Changjiang town in Rugao, Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

As 2026 marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Rugao has outlined a clear development roadmap in its latest Government Work Report, reviewing the progress made in 2025, summarizing achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), and setting out key goals and tasks for the year ahead.

In 2025, Rugao's economic and social development delivered solid results. The city's gross regional product is estimated to have reached nearly 170 billion yuan ($24.4 billion).

Investment in research and development accounted for 2.85 percent of GDP, reflecting steady progress in innovation capacity. Urban and rural residents saw continued income growth, with per capita disposable income reaching 64,112 yuan and 33,905 yuan, respectively, further narrowing the urban-rural income gap.

Attracting new projects remained a strong driver of growth. Rugao signed and registered 49 new domestic investment projects, each valued at over 500 million yuan, along with 13 foreign-funded projects exceeding $30 million each. Actual use of foreign investment totaled $105 million, with manufacturing accounting for 91.5 percent.

Foreign trade maintained stable growth, with total imports and exports reaching 37 billion yuan, up 5 percent year-on-year, while outbound direct investment stood at $31.35 million.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Rugao's comprehensive strength continued to rise, climbing to 17th place among China's top 100 counties and county-level cities.

Looking ahead to 2026, Rugao has set a GDP growth target of 6 percent, signaling confidence as it embarks on a new phase of high-quality development.