REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT
Delivered at the First Session of the Sixteenth Beijing Municipal
People's Congress on January 15th, 2023
Yin Yong, Acting Mayor of Beijing
Fellow Deputies,
On behalf of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, I will now report to you on the work of the government over the past five years and make proposals on our work this year for your deliberation and approval. I also invite comments from members of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
I. Review of Work in the Past Five Years
Following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Beijing entered a new era of landmark importance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has carried out ten inspections of our city and made important remarks concerning Beijing on 18 occasions, in which he gave instructions on major topics, plans and matters concerning the long-term development of the capital, and addressed the critical issue of "the role and functions of China's capital, and how we should shape Beijing to meet these goals". His instructions embody the fundamental principles guiding our work in Beijing in the new era.
Over the past five years, we have been working under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and the direct leadership of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. We have also received support and supervision from the Beijing Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee. We have been guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and fully implemented the visions outlined at the 19th CPC National Congress and the plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee. We have studied, disseminated and acted on the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and followed the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Beijing. We have fully and faithfully applied the new development philosophy on all fronts, strengthened Beijing's position as the "four centers"[1], improved our ability to deliver four services[2], accomplished the three key tasks[3], and fought to win the three tough battles[4].
We have launched the Five Key Initiatives[5] to adapt to the new development dynamic, redoubled efforts to promote the development of Beijing as the capital of the nation in the new era, and become a national pacesetter in finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Improvements have been made in the city's overall performance and its international standing, and solid progress achieved in building Beijing into a harmonious and livable world-class metropolis. As a result, the city has seen a historic transformation.
Over the past five years, we have accomplished the following main tasks.
First, we have kept to the strategic positioning of Beijing as the national capital, and embraced historic changes in the city's development.
We have strictly implemented the rule that all critical decisions concerning the planning of the capital should be submitted to the CPC Central Committee for approval. Resolute measures have been taken to rectify problems in the fields of planning and natural resources to uphold the authority of the city's planning. We have formulated the Development Control Plan for the Core Zone Serving Capital Functions, the Development Control Plan for Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) and the plans for each district and key functional area to further improve the capital's planning system.
We have attained the goals of development with reduced input set out for the first phase implementation of the Master Plan of Development for Beijing (2016-2035). We have met the target of a 15% reduction of permanent residents in Beijing's six urban districts compared with 2014. The supply of land for urban and rural construction has been cut by 120 square kilometers. The 132 square kilometers of land strategically vacated and reserved for future development has been placed under rigorous management. Thanks to these efforts, Beijing now boasts a more balanced spatial layout that better harmonizes the needs for people's work and daily life with the requirement to protect the environment.
Top priority has been given to providing services to the nation's political center. The celebrations for the centenary of the CPC and the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic were solemn, grand and spectacular. New headway has been made in strengthening Beijing's position as the national cultural center, the national center for international exchanges, and an international center of innovation. We have advanced the application for UNESCO recognition of the Central Axis as a World Cultural Heritage Site to better protect the old town, and made notable progress in vacating buildings that occupy sites of cultural heritage to protect these sites and put them to good use.
Second, we have relocated functions non-essential to the role of Beijing as the capital, and secured solid progress in coordinating the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
We have launched two special programs for urban improvement. With 240 million square meters of illegal structures demolished, the city's eight districts and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area are now generally free of illegal buildings. The city has taken on a fresh new look that meets the expectations of our people.
The BMC is thriving. Powers over 153 administrative items have been delegated to the BMC from the municipal government. The first group of municipal-level government bodies have moved into the BMC. A number of quality public service facilities including schools and hospitals have opened, and the construction of transport, cultural and other major projects has gathered pace. The Universal Beijing Resort was inaugurated. The BMC is building up strengths in business services, culture and tourism, and technological innovation. Steady progress has been made in achieving high-quality development in coordination with the three neighboring counties of Hebei Province.
Deeper Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration has been expanded at a faster pace. We have fully supported the development of the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province, and have basically completed several turn-key projects for Xiong'an, which include a kindergarten, a primary school, a middle school, and a hospital. Construction of the Beijing-Xiong'an Intercity Railway has been completed, Beijing Daxing International Airport is fully operational, and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Shenyang High-Speed Railway, and Beijing-Tangshan Intercity Railway are in service. The Beijing-Hebei section of the Grand Canal has opened to tour boats. The second phase of the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project has been completed. With progress first made in transport connectivity, eco-environmental conservation, and industrial integration, a modern national capital region with a cluster of cities is taking shape at a faster pace.
