The topic of the "three trillion yuan" milestones in urban development has garnered significant attention this year. By 2025, Beijing's total economic output is projected to surpass the 5 trillion yuan mark for the first time. Meanwhile, Wenzhou in Zhejiang province and Dalian in Liaoning province are set to join the ranks of cities with a regional GDP exceeding one trillion yuan. Furthermore, Nanshan District in Shenzhen, Guangdong, has become the first district-level administrative unit in China to achieve a total economic output of over one trillion yuan. These achievements—a "trillion-yuan capital," "trillion-yuan cities," and a "trillion-yuan district"—highlight the coordinated advancement of regional development and showcase the resilient growth of China's economy amidst complex global conditions. Cities making this "vigorous leap" are becoming powerful engines for high-quality economic development in China.
As more cities reach these new economic tiers, it prompts reflection: how should cities, having attained substantial economic scale, continue to pursue progress? Where does their future potential lie?
For cities that have reached high economic altitudes, creating a "second growth curve" is a critical challenge. The key is to forge new competitive advantages while building on existing strengths. For instance, Shenzhen, with its early start and dense concentration of enterprises in the low-altitude industry, is fully competing in this new sector. In 2025, the added value of Shenzhen's low-altitude economy and aerospace industry cluster reached 35.061 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 31%. Similarly, Xi'an in Shaanxi province, leveraging its solid foundation in new materials, has grasped the key to industrial chain collaboration. Through a "common origin, shared chain" model, the new materials industry is driving the coordinated development of multiple industrial clusters. By capitalizing on distinctive advantages and fostering new productive forces tailored to local conditions, cities can cultivate new industries and momentum, thereby propelling their development to even higher levels.
A larger economic scale necessitates a broader, more holistic perspective, using regional coordination to expand development space. Rapid economic growth and large scale can inevitably lead to a siphon effect on surrounding cities; coordinated regional development is the solution. In the Yangtze River Delta, a "4-hour industrial circle" for robotics is rapidly taking shape, with controllers developed in Shanghai, servo motors from Zhejiang, reducers from Jiangsu, and shells from Anhui. By each province and municipality playing to its strengths and collaborating effectively, the region has achieved 100% localization of core components for robots, with an overall domestic production rate of 94% and a cost reduction of 40%. Expanding the overall economic "pie" leads to mutual benefits and a win-win situation for all parties involved.
The ultimate goal of economic development is to enhance public welfare and achieve comprehensive human development. The continually rising economic scale must ultimately be reflected in the improving quality of life for citizens, from daily necessities to housing, transportation, and beyond. The renovation of old residential communities, which impacts the well-being of millions of households, represents a significant investment opportunity. The transition from basic "elderly care" to "enjoyable aging," making "support for the aged, purpose in old age, and happiness in later life" a reality, is creating vast consumer markets. Pursuing development aims to benefit people's livelihoods, and improvements in livelihood, in turn, continuously unleash domestic demand potential, injecting strong momentum into urban development. By steadily strengthening the social safety net in areas such as employment, housing, education, healthcare, and elderly care, and effectively addressing the "key small matters" that concern the public, cities can become filled with tangible warmth and comfort. This ensures that the ascent in urban stature resonates with the rising happiness and expectations of the population.
The "three trillion yuan" benchmarks demonstrate the immense potential of the Chinese economy and reflect the vibrant prospects of Chinese modernization. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, there is anticipation for more cities to strive for higher achievements and innovate for the future, collectively advancing towards a promising era of high-quality development.