Pushing boundaries with new growth philosophy

An intelligent factory of VT Industrial Technology, a high-tech manufacturer headquartered in Hongshan. CHINA DAILY

Since January, a total of 210,600 yuan of allowances and 1.17 million yuan of two subsidies for the disabled have been paid out.

Villagers who struggled to pay their medical bills now have access to insurance specially designed for them by the government.

In Hongshan, some of its roads were updated and grocery stores were renovated. Old residential areas underwent regeneration, a healthcare service center was built and a school opened.

A subdistrict-level intelligent garbage supervision system started operating, which was the first of its kind in Wuxi. Public spaces such as recreation rooms, meeting rooms and libraries were set up in communities.

The subdistrict has also held musical performances as well as events celebrating the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar.

Hongshan has also made notable progress in environmental governance.

Local officials have urged 14 enterprises that produce air pollutants to make changes and 18 enterprises to update their facilities. These efforts have improved air quality and placed Hongshan among the leading subdistricts in this effort.

According to local officials, from January to May, 80 percent of the subdistrict's annual environmental protection tasks were completed, and 90 percent of monitored local river areas reported a water quality at or above national standard.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), 600 enterprises were shut down because of environmental contamination and damage caused, and 185 enterprises were upgraded to meet the national standard.

With regard to rural vitalization, Hongshan has completed construction of a 33.33-hectare demonstration farm using few chemical fertilizers.

A number of old sites in villages have been turned into spots promoting the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism.

Moreover, Wuxi Urban Construction Development Group has teamed up with Syngenta Group, a Swiss agrochemical firm, to set up a farm with futuristic ideas.

Not resting on its laurels, Hongshan has released its plan for the second half of this year. "We adhere to a people-centered philosophy. We will share the outcomes of development with our residents," a local official said. "We will continue to build government-subsidized housing and improve the infrastructure in villages.

"To offer better services to residents, we will leverage resources to communicate with the public and guarantee security at work and in life."

He continued: "High-quality rural vitalization is crucial to promote common prosperity. We will increase the area of high-standard cropland by 80 hectares and integrate sightseeing and rural homestays into our agriculture.

"The living conditions in rural areas will be improved with the help of five ongoing upgrade projects and a demonstration village project. Bed-and-breakfast brands and hotels are welcome to open their outlets in Hongshan."

yinruowei@chinadaily.com.cn