Containers pile up at Rugao Port. Cargo and container throughputs at the port increased 33 percent and 135 percent year-on-year in January, both record highs. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, aims to become the strongest county in northern Jiangsu province in terms of economic development, local media outlets reported.

"Taking projects, technology, and capital as major forces, the city will work to cultivate three industrial clusters each worth more than 50 billion yuan ($7.76 billion) during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25)," said He Yijun, Party secretary of Rugao.

The city also aims for more than 100 billion yuan in industrial investment and hopes to rank among China's top 20 counties within three years, according to He.

Rugao's industrial output above designated size was valued at 122.3 billion yuan in 2020, up 6.8 percent year-on-year. The output value of strategic emerging industries and high-tech industries respectively accounted for 32.3 percent and 40 percent of the total.

This year, the city will attach heavy importance to the development of industrial chains involving intelligent equipment, automobiles and parts, new materials, new-generation information technology, and life sciences and healthcare.

Intelligent manufacturing will be promoted among leading companies, with three provincial-level smart plants being developed. Technical reform will be carried out in more than 60 percent of companies above designated size and all companies paying more than 5 million yuan in taxes.