Third, we have advanced the capital's innovation-driven and high-quality development.
We have built the three national laboratories in Zhongguancun, Changping and Huairou to high standards. The Comprehensive National Science Center in Huairou has taken initial shape. A number of new R&D institutes have emerged, technological bottlenecks have been tackled and world-leading proprietary advances in science and technology have been made. We have formulated and implemented 24 pilot reform policies for the Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone, and released regulations to promote the commercialization of research results. The city's R&D intensity has been maintained at around 6%, and the number of patents granted has increased by around 13% annually. The total revenues of companies in the Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone have grown by an annual average of over 10%. Beijing is accredited as a global top three science and technology cluster by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Focusing on high-end, precision and cutting-edge industries, we have fostered two "trillion-yuan industrial clusters" focusing on the new generation of information technology and scientific and technological services respectively. Five major industrial clusters have taken shape, covering medicine and health, smart equipment, artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, and energy conservation and environmental protection, each with an annual output value of 100 billion yuan. Financial and other modern service industries stand out in the economy. Beijing ranks first among Chinese cities in the number of national high-tech enterprises, "little giants"[6] and unicorn companies.
We have built on and expanded our strengths in the digital economy. The development framework for big data and smart city has been put in place. The Jingtong, Jingban and Jingzhi mobile terminals[7] have been widely used. The Beijing International Data Exchange has started trading, and the added value of the digital economy now accounts for around 42% of Beijing's Gross Regional Product (GRP). Progress toward building a global consumption center has steadily advanced. Twenty-two traditional commercial areas have been upgraded, and new forms of consumption represented by live-streaming e-commerce and digital cultural consumption have developed rapidly.
Over the past five years, Beijing's GRP has surpassed three and then four trillion yuan. The city's per capita GRP exceeds 180,000 yuan, the highest among all Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and provincial-level cities and equivalent to that of a medium-level developed economy.
Fourth, we have deepened reform and opening-up through building the "two zones"[8], and injected fresh dynamism and vitality into the capital's development.
We have actively supported and participated in the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide more institutional support to opening-up. Around 200 groundbreaking policy measures for opening-up – the first of their kind in China – have been formulated, and 55 best practices have been scaled up nationwide.
The Beijing Stock Exchange was established and began trading. The Beijing Internet Court and the Beijing Financial Court have been set up. The China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), the Zhongguancun Forum, and the Financial Street Forum have been elevated to major platforms for China's opening-up and development.
Beijing has evolved from a follower to a pacesetter in improving the business environment. Over 1,000 reform measures have been rolled out as the city's reform package is upgraded to its fifth version. As a result, over 60% of approval items, 74% of required documents, and 248 certifications have been cut and the processing time has been reduced by 71%. We have extended the business licensing and operational permit reform to encourage entrepreneurship. Formalities for starting a business and registering real estate among others can now be completed within one day, and businesses can secure utility connections free of charge and without paying physical visits to the relevant departments or prior approval. Over 90% of government regulatory oversight on businesses have been conducted through a random selection of both inspectors and inspection targets, and over 98% of municipal and district level government services can be accessed online.
We now offer "service packages" and "steward services" to companies, and have implemented the national policies on tax and fee cuts to the maximum level. In the past five years, we have relieved businesses of 530 billion yuan of financial burden through tax and fee exemptions, cuts, refunds and deferrals, and more than 200 billion yuan in 2022 alone.
New breakthroughs have been made in the reforms in major fields and key areas, including public finance and taxation, pricing, and investment and financing systems. We have completed our task in the pilot program of clearing all hidden government debt ahead of schedule, and saved 26.9 billion yuan through total-cost and performance-based budgeting. With greater capacity for innovation, state-owned enterprises have reached new heights in business performance.
Over the past five years, the total paid-in foreign investment in Beijing has exceeded 75 billion US dollars. The export volume of "double proprietary" companies[9] has increased by over 10% annually. The open economy of Beijing has grown despite the pandemic and external suppression and sanctions.
Fifth, we have prioritized agricultural and rural development, and achieved greater balance between urban and rural areas and among different parts of the city.
All low-income rural households in Beijing have been lifted out of the low-income category, and the number of low-income villages has been cut to zero. The annual average growth of rural residents’ per capita disposable income has outpaced that of urban residents by more than one percentage point. We have implemented an accountability system for food security and non-grain food supply, overfulfilled the task of maintaining a farming area of no less than 1.66 million mu (110,667 hectares), and sustained a rapid growth in grain and vegetable production.
