Wuzhong in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region is upgrading its industrial structure and cultivating new growth drivers, striking a balance with ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin.

"We will leverage our comparative advantages and maintain a long-term commitment to development," said Wang Xuejun, secretary of the Communist Party of China Wuzhong Municipal Committee and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

"Our goal is to keep the city's GDP growing at an average annual rate of more than 5 percent and to build a pilot zone for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin."

In 2025, Wuzhong's GDP reached 96.17 billion yuan ($14 billion), and the year-on-year growth rate was an average of 6.2 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

To sustain the momentum, Wuzhong is focusing on industrial upgrading and the development of competitive industries.

The city is promoting the transformation of its industrial base by advancing modern chemical engineering, new materials, clean energy, equipment manufacturing and green food processing, while continuing to develop distinctive sectors such as specialty agriculture and cultural tourism, Wang said.

Traditional industries, including metallurgy and building materials, are also undergoing technological upgrades to improve efficiency and environmental performance.

Emerging industries like green hydrogen production, storage, transportation and applications are fostered as well.

Industrial parks play a central role in local industrial transformation. Wuzhong is further optimizing the spatial layout, development focus and industrial structure of its parks, with the combined industrial output of five key parks expected to surpass 130 billion yuan in 2026.

New energy has emerged as a central pillar of Wuzhong, supported by the region's abundant wind and solar resources. Ningxia State-owned Capital Operation Group is among the companies investing in the sector in the city.

According to project manager Zhang Qizhong, the city has established a "green channel" for project approvals, streamlining procedures and shortening review times. "In three years, we will focus on largescale development, extending the industrial chain, smart upgrades and ecological integration, becoming a core support for the city's green and low-carbon transformation," Zhang said.

Through initiatives such as green electricity industrial parks, renewable energy generation is increasingly linked with manufacturing, helping raise the share of clean energy consumption and supporting the development of a modern energy system, said Wang.

While advancing industrial transformation, Wuzhong is also strengthening regional cooperation and promoting an open economy, working with major economic hubs such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"We will continue to balance domestic and external development, actively foster an export-oriented economy, and strive to increase total import and export volume by more than 10 percent," Wang said.

Meanwhile, Wuzhong is also seeking to stimulate domestic consumption by developing new consumption scenarios that combine agriculture, culture, tourism, sports and commerce. Events such as the morning tea and food culture festival and the Yellow River-themed marathon have helped raise the city's profile as a tourist destination.

"We expect both tourist arrivals and tourism spending to increase by more than 10 percent," Wang said.

Looking ahead, Wang emphasized that the city will continue to pursue green and innovation-driven development.

"By building stronger industries, improving the business environment and expanding regional cooperation, we will create new momentum for high-quality development and contribute further to the modernization of Ningxia and the country," he said.

Contact the writers at zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn