Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, November 30. On the morning of November 30, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, chaired a symposium in Shanghai on further advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and delivered an important speech. He stressed that further advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, further enhancing innovation capability, industrial competitiveness and development level, and taking the lead in forming a new pattern of reform and opening up at a higher level are of great significance for China to build a new development paradigm, promote high-quality development, and advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. It is imperative to fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, focus on the two keywords of integration and high-quality development, foster a global vision and strategic thinking, resolutely deepen reforms and expand high-level opening up, coordinate scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, coordinate the leading role of major players with the distinctive strengths of each region, coordinate hardware connectivity with institutional synergy, and balance ecological and environmental protection with economic development. Efforts should be made to take the lead in achieving common prosperity, actively explore the building of a modern Chinese civilization, achieve new major breakthroughs in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, take the lead in Chinese modernization, and better play the roles of pioneering exploration, leading demonstration and radiating driving force.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, and Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Cai Qi attended the symposium.

During his inspection tour in Shanghai, Xi Jinping specifically convened this symposium. At the symposium, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xin Changxing, secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC, Yi Lianhong, secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CPC, and Han Jun, secretary of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the CPC, delivered speeches, reporting on the progress of advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and offering opinions and suggestions.

After listening to everyone's speeches, Xi Jinping delivered an important address. He pointed out that since the proposal and implementation of the integrated development strategy for the Yangtze River Delta five years ago, a planning and policy system has taken shape and continues to improve, the function of a strong and vibrant growth pole has been consolidated and enhanced, the establishment of a modern industrial system has accelerated, significant breakthroughs have been made in coordinated regional development, new strides have been taken in reform and opening up, joint efforts in ecological conservation and environmental protection have been steadily advanced, and the overall strength and comprehensive competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta region have consistently ranked among the top in the country. Its role as an important window showcasing the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and a key platform for China's participation in international competition and cooperation has become increasingly evident, winning strategic initiative for building a new development paradigm and advancing high-level opening up. At the same time, it must be noted that there are still many deep-seated issues in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta that need to be resolved, the quality and efficiency of development as well as its radiating and driving effects still need improvement, further efforts are required in key areas and regions for integration, the level of division of labor and collaboration in industrial and supply chains needs to be enhanced, the leading role in establishing a unified national market needs to be further leveraged, reform and opening up must be deepened, and there remain many shortcomings in the governance and development of megacities and super-large cities. Promoting the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta is a major undertaking. We must adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, with each successive term building on the last, to continuously write new chapters in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Yangtze River Delta region should strengthen cross-regional collaboration in technological innovation and industrial innovation. It is imperative to vigorously advance technological innovation, deepen the integration of technological and industrial innovation, foster new industries, business forms and models, expand new development space, cultivate new growth drivers, and better synergize with the Yangtze River Economic Belt and radiate influence across the country. Efforts should be made to integrate technological innovation capabilities and premium resources across regions and departments to achieve win-win cooperation and build a source of technological innovation. More open thinking and measures should be adopted to participate in international sci-tech cooperation and create a more globally competitive innovation ecosystem.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the Yangtze River Delta region should accelerate the improvement of institutional mechanisms for integrated development. It is necessary to break down regional segmentation and administrative barriers through institutional mechanisms, providing systemic guarantees for integrated development. Efforts should be made to enhance the awareness of integration, adhere to the concept of coordinated planning, intensify institutional and mechanism innovation, achieve greater breakthroughs in key areas and regions, strengthen the systematic integration and coordinated implementation of various reform measures, and promote deeper and broader integration. Progress should be made step by step in aligning basic public service systems, coordinating policies, and converging standards, while advancing the convenient sharing of public services across various fields in a categorized manner. It is essential to strengthen cross-regional alignment of standards for various transportation network infrastructures and enhance the level of infrastructure connectivity. The construction of the Yangtze River Delta Ecological and Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone should be accelerated, with improvements to its territorial spatial planning system, strengthened cross-regional coordination and organic linkage in planning, land use, and project construction, and a faster transition from regional project coordination to institutional innovation for regional integration. Cross-regional joint construction and sharing should be promoted, with orderly efforts to facilitate industrial relocation and rational allocation of production factors across regions, making the Yangtze River Delta a true community for regional development.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Yangtze River Delta region should actively promote high-level coordinated opening-up. It should advance high-standard opening-up with a focus on institutional opening, strengthen mutual learning, drawing upon, and replication of reform experiences, and strive to become a powerful engine for the smooth circulation of China's economy and a strategic hub connecting domestic and international circulations. Efforts should be accelerated to build Shanghai into "five centers," advance the comprehensive reform pilot in Pudong New Area, further enhance the radiating capacity of the Hongqiao International Open Hub, vigorously implement the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones, and promote higher-level opening-up in the Lingang New Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The region should promote the in-depth integration of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and facilitate the "going global" of the Delta's competitive production capacity, high-quality equipment, applicable technologies, and standards. It should take the lead in implementing policies and measures to encourage, support, and guide the healthy development of the private sector, further improve the development environment for private enterprises, and promote the healthy and high-quality development of the private economy.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the Yangtze River Delta region should strengthen joint efforts in ecological conservation and environmental protection. It is imperative to seamlessly connect the ecological conservation redlines of the three provinces and one municipality, jointly protect important ecological barriers and corridors, enhance comprehensive prevention and control of air, water, and soil pollution, deepen joint efforts in protecting and managing transboundary water bodies, strengthen regional policy coordination on energy conservation, emissions reduction, and carbon reduction, and build a regional green manufacturing system. We must comprehensively advance clean production, promote energy conservation, carbon reduction, and efficiency improvements in key areas and industries, strengthen and expand green and low-carbon industries, establish and improve a green industrial system, and accelerate the formation of sustainable production and lifestyles. A cross-regional emissions trading system should be established, and we should actively and steadily work toward achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. Plans should be made to develop a new energy system, and inter-provincial electricity mutual assistance should be advanced in a coordinated manner. We must continue to implement the "10-year fishing ban" on the Yangtze River and strengthen joint law enforcement. The mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products should be improved to broaden the pathways for transforming ecological advantages into economic advantages.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Yangtze River Delta region should focus on enhancing its capacity for secure development. It is essential to implement the holistic approach to national security, adhere to bottom-line thinking, balance development and security, monitor key areas such as science and technology, industry, and finance, as well as major infrastructure projects that impact national and regional security, strengthen risk prevention and control systems and capacity building, and consolidate the foundation for secure development. The region should leverage its advantages of a comprehensive industrial system and strong supporting capabilities to implement actions for strengthening and supplementing industrial chains in critical areas and key sectors related to the national economy and people's livelihoods, while enhancing industrial cooperation with the central and western regions to improve the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains. Steady efforts should be made to expand institutional opening-up in the financial sector, enhance the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, strengthen whole-process risk prevention and control, and better safeguard national financial security. High importance should be attached to security in international cooperation, guiding the rational and orderly cross-border layout of industrial chains. It is imperative to adhere to the principle of "cities built by the people," elevate the level of modern urban governance, accelerate the construction of resilient cities, improve urban safety prevention systems, strengthen the basic operational support systems of cities, and enhance disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief capabilities.

