City releases 15th Five-Year Plan to boost sustained economic momentum

Nantong, a significant economic hub in Jiangsu province and a key city in the northern Yangtze River Delta region, is embarking on a new phase of development.

According to its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the city is committed to fulfilling its political responsibility as a major regional economic center. It also strives to become a pivotal growth pole for high-quality development in Jiangsu, establishing itself as a central city in the region.

Over the past five years, Nantong has significantly strengthened its comprehensive capabilities, with the economic output of its counties averaging over 160 billion yuan ($23.3 billion). In 2025, the city's GDP reached 1.28 trillion yuan, marking a 5.3 percent growth rate that outpaced the national average by 0.3 percentage points. Public budget revenues increased by 4.2 percent, exceeding provincial and national averages by 2.1 and 5.9 percentage points, respectively. The added value of industries above designated size grew by 7 percent, while service sector revenues rose by about 9.5 percent.

Moreover, Nantong experienced positive trends in investment and foreign trade. In 2025, the city secured 532 new projects, each exceeding 500 million yuan in domestic investment and $30 million in foreign investment. Its fixed asset investment growth ranked second in the province, and for the first time, the total value of imports and exports surpassed 400 billion yuan. This steady progress is underpinned by a profound optimization of structure and continuous quality improvements, local officials said.

Cross-river integration

Strategically positioned across the Yangtze River from Shanghai, Nantong has prioritized the development of cross-river connections, planning eight routes along its 166-kilometer shoreline to link with Suzhou city in Jiangsu and Shanghai.

Currently, Chongqi Bridge and Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge are operational. Meanwhile, projects like Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel and Chongqi Yangtze River Rail-Road Bridge are under construction, scheduled to open by 2028. Planning and preliminary work for the Second Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Crossing and Chonghai Yangtze River Bridge are being accelerated.

As these channels take shape, Nantong's geographical advantage will become evident, fully integrating it into Shanghai's "one-hour metropolitan area" and boosting cross-river development. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the number and scale of projects signed between Nantong and Shanghai have grown, with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing and modern services.

Official statistics indicate that the two cities have engaged in extensive cooperation in science and technology, commerce, transportation, industry, and information technology. In Nantong, over 50 percent of enterprises have established collaborative relationships with Shanghai. Additionally, 60 percent of goods are imported and exported through Shanghai ports, and 70 percent of industrial enterprises above designated size have partnered with universities and research institutions in Shanghai.

Furthermore, Nantong has signed a memorandum of cooperation for the Shanghai-Nanjing Collaborative Innovation Cities Alliance and established a development mechanism with Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou.

In this cross-river integration, Nantong emphasizes not only industrial cooperation, but also innovation collaboration. Platforms like the Nantong National High-tech Industrial Development Zone are strengthening ties with Shanghai's innovation hubs, facilitating the commercialization of research achievements in Nantong.

New innovation platforms, including the National Innovation Center par Excellence's Nantong branch and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Nantong Advanced Technology Research Institute, have been established.

Coastal development

Nantong boasts the longest coastline and deep-water shoreline in the province. In recent years, the city has accelerated the development of industrial clusters focused on marine equipment, new energy, and new materials.

As the Yangtze River Estuary Collaborative Zone for Industrial Innovation and Green Development and the Jiangsu Pioneer Zone for High-Quality Marine Industry Development transition from planning to implementation, Nantong has established a development pattern centered on innovation and manufacturing along both the river and the sea.

Major marine-related projects, with a total investment of 250 billion yuan, are advancing rapidly, and the scale of marine-related industries has exceeded 1 trillion yuan. Over the past five years, Nantong has added 122 new productive berths and received approval for a port-type national logistics hub, which supports the settlement of port-related industrial projects.

Coastal areas such as Rudong and Qidong are expanding their offshore wind power capacity, with key components being produced locally. The output value of the new energy industry has exceeded 100 billion yuan, becoming a vital pillar of Nantong's industrial economy.

Coastal development is also reflected in the city's level of openness. By leveraging its port cluster and comprehensive bonded area, Nantong is building a river-sea hub and enhancing its multimodal transport system. The city's foreign trade has grown steadily, with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, thereby boosting the resilience of its open economy.

Innovation and industry

In recent years, Nantong has focused on stabilizing industry, expanding investment, promoting consumption, and optimizing services, in a bid to develop new quality productive forces and pursue innovation-driven, project-supported, and cluster-developed manufacturing.

The city has effectively targeted investment promotion efforts toward advanced manufacturing, new energy, new materials, high-end textiles, and shipbuilding. As a result, a range of large-scale projects have been signed, with strategic emerging industries such as high-end equipment and biomedicine steadily increasing their share among industries above the designated size. Additionally, the number of national-level specialized, innovative enterprises and "little giant" companies continues to grow.

Building a modern industrial city at the forefront of technology is a top priority in Nantong's 15th Five-Year Plan.

At its new industrialization promotion conference in January, the city revealed plans to leverage artificial intelligence in manufacturing as a key driver to establish a modern industrial system with maritime characteristics by the end of 2030.

Nantong's focus on "AI plus manufacturing" stems from its solid foundation in the real economy. To date, the output value of the city's six key industrial clusters has exceeded 1.3 trillion yuan. In 2025, Nantong added 11 factories recognized as excellent-level smart factories and 13 as 5G factories, ranking first and fifth respectively among prefecture-level cities nationwide. It was also approved as a national pilot city for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Additionally, the city has consistently improved its business environment, earning recognition as an innovative business environment city by China Central Television for three consecutive years. This year, Nantong introduced upgraded measures to enhance its business environment, implementing 83 initiatives across five major areas, which have attracted widespread attention.

Intelligent internet of things facilities at a scientific and technological company in Nantong. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge can accommodate both cars and trains. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Offshore windmills in Rudong county, Nantong. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Nantong is a significant economic hub in Jiangsu province and a key city in the northern Yangtze River Delta region. [Photo provided to China Daily]

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn