The Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province held a press conference on December 18, focusing on the achievements of Shenzhen during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Officials of Shenzhen attend the press conference in Shenzhen on December 18.
Mayor of Shenzhen Qin Weizhong introduced the overall economic and social development of Shenzhen during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. He highlighted new progress and achievements in Shenzhen's efforts to promote Chinese-style modernization in six domains.
These include a leap in comprehensive economic strength, the development of new quality productive forces, major breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation, deepening reform and opening up, improvements in urban functions and quality, and advancements in social welfare and people's livelihood.
In the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the city's GDP increased from 2.78 trillion yuan in 2020 to 3.68 trillion yuan in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 5.5%, ranking first among first-tier cities.
The total import and export volume increased from 3.05 trillion yuan in 2020 to 4.5 trillion yuan in 2024, also ranking first among cities nationwide.
"Trendy tech products made in Shenzhen, such as consumer drones, panoramic cameras, sports headphones, 3D printers, and electric bicycles, sell well worldwide," Qin added.
As a hub of innovation, total R&D investment in the city increased from 151.08 billion yuan in 2020 to 245.31 billion yuan in 2024. R&D intensity reached 6.67%, ranking first among Chinese cities. Enterprise R&D investment as a percentage of GDP remained above 93%, consistently placing it first in the country.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first in the 2025 Global Innovation Index. Shenzhen has ranked first among Chinese cities in PCT international patent applications for over two decades.
Since the 14th Five-Year Plan began, the city has established 41,000 new foreign-invested enterprises, accounting for 15.7% of the national total, with actual foreign investment reaching nearly 300 billion yuan. The number of sister cities and ports in Shenzhen has increased to 124.
"Shenzhen's international network is expanding, its economic and trade cooperation is broadening, and its role as a crucial window for reform and opening up is becoming increasingly prominent," Qin noted.
The city, as an international comprehensive transportation hub, seamlessly connects domestic and international markets.
Major transportation projects such as the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the third runway of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, and the Xiaomo International Logistics Port have been completed and put into operation. The port's container throughput remains the fourth largest in the world.
The airport's passenger throughput is projected to exceed 65 million this year. The subway's operating mileage has surpassed 600 kilometers. Passenger flow intensity in Shenzhen remains the highest among China's megacities.
Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the city's expenditures on nine categories of people's livelihood have totaled 1.6 trillion yuan, accounting for approximately 70% of fiscal expenditures.
This has resulted in the addition of 965,000 basic education places, over 30,000 hospital beds, and 632,000 units (rooms) of affordable housing, making high-quality public service resources more inclusive, balanced, and accessible.
Reporter | Zhang Ruijun
Photo | Zhang Ruijun
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
