, improving policy, financial, and talent support, and leveraging the strengths of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The premier also visited the Shekou Cruise Homeport, a helicopter base in Shenzhen, and the Robot Valley, the city's hub for robotics innovation, to learn about the development of China's low-altitude economy. Underscoring that the vitality of science and technology lies in their application, Li called for improving the industrial ecosystem, expanding application scenarios, exploring effective business models, and accelerating the iterative upgrading of new technologies.
While traveling through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a major cross-sea passage in southern China, he emphasized making full use of advanced technologies to manage and utilize major transportation arteries, ensure safe and smooth operations, and better promote connectivity and development in the Greater Bay Area.
In Foshan, Li said companies should accelerate research, development, and production of high-quality products and foster a virtuous cycle in which demand guides supply and supply creates new demand. At Foshan International Land Port, he learned about cross-border e-commerce and bonded logistics, underscoring the need for unwavering efforts to expand high-level opening-up, better integrate 'hard connectivity' of infrastructure with 'soft connectivity' of rules and standards, and expand digital and green trade.
The trip highlights Guangdong's pivotal role in the national strategy, pushing for progress across economic and social fronts.
