Tan Zhen, mayor of Hai'an, delivers a report on the municipal government's performance in 2021. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

The first session of the 17th Hai'an Municipal People's Congress took place on Jan 11, with Tan Zhen – mayor of the county-level city of Hai'an, administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – delivering a report on the municipal government's performance during 2021.

Hai'an made great progress in its economic and social development in the first year in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). The city's economy recorded an estimated GDP of 138 billion yuan ($21.7 billion), with a year-on-year growth of 9.3 percent.

The average GDP growth rate over the past two years was 7.5 percent and with taxes and fees cut last year by 600 million yuan, the general public budget posted revenue of 6.95 billion yuan, up by 7.8 percent.

Fixed-asset investment came in at 57.2 billion yuan, up 6.6 percent, 41 billion yuan of which was industrial investment that was 25 percent higher than that in the previous year.

Total retail sales of consumer goods hit 41.7 billion yuan, achieving a growth of 16 percent. Per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents was 55,300 yuan and 27,950 yuan, respectively rising by 10.5 percent and 11 percent.

The report also announced the main economic and social development targets for 2022. The growth rate of regional GDP is projected to be at least 7 percent, while the general public budget revenue is expected to hit 7.5 billion yuan.

Fixed-asset investment is projected to increase by 6.5 percent, of which industrial investment is projected to grow by 12 percent. Investment in research and development is expected to be higher by 2.75 percent.

In terms of people's livelihoods, the per capita disposable income of residents is projected to keep pace with local economic growth, while the urban registered unemployment rate is seen remaining under 3 percent.

In addition, Hai'an will also prioritize improvements to the environment, reductions in pollution and cuts to energy consumption.