Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu. [Photo/WeChat account: qidongfabu]

Qidong closed 2025 with solid economic performance, as the city's gross domestic product is expected to grow by 5.8 percent during that 12-month period.

Urban and rural residents' per capita disposable incomes are projected to reach 65,900 yuan ($9459.82) and 39,460 yuan, respectively, with steady year-on-year increases.

Innovation continues to play a growing role, with research and development spending accounting for 3 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, the offshore engineering and shipbuilding sector has recorded double-digit output growth for three consecutive years, reinforcing Qidong's industrial strengths.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Qidong maintained stable momentum, posting an average annual GDP growth rate of 5.6 percent. GDP per capita rose to 166,000 yuan, reflecting improvements in productivity and living standards.

The city attracted $1.05 billion in foreign investment, while total imports and exports exceeded 180 billion yuan. Residents' per capita disposable income climbed to 54,700 yuan, and the urban-rural income gap continued to narrow, with the ratio falling from 1.82 to 1.67 — better than the provincial and Nantong averages.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Qidong has set its sights on surpassing 200 billion yuan in GDP, signaling its confidence in its long-term development prospects.

For 2026, the city targets GDP growth of around 6 percent, with R&D investment expected to account for some 3.05 percent of GDP, underscoring a continued commitment to innovation-driven, high-quality growth.