Thanks to the accelerated work on the High-Tech Farming Z-Park, Beijing has become a center of seed development. We have basically completed the reform of the rural collective rights system, as well as the confirmation, registration and certification of the rights of rural contracted land. Major headway has been made in the pilot trading of rural collective land earmarked for development purposes. We have made significant gains in building a beautiful countryside by extending sewage collection and treatment to over 1,500 villages, and equipping nearly all rural households with non-polluting toilet facilities.
Development in southern Beijing has picked up pace. The new Shougang area has become a landmark for the capital’s urban renewal in the new era. The "Wangsiying model" has offered sound practice in achieving growth with reduced input in peri-urban zones. Greater efforts have been made to improve the ecology and environment and advance the green development of eco-conservation areas.
Beijing ranks among the highest performers in the national evaluation in terms of east-west collaboration and paired-up assistance, by helping 73 partner banners and counties, and a population of 2,006,000 who live there, out of poverty.
Sixth, we have continued to address issues associated with Beijing as a megacity, and made the city more harmonious and livable.
We have made steady progress in cutting carbon emissions. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions per 10,000 yuan of GRP remain the lowest among provincial-level jurisdictions in China. We have fought to keep our skies blue. The annual average concentration of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) has dropped to 30 μg/m3, down 48.3% since 2017. Beijing’s success in air pollution control has been hailed by the United Nations Environment Program.
The city’s sewage disposal rate has risen from 92.4% to 97%. No cross-sections of water bodies rank below Class V in the national and municipal surface water assessment. All five major rivers now have free-flowing water connecting to the sea. The volume of water in the Miyun Reservoir has reached an all-time high. The groundwater table in the flatlands has been rising for seven consecutive years by a total of 10.1 meters. Beijing has become a national pacesetter in water-use efficiency.
We have overfulfilled the new one million mu (66,667 hectares) afforestation goal. Large green spaces, such as phase I of Beijing Wenyu River Park, have been created. The China Botanical Garden was officially opened. Forest coverage has reached 44.8%, and green development has become a defining feature of the capital.
We have put in place an integrated transport system. With another 16 subway lines (sections) coming into service, nearly 200 kilometers of mileage has been added, extending the total network to 797 kilometers. With the opening of the Huairou-Miyun Line and others, the suburban railway mileage has increased by 183 kilometers. Qinghe Railway Station, Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station, and Beijing Fengtai Railway Station have opened for service, and a number of urban expressways and arterial roads, such as Lincui Road, have been built. Electronic fee collection for roadside parking now covers almost all roads above collector-road level. Over 3,200 kilometers of non-motorized traffic facilities have been upgraded. The well-regulated shared bikes have made cycling a thriving practice among the capital’s citizens.
We have put in place an innovative mechanism of giving quick answers to community calls and swift response to public complaints. We have encouraged government bodies to take proactive measures to address complaints before they are raised, and 94% of the calls, 100 million in total, that have been made to the "12345" hotline have been properly addressed with a public satisfaction rate of 95%. The difficulty in obtaining property ownership certificates due to legacy issues has been resolved for 342,000 units of housing.
There has been a consistent effort to address the two important "minor details"[10]. The waste sorting system has been extended to over 16,000 communities and villages, and the coverage of property services has reached 97%. Significant improvements have been made in community-level governance. We have completed the reform in the sub-district/township management system, and worked out a new approach to governance for large communities in the Huilongguan and Tiantongyuan areas.
Seventh, we have adopted a people-centered development philosophy, and raised the quality of life in all aspects.
In the past five years, we have delivered 157 practical services of importance in people's daily life. We have taken solid steps to stabilize and expand employment. A total of 1,475,000 urban jobs have been added, and the surveyed urban unemployment rate has been kept at a low level. Residents' per capita disposable income has reached 77,000 yuan. Beijing was among the first in China to establish a unified urban-rural social security system covering all its residents, thus steadily delivering greater security for the people in all respects.
We have implemented the pre-school education action plan and raised the coverage of affordable kindergartens to 88%. The twin pressures of homework and off-campus tutoring on children in the compulsory education system have been eased. We have advanced school-operation by educational groups, reformed the school district system, and added another 180,000 places at primary and middle schools. Support has been given to 34 institutions of higher learning and 162 academic disciplines for growing into world-class universities and first-class disciplines.
