Zhuhai is one of the most economically vibrant cities in China, says the 2019 China Urban Business Environment Report that was released by China Media Group on June 18.

The report ranks Zhuhai 10th among 100 top domestic cities (excluding municipalities, capitals, and other places specified in state plans) according to 2018 GDP. This is the first report of its kind compiled by national mainstream media.

Over the past year, Zhuhai has reformed delegating powers, streamlined administration, and optimized government services. Jinwan District, for instance, was named a Chinese Business Environment Demonstration Zone, while 57 institutional innovations were carried out in Hengqin Free Trade Zone. More than 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) of newly adopted tax cuts and fee reductions were tallied in the city's government work report.

Groundbreaking ceremony of Zhuhai Songcheng Performance Park on April 28 [File photo] 

In 2020, the city government plans to further cut red tape, improve communication between government and enterprises, and promote preferential policies, with tax cuts and fee reductions expected to exceed 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).

This April, the Municipal Party Committee and People's Government issued two work plans in which seven major actions are proposed to improve government workstyles and 12 measures to address prominent problems in business environment.

As a result, ground was broken for the 15-billion-yuan ($2.1-billion) Zhuhai Songcheng Performance Park in Doumen District on April 28, only 221 days after the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement. Huang Qiaoling, chairman of Songcheng Group, said Zhuhai's speed backed by efficient services and a sound business environment shores up his investment confidence.

Moreover, agreements were signed for 32 key projects involving equipment manufacture, electronic information, biomedicine, new materials, cultural tourism, and modern services, which will bring total investment of 56.7 billion yuan ($8 billion).

So far, 1,302 affairs in Zhuhai can be processed at citywide administrative offices. The scope will be extended by late October to 80 percent of municipal government affairs, all livelihood affairs closely related to residents, and 85 percent of the top 200 most frequently handled government services.

Other cities on the Top 10 list are Suzhou, Nantong, Yantai, Wuxi, Dongguan, Shaoxing, Wenzhou, Weifang and Jinhua.