TU Yonghong: Strengthening the Regional Foundation of Chinese Modernization—The Mission and Responsibility of the Yangtze River Economic Belt

High-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is a vivid embodiment of Chinese modernization. It reflects the dialectical unity of "ecology and development in co-existence, and regional and national interests moving in tandem."

Chinese modernization is characterized by the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. Guided by the strategic principle of "prioritizing ecological conservation and avoiding large-scale development", the Yangtze River Economic Belt upholds "ecology first and green development". Fundamental progress has been made in ecological protection, providing key support for building a Beautiful China.

Chinese modernization also pursues the goal of common prosperity for all. To achieve this, China must address the challenge of unbalanced regional development. The upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt each have their own strengths in natural resources, industries, innovation, and talent. Through improved infrastructure connectivity and cross-regional industrial transfer, these regions have formed complementary advantages. A new pattern has emerged in which "points, corridors, and areas" are interconnected, enabling optimized allocation of resources and production factors. This has given rise to five world-class industrial clusters, i.e., electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy vehicles, home appliances, and textiles and apparel. These clusters provide foundational support for China to move from the lower end to the mid-to-high end of the global value chain and to accelerate the building of a new development paradigm.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Yangtze River Economic Belt must focus on key areas and critical links, create new demand, and stimulate new supply, thereby contributing even more Yangtze strength to the realization of Chinese modernization.

(Translated excerpts from the views of TU Yonghong, Researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy (NADS), and Dean of the Yangtze River Economic Zone Research Institute, and Professor at the School of Finance of Renmin University of China, at the sixth session of the Jiangshan Forum· Expert Talks, an original short video interview series of NADS.)