Zhuhai leads 100 large and medium Chinese cities in sustainable development for the third consecutive year, ahead of even Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Wuxi, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Xiamen.

The China Center for International Economic Exchanges, Columbia University in New York City, and AliResearch announced results of the 2020 Chinese sustainable development assessment index system April 13 in Beijing. Their compilation is based on overall economic development, livelihoods, resources and environment, energy consumption and emissions, and environmental treatment and protection. 

Wang Fuqiang, director of the Industrial Planning Department of the CCIEE, said Zhuhai has blazed a trail of sustainable development with its own characteristics amid vibrant industrial development. This is evident in green development, an ever-improving business environment, exquisite layout of public service and support facilities, solving of the smallest livelihood problems, and construction of Hengqin International Leisure Tourism Island.

Zhuhai leads the country in sustainable development [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

The city's advantages in social governance, business environment, innovation systems, and talent aggregation have become increasingly prominent with the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2018 and growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In this light, five 100-billion-yuan ($15-billion) clusters for emerging industries of integrated circuits, biomedicine, new materials, new energy, and high-end printing equipment are taking form in the city.

The Guangdong government and Party committee released "Opinions on Supporting Zhuhai in Building a Modernized and Internationalized Special Economic Zone in the New Era of Socialism With Chinese Characteristics" on March 29. The document supports Zhuhai as suitable for residence, employment, and travel with high-quality development in the Greater Bay Area, said Wang.