Xi Jinping pointed out that to further advance the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, it is imperative to uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership. The central leading group for coordinated regional development must fully leverage its role in planning and coordination, and the strategic guiding function of the outline plan must be upheld. The three provinces and one municipality must earnestly implement the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, strengthen organizational leadership and research, enhance coordination and consultation, and intensify supervision and inspection to promote the resolution of major issues, the implementation of major reforms, and the fulfillment of key tasks. It is essential to build a high-caliber, professional contingent of loyal, clean, and responsible officials, encouraging them to boldly pioneer and take initiative. The second batch of thematic education must be rigorously carried out, with continuous efforts to advance full and rigorous Party self-governance, integrating the fight against corruption to ensure officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to be corrupt. The political and organizational functions of Party organizations at all levels must be reinforced, ensuring all tasks are implemented with strict discipline, solid work style, and clean conduct.

Li Qiang stressed in his speech the need to thoroughly study, comprehend, and implement the guiding principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech. He called for positioning the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta within the broader context of national development and planning it as a driver of high-quality growth nationwide, leveraging its role as a major economic engine, a source of development momentum, and a testing ground for reform to better support and serve Chinese modernization. Efforts should be made to further facilitate economic circulation, achieve rational and efficient flow and allocation of resources and production factors, promote the development of a unified national market, and guide rational industrial and economic distribution. It is essential to proactively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, expand institutional opening-up, build high-level gateways for opening-up, and enhance the appeal to global goods and resource factors. By fully leveraging strengths, highlighting distinctive features, deepening cooperation, and empowering each other, localities should transform their individual advantages into regional strengths, jointly reinforcing competitiveness to elevate the overall efficiency of regional development.

Li Ganjie, He Lifeng, Wu Zhenglong, Mu Hong, and Jiang Xinzhi attended the symposium. Responsible officials from relevant central and state organs, localities, and enterprises participated in the symposium.