Opinion

1. Improving investment efficiency

Investment plays a crucial role in economic development. To improve investment efficiency, the investment direction should be more precise and effective, and support should be increased for projects that make up for shortcomings, strengthen weak parts, benefit people's livelihoods, and increase momentum. The investment environment should be more fair and convenient, and continue to stimulate the vitality of private investment.

2. Seizing the key to the development of humanoid robots

As one of the highlights of the development of new quality productive forces, the humanoid robot industry is entering upward development, becoming a new highland for technological competition, a new track for future industries, and a new engine for economic development. It has a great potential for development and broad application prospects.

Policy

1. The General Office of the State Council has issued a document on strictly regulating administrative inspections on companies, aiming to curb arbitrary inspections and effectively ease the burdens on companies.

2. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, subsidies will be granted for purchasing new digital products such as mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, and wristbands.

3. China aims to complete building the main structure of a national data infrastructure by 2029. This is part of the country's broader push to build a unified national data market and develop the digital economy, according to a guideline issued on January 6, 2025 by the National Development and Reform Commission and two other authorities.

Data

1. China's software and information technology services industry logged steady growth from January to November 2024, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed. The combined software revenues of major companies in the sector reached RMB 12.29 trillion during the period, up 10.7 percent year-on-year, according to the ministry.

2. The annual number of border crossings of passengers and vehicles at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port exceeded 27 million and 5.55 million respectively in 2024, up 72 percent and 71 percent year-on-year respectively, setting new records.

3. Horgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region handled 8,730 China-Europe freight train trips in 2024, up 12.5 percent year-on-year, and cargo throughput at the port reached 12.08 million metric tons, up by 10.9 percent year-on-year, setting a record high.

4. Heishui River modern irrigation project, China’s first major water conservancy project in 2025, started recently in Zuojiang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. It is one of the typical major water conservancy projects in supporting major national strategies while building up security capacity in key areas, and the investment of the project is estimated to be RMB 7.697 billion.

5. China has made a significant breakthrough in copper exploration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over the past four years, with the discovery of more than 20 million metric tons of copper ore deposits. The China Geological Survey, an institution of the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that the fresh discovery will greatly enhance the security of the nation's copper resources.

6. After handling 51.5 millionth TEUs in 2024, Shanghai Port has solidified its competitiveness as the world's busiest container port for 15 consecutive years, said the port's operator Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. The cumulative volume of rail-water intermodal transport through Shanghai Port exceeded 900,000 TEUs in 2024, hitting a record high.

7. China's breakthrough in lithium exploration has boosted its global share of lithium reserves from 6 to 16.5 percent, raising its global ranking from sixth to second, the China Geological Survey announced on January 8.

8. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, remarkable achievement has been made in building the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle over the past 5 years, and the GDP of the Economic Circle is expected to grow to RMB 8.6 trillion in 2024, with its share of the country increasing from 6.3 percent to more than 6.5 percent.

9. China has built a comprehensive meteorological observation system, with the meteorological disaster monitoring rate reaching 80 percent. China has provided services to 132 countries through Fengyun satellites, China Meteorological Administration said.

10. China's parcel delivery industry shattered all previous records in 2024, data from the State Post Bureau showed. The total volume of express delivery services last year reached 174.5 billion parcels, marking a 21 percent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, business income from these services surged to RMB 1.4 trillion, reflecting a 13 percent growth.

(Source: Economic Daily)