Yunnan deputies, members discuss development of new productive forces

The Yunnan deputies to the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the Yunnan members of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) had in-depth discussion on March 6 over developing the new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.

The new quality productive forces are closely related to innovation and modernization of the industrial system. When it comes to the term, this year’s government work report noted that China should give full rein to the leading role of innovation and press ahead with new industrialization, so as to raise total factor productivity and promote a new leap forward in the productive forces.

Upgrading old industries with new technologies

Traditional industries with advantages are the industrial base of Yunnan province. So how should the province transform or upgrade them? In the view of NPC deputy Li Xianxiang, who is also mayor of east Yunnan’s Qujing city, it is necessary to attract more investment and focus on key industries to extend the supply chains and strengthen the industrial chains.

Li said that Qujing is focusing on resource-based economy and construction of industrial parks. “By developing three 100-billion-yuan industries of new energy batteries, silicon/photovoltaic products and aluminum deep processing, the city is striving to build a modern industrial system.” The city is strong in chemicals, tobacco, agriculture, culture and tourism.

Central Yunnan’s Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture saw industrial investment increase by 38.6% in 2023, ranking second among the 16 localities of the province. Attracting investment from Geely Technology and Xinlian Technology, the prefecture gained momentum in clean energy and green manufacturing.

NPC deputy Zhang Wenwang, also governor of Chuxiong, said that based on local realities and resource characteristics, the prefecture will develop key industries, implement a number of major projects and accelerate new industrialization.

"As the intersection for industries to migrate between China and south-southeast Asia, Yunnan has the best conditions to undertake industrial transfer," said CPPCC member Guan Yunhong, also president of the Yunnan New Social Stratum Association.

Given the province aims to be the Chinese pivot of opening-up to south and southeast Asia, Guan advised Yunnan to step up industrial land planning in the border areas, increase policy support to construction of industrial parks, and invite in high-quality enterprises for industrial upgrade.

"The approach to high-quality development of Yunnan agriculture lies in giving full play to technological innovation, forming new quality productive forces and helping build up a modern industrial system," said CPPCC member Li Xuelin, also an agricultural researcher based in Yunnan province.

Li believes that the development of modern agriculture in Yunnan should focus on the following points: The first is to reform agricultural science and technology, the second is to stick to the development of local specialties, the third is to industrialize agricultural products, and the fourth is to integrate agriculture into other industries.

"With a solid foundation, a large size and high efficiency, the Yunnan-featured agriculture finds its development potential in the unique climatic zones across the province," said NPC deputy Yang Changkai, also chairman of Yunnan Sinong Vegetable Seeds Development Co., Ltd. Yang mentioned adaptive management and professional training.

Yunnan potential in new productive forces

New quality productive forces are characterized by innovation. The key is high quality, and the essence is advanced productivity. Yunnan province has the potential to develop new quality productive forces.

Resting on its resource endowment, Yunnan has worked hard on emerging industries over the years, such as new materials, biomedicine, rare metals, advanced manufacturing and photoelectric products. These new industries and products have been strong drivers for high-quality development.

"The government work report mentioned the ‘new trio’ of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, and they all have been visible in Yunnan,” said NPC deputy Kong Lingyong, also president of the Shenzhen-based Defang Nanotechnology Company.

Noting that Yunnan’s output in photovoltaic products and new-energy batteries have grown by over 25% for 10 plus months, Kong pointed out that clean energy has become a prominent advantage for the province to develop new quality productive forces, citing China’s dual goals of reaching peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.

"I suggest that a key national laboratory for medical biotechnology be established in Yunnan, so that the biological resources in the province and south-southeast Asian countries could be used for medical biotechnology," said NPC deputy He Yanping, who is also professor at Yunnan University.

In recent years, Yunnan University has cooperated with Kunming Institute of Zoology of Chinese Academy of Sciences to develop antiviral drugs by using authentic Yunnan herbs. Yanping added Yunnan has promoted the biomedicine as a 100-billion-yuan industry, and manufacturing of provincial vaccines and biological drugs have driven industrial development and transformation.

The development of new quality productive forces cannot be separated from high-quality talents. "Higher education will play a vital role in developing new quality productive forces," said NPC deputy Wang Hua, also president of Kunming University of Science and Technology.

Wang suggested further optimizing the regional layout of high-level universities, increasing support for the development of higher education in west China, strengthening organized scientific research, and concentrating on solving major problems in core technologies, so as to better develop regional new quality productivity.

Li Xiaoxuan, CPPCC member and vice-president of the China Association for Non-Government Education, suggested speeding up integrated training for young talents, improving the match-makings between scientific organs and technological talents, and integrating talent-training modes into the educational, industrial and innovative chains.

Reporting by Zuo Chao, Qu Shuning, Yue Xiaoqiong, Deng Qingwen and Zhang Xiaoyu; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue