The year of 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China – while it also marked a significant year in the city of Quanzhou's reform and opening-up, according to local officials.

Wang Yongli, mayor of Quanzhou city in southeastern Fujian province, presented the 2019 government work report at the 5th session of the 16th Quanzhou municipal people's congress on Jan 4, during which he outlined the major progress the metropolis made over the course of last year.

Quanzhou's economic development has maintained sound and steady growth over the past year. Various main economic indicators grew steadily: GDP increased by about 8 percent, the added value of industries above a designated size grew by 8.5 percent on the previous year and the added value of the tertiary industry rose 8 percent.

A series of policies and measures were launched to support the healthy development of private business, offering total funding of 4.55 billion yuan ($662 million) to local private enterprises and a tax reduction of about 12 billion yuan.

The city's project promotion mechanism was upgraded and a special service group was set up to speed up the settlement of a number of postponed projects.

As a result, 460 major projects with a total investment of 140 billion yuan have settled in the city. 

The city also signed 332 new industrial projects with a total investment of 255.7 billion yuan in 2019. 

The coastal city acted actively to ameliorate the trade friction between China and the United States, local officials said. 

It launched policies and funds to support foreign trade businesses that focus on commercial relations with American counterparts. In addition, various commodity exhibitions highlighting the ancient Maritime Silk Road were organized to promote local industrial products. 

Foreign trade exports in Quanzhou increased by 20 percent last year on 2018 levels and the value of exports in the form of market procurement and trade reached 17 billion yuan in 2019. 

The city also received approval by the State Council to be the first pilot city to export prepackaged foods in China.

Wang Yongli, mayor of Quanzhou city in southeastern Fujian province, presents the 2019 government work report on Jan 4. [Photo/qzwb.com]