We have taken solid steps in advancing public cultural programs, and provided support to local areas that host revolutionary sites. The number of brick-and-mortar bookstores in Beijing tops the country, and a number of outstanding artistic and literary works have emerged. The city's urban and rural healthcare systems have been improved with the reform of dispensing separation and the readjustment in hospital charge on medical service and consumables. We have built more sports venues and facilities, and public participation in recreational sports is thriving.
A total of 1,424 community-based eldercare service stations and 1,168 catering service stations for the elderly have been established. We have improved social security for people with disabilities and created more barrier-free environments. Beijing has led the country in advancing social programs for women and children. We have fostered sound development of the real estate market and delivered 540,000 units of government-subsidized housing of various types. More than 5,100 households have applied to sign agreements to vacate their rented single-story residential courtyards in the core zone, and more than 5,900 of such dwellings have been renovated. The retrofitting and upgrading of 981 run-down residential compounds has benefited nearly 500,000 households.
We have taken the lead in fostering a resilient city. Thanks to coordinated actions to eliminate safety hazards, workplace-related accidents and deaths have fallen by 33% and 36.5% respectively compared with 2017. We have defused financial risks associated with peer-to-peer lending and trading platforms and in other areas, and have ensured that no systemic risks occur.
We have maintained the city's law and order, and secured major victories in actions against organized crime and in rooting out local criminal gangs. A number of unsettled public complaints and prevalent problems have been resolved. We have supported capacity building in national defense and the armed forces, and ensured greater unity between the military and local residents and civilian authorities. Beijing leads the country in delivering services for veterans. New efforts have been made in relation to the interests of ethnic minorities, religion, and overseas Chinese.
Eighth, we have advanced full and rigorous self-governance over the Party and made progress in strengthening the governance capacity.
We have carried out activities to ensure that our Party members have a solid understanding of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and major policies, and that they meet Party standards. We have launched an initiative on staying true to our Party's founding mission in order to encourage all Party members to learn more about the history of the Party. We have rectified problems reflected in the feedback from the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work during its sixth round of inspection and the Central Environmental Protection Inspection Team during its two rounds of inspection.
We in the government have subjected ourselves to the scrutiny of the Municipal People's Congress in terms of the legality of our actions. We have also placed our work under the oversight of the Municipal CPPCC Committee. In the past five years, a total of 59 local regulations have been submitted to the Municipal People's Congress for deliberation. We have formulated, revised and abolished 92 regulations. We have processed 19 motions and 4,395 suggestions raised by deputies to the Municipal People's Congress and 5,623 proposals made by Municipal CPPCC Committee members.
Government counselors and members of the institute for culture and history have played an advisory role and offered suggestions. We have advanced joint law enforcement reform, and taken solid steps to build exemplary law-based government. We have completed municipal and district-level institutional reform and steadily advanced the reform of public institutions.
Conscious of the need for vigilance over the budget, we have cut general expenditure by 7.66 billion yuan and reduced spending on official overseas visits, vehicles and hospitality by 42.9%. We have maintained a vigorous approach to rectifying pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and improved work conduct.
Official documents issued were cut by 50.7% and meetings called in the name of the municipal government by 36.5%. City and district governments no longer require administrative offices under the district level to issue certificates. Auditing-based oversight now covers all government work. We have established safeguards against the risk of corruption in key government areas and fostered a healthy political culture of integrity and honesty.
Fellow Deputies,
Over the past three years, in face of the once-in-a-century pandemic, we have fully implemented the Party Central Committee's decisions and plans to put people and their lives first and prevailed over multiple waves of Covid-19 infections. We have protected the lives and health of our people to the greatest extent possible. In light of the evolving situation of Covid, measures are adjusted to further coordinate pandemic response and economic and social development. Beijing has entered a new phase of Covid-19 containment.
To beat Covid-19, officials and the general public working on all fronts rose up to the challenge with courage and dedication. They have put in place a highly-effective system of pandemic prevention and control. Our medical professionals showed no hesitation when they had to put themselves in harm's way to save lives and protect people's health. Community workers and volunteers stayed put and worked around the clock at the forefront of the battle. Scientists and researchers pioneered breakthroughs through collaboration. Two indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccines have contributed to the global fight against the pandemic. Deliverers, couriers, and public utilities and logistics workers exerted themselves in disregard of their own health risk to ensure stable operations of the city. Above all, our citizens have reached out to each other and fought the virus with tenacity and solidarity. They have won this all-out people's war against the pandemic with a high sense of dedication and responsibility. Thanks to the efforts of the countless unsung heroes, we have mustered a mighty force to overcome these unprecedented difficulties and challenges.
