Baotou city is located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

"The defining characteristic of new quality productive forces is innovation," remarked Zhang Rui, deputy to the National People's Congress and mayor of Baotou city. In the recent two sessions, Zhang made a suggestion on the topics of "new quality productive forces" and "new industrialization".

The two sessions refer to the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

In recent years, Baotou city has regarded technological innovation as the driving force for developing new quality productive forces. These forces also accelerate the deep integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial development.

Zhang explained that in 2023, Baotou's total industrial output value exceeded 500 billion yuan ($69.46 billion), doubling from 2020, with a 23.4-percent increase in the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size. 

Discussing the experience of urban industrial transformation, Zhang summarized three points. Firstly, Baotou has implemented supportive policies to encourage enterprise innovation. In 2023, Baotou added 223 new high-tech enterprises and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises.

Factories belonging to Inner Mongolia Tongwei High Purity Crystalline Silicon Co in Baotou. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

Secondly, Baotou has relied on technological innovation to promote the extension of industrial chains and the increase in output value. In 2023, the output value of the rare earth industry in the city exceeded 80 billion yuan. In the same year, the city's polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic industry formed a complete industrial chain, achieved a total output value of 120 billion yuan, and attracted a large number of supporting enterprises.

Thirdly, Baotou has accelerated the transformation of traditional industries towards high-end, intelligent, and green development. This promotes large-scale technological transformations and the replacement of over 10,000 sets of electrical machinery.

Looking ahead, Baotou aims to construct a modern industrial system, including the establishment of clusters for advanced manufacturing industries such as rare earth and polycrystalline silicon photovoltaics. Additionally, it will attract more sci-tech achievements for transformation in Baotou, create a better business environment, and address difficulties faced by enterprises in terms of land use, water, and electricity for projects.