As 2023 began, several top provincial party officials embarked on their first inspection tours of the year.

In terms of research locations, county-level areas have received close attention.

At this critical juncture of making every effort to boost the economy, stabilizing the foundation of the county-level economy is of extraordinary significance.

01

Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary Yi Lianhong Visits Ningbo for Research, Emphasizing the Courage to “Ride the Waves and Stand at the Forefront”

On January 3, Yi Lianhong, Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, traveled to Ningbo to conduct in-depth research in revolutionary base areas, key enterprises, industrial parks, and cultural heritage sites.

Yi Lianhong’s first stop on this trip to Ningbo was Yuyao, a county-level city.

He first visited Hengkantou Village in Yuyao to pay tribute to revolutionary martyrs, then toured a local manufacturing enterprise recognized as a “single-item champion,” encouraging scientific research and innovation.

The itinerary clearly demonstrates the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee’s close attention to county-level areas.

During a face-to-face discussion with enterprise representatives, Yi Lianhong received feedback regarding issues such as raw material supply and capacity expansion.

Yi Lianhong emphasized:

Party committees and governments at all levels across the province must always stand with enterprises, think as one with them, and work alongside them. They should treat the difficulties faced by enterprises as their primary focus, establish mechanisms for coordinated resolution, follow-up supervision, and closed-loop implementation, and ensure that the issues raised by enterprises are addressed effectively and thoroughly.

In the first three quarters of 2022, Yuyao achieved a regional GDP of 109.57 billion yuan, ranking among the top in the province.

However, situated within the three major metropolitan areas of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo, Yuyao benefits from the “metropolitan synergy” while also facing the “siphon effect” head-on.

Against the backdrop of increasingly scarce resources, how can Yuyao break new ground in county-level economic development?

There is no standard answer to such questions.

Yet Zhejiang has repeatedly served as a model precisely because it dares to pioneer and experiment. When faced with challenges, it does not seek answers in textbooks but finds solutions in reality. This embodies the courage to “ride the waves and stand at the forefront of the tide,” as emphasized by Yi Lianhong.

On the 2022 list of the top 100 counties, Zhejiang claimed 27 spots, ranking first nationwide.

Every move it makes carries significant implications for the entire country.

02

Gansu Provincial Party Secretary Hu Changsheng Visits Dingxi for Research, Calling for “Every Possible Effort to Develop and Expand Industries”

On January 1, Hu Changsheng, Secretary of the Gansu Provincial Party Committee, visited Dingxi City to extend New Year’s greetings and conduct on-site research.

For many years, the issue of uneven development in Gansu has been particularly prominent.

A look at the province’s economic data reveals that Lanzhou stands out with an economic output of 300 billion yuan, while “mid-tier cities” like Dingxi have a total economic output that is less than one-third of Lanzhou’s.

▲ Gansu’s “waist” is long, but not thick enough.

So, why was Dingxi—a “mid-tier city”—chosen as the first stop for the New Year’s inspection tour?

Let’s take a look at Dingxi’s performance.

In the first three quarters of 2022, Dingxi City achieved a regional GDP of 41.5 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7%, ranking fourth in the province.

Thanks to these outstanding results, Dingxi received the “Progress Award” for key municipal and prefectural work in the first three quarters of 2022—marking the sixth time the provincial government has awarded it this honor since 2021.

People in Gansu all know a joke about Dingxi:

Dingxi has three treasures: potatoes, potatoes, and potatoes.

Choosing Dingxi as the first stop for my New Year’s inspection tour was precisely to encourage these “mid-tier cities” to keep making progress, just like Dingxi.

These cities each have their own unique characteristics, and their county-level economies have significant room for growth, making them crucial to Gansu’s future.

According to the “Gansu Province Action Plan for Strengthening County Economies (2022–2025),” by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the number of counties with an annual GDP exceeding 10 billion yuan is expected to reach 46, including 12 counties with an annual GDP exceeding 30 billion yuan.

To achieve these goals, investment promotion and project development are the most critical drivers.

As Hu Changsheng emphasized at the Provincial Party Committee’s Economic Work Conference on December 29: “We must ensure that large enterprises stand tall and strong, while small and micro enterprises flourish everywhere.”

With only three years remaining until the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan, now that the goals have been set, we should accelerate our efforts.

03.

Shanxi Provincial Party Secretary Lan Fo’an Visits Wuxiang County to Pay Tribute to Revolutionary Martyrs and Reflect on the Hardships of the Past

On January 1, Lan Fo’an, Secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee, traveled to Wuxiang County in Changzhi City to pay his respects at the Eighth Route Army Taihang Memorial Hall.
I have noticed that several top provincial Party officials have included visits to revolutionary base areas or visits to pay respects to veteran Party members in their itineraries.

The “red gene” must be passed down from generation to generation.
This is because the “red gene” is rich in the practical experience and wisdom of the Party and the people; it possesses a powerful practical force for understanding and transforming the world, and holds significant importance for advancing reform and innovation.
Today, Shanxi has, in fact, launched an “energy revolution” aimed at re-examining and transforming the energy sector.
On September 23, 2019, the “Opinions on Launching a Comprehensive Reform Pilot for the Energy Revolution in Shanxi” was officially issued, marking the beginning of Shanxi’s “energy revolution.”
Pioneering and leading the way.
In recent years, Shanxi has indeed devoted significant effort to the transformation and upgrading of its energy industry and has achieved notable results.
In particular, the new energy sector has achieved leapfrog development.
In this regard, Guchuan United is both a witness and a participant. As a key partner of the Changzhi Economic and Technological Development Zone, Guchuan United has successively introduced several high-quality industrial projects to Changzhi, such as: a 4-billion-yuan integrated wind-solar-storage new energy project, an annual 20,000-ton lithium battery anode material production project, and a semiconductor materials manufacturing project.
On December 30 of last year, Shanxi’s first heavy-duty truck battery swapping station was completed and put into operation in Changzhi, injecting strong momentum into green development. This city, rich in coal mines, is actively establishing a foothold in new energy sectors such as photovoltaics, wind power, hydrogen energy, and energy storage.
Its transformation is a microcosm of Shanxi’s energy revolution.
With the arrival of its first Guangdong-born top leader, it remains to be seen whether the land of Sanjin can blaze a new trail in the transition from a resource-based economy.

The actions of the provincial party secretary serve as a “barometer.”

At this critical juncture of all-out economic development, stabilizing the foundation of the county-level economy holds extraordinary significance.

Behind this, the shift in economic growth models—from large-scale urbanization to county-level urbanization, from prioritizing coastal development to balanced national development, and from foreign trade-driven growth to a domestic economic cycle—has laid a solid foundation for the rise of small counties.

Counties—which account for over 90% of the nation’s land area, host more than 60% of the registered population, and generate approximately 40% of GDP—are bound to become a vital engine for expanding domestic demand, promoting investment, and fostering new growth poles in China.