Fellow Deputies,
Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, in close cooperation with Zhangjiakou, and with the support of all the Chinese people at home and abroad, we hosted a green, inclusive, open, and clean event. After seven years of intense preparation amid various risks and challenges, we offered to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Games are remembered for the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, world-class venues and facilities, and splendid game events, winning broad recognition from the international community. We created the spirit of Beijing 2022, that is, to bear in mind the big picture, be confident and open, rise to challenges, pursue excellence, and create a better future together. Beijing, the first and the only city that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics, has reinforced its status as both the capital of a great nation and a great metropolis.
Fellow Deputies,
In 2022, we coordinated our Covid-19 response with our pursuit of economic and social development, and were able to succeed in achieving both. Facing unanticipated disruptions, we improved the quality of economic development, maintained social harmony and stability, and delivered quality services to the 20th CPC National Congress.
The GRP for 2022 is expected to register positive growth. The general public budget revenue increased by 2.6% after deducting VAT credit refunds. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.8%. The official urban unemployment rate is estimated to be within 5%. The per capita disposable income of residents saw steady growth.
Reflecting on the past five years, we recognize that the General Secretary's support and guidance have been critical to every step forward we have taken, and to the positive changes taking place in Beijing. Fully aware of General Secretary XiJinping's expectations, we have fulfilled our historic missions over the past five years. Our great city has undergone a profound transformation and embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist capital in all respects.
These hard-won achievements are attributable to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade XiJinping at its core, and the guidance of XiJinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They are also attributable to the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and all citizens of Beijing, who have worked in unity and with tenacity.
Here, on behalf of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the people of Beijing, to the deputies to the Municipal People's Congress and members of the Municipal CPPCC Committee, to the other political parties, people's organizations, and individuals from all sectors of society, to all CPC central organs and central government departments, to other municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions, to officers and rank-and-file members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force based in Beijing, to our fellow countrymen and women in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and to overseas Chinese and foreign friends who have taken an active interest in and given support to the capital.
However, we are also keenly aware that Beijing still faces many difficulties and challenges, and that there are problems to be solved and room for improvement in our work.
We are yet to fully meet the expectation of our Party and people in strengthening Beijing's role as the "four centers" and its capacity to deliver the four services. The foundations of economic recovery must be further consolidated as enterprises, especially micro, small, and medium-sized ones still struggle with multiple difficulties. High-end, precision and cutting-edge industries need to be strengthened to support self-reliance and further development in science and technology. Bottlenecks in core technologies must be addressed. More efforts are needed to improve public health, medical service, environment, transport, education, and elderly care. Insufficient development in urban and rural areas, and uneven development between them and across different parts of the city remain acute issues. The competence and conduct of government officials must be improved as they take up new tasks in changing circumstances. The efficiency of government services, primary-level governance and the city's emergency response capacity in extreme circumstances must be improved. We must take these issues seriously and redouble our efforts to resolve them.
Report on the Work of the Government 2023 (Part II)
[1]The "four centers" refers to the national political center, cultural center, center for international exchanges, and center for scientific discovery and technological innovation.
[2]The "four services" refers to services for the central authorities, for international exchanges, for science, technology and education, and for the betterment of people's lives.
[3]The "three key tasks" refers to implementing the Master Plan of Development for Beijing (2016-2035); relieving Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the capital and coordinating the development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; and ensuring a complete success of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
[4]The "three tough battles" refers to forestalling and defusing major risks, targeted poverty alleviation, and pollution control.
[5]The "Five Key Initiatives" refers to building Beijing into an international center for innovation; making progress in building the "two zones"; developing the digital economy; stimulating and creating new demand through supply-side structural reform; and making greater headway with Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development through relocation of functions non-essential to the role of the capital.
[6]The "little giants" refers to specialized, high-end and innovation-driven SMEs that provide distinctive products or services. They possess high innovation capacity and core technologies in key fields, thus boasting a strong performance and a large market share in their respective niche markets.
[7]The Jingtong mobile platform aims to facilitate people’s access to government services; the Jingban platform aims to assist the four levels of government with their work; and the Jingzhi platform aims to facilitate informed decision-making.
[8]The "two zones" refers to the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone.
[9]"Double proprietary" companies are companies that own both proprietary brands and proprietary intellectual property rights.
[10]The "two important ‘minor’ details" refers to waste sorting and property management.