Guangdong Province held its annual high-quality development conference in Guangzhou on Feb. 5, the first working day after the Spring Festival holiday, mobilizing efforts across the province to achieve high-quality development.

Following the provincial conference, Longhua District hosted its own annual high-quality development conference on Feb. 7. During the event, the district government issued guidelines to set the course for Longhua’s future growth across various sectors.

Industry the cornerstone of quality growth

In his keynote speech, Longhua District Party Chief Wang Wei emphasized that the foundation of high-quality development lies in industry. As an industrial powerhouse, Longhua plays a key role in Shenzhen’s overall industrial development. The district’s industrial growth should further strengthen the city's industrial base.

Under the framework of the district’s modern manufacturing and modern service industry system, Longhua will continue to explore new products, technologies, business models and application scenarios across industrial sectors. Efforts will be intensified to accelerate the development of Longhua as a key consumption zone in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to Wang.

The district will adhere to an innovation- and project-driven development model, with plans for over 263 new industrial projects throughout the year. Greater emphasis will be placed on regional industrial development within Longhua, as well as the construction of modern infrastructure and the promotion industrial investment.

According to Du Yu, head of the district’s Development and Reform Bureau, Longhua aims to achieve an 8% year-on-year growth in total fixed asset investment, building on a 6% year-on-year growth in the district's regional GDP. The bureau will introduce more preferential policies to ensure smooth economic operations and the continued development of fixed asset investment. Additionally, it will explore more far-reaching, high-potential projects in key sectors such as high-end medical device manufacturing and new energy.

The district’s Industry and Information Technology Bureau aims to accelerate the development of Longhua’s advanced manufacturing system through several initiatives. These include advancing the construction of the Shenzhen North Software Industrial Base and doubling the annual output of the low-altitude industry.

Additionally, the bureau plans to release over 40 hectares of industrial space through land redevelopment efforts, facilitate the transfer of 10 hectares of land for six industrial projects, and promote the construction of industrial parks and multi-story industrial facilities for state-owned enterprises.

The Longhua Smart Technology Industrial Park.

The bureau announced Feb. 14 that Longhua Smart Technology Industrial Park, the city’s first high-quality industrial space pilot project with a 100% absorption rate, completed construction on Dec. 31, 2024 and has been ready for use. Situated in the Liguang-Yesun Advanced Manufacturing Industrial Park in Guanlan Subdistrict, the park has secured agreements with 17 specialized and sophisticated SMEs from sectors such as precision instrument manufacturing, new energy, and smart devices. Among them are one listed company and two "little giants." Collectively, these enterprises are projected to generate an annual output of 2.7 billion yuan (US$ 375 million).

Beef up supportive measures for enterprises

Longhua District Commerce Bureau and Longhua District Investment Promotion and Enterprise Service Center will strengthen support measures for domestic and foreign enterprises by boosting domestic demand, expanding international reach, optimizing the business environment, and promoting investment, according to Zhong Jiansheng, head of the district’s commerce bureau.

The district aims to optimize its business development layout by fostering leading digital commerce enterprises and industrial clusters, establishing a one-stop service platform for foreign-invested enterprises under the Industry Outbound Alliance framework, attracting more multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises and large private companies to set up their regional headquarters in Longhua, and planning over 100 projects with a total investment exceeding 10 billion yuan.

Representatives from key enterprises in Longhua shared their insights at the conference. Li Jianquan, president of Winner Medical Co., Ltd., noted that, through the joint efforts of the district government and the company’s overseas team, Winner Medical has experienced a significant surge in overseas sales.

A computer-generated image of Winner Medical's new industrial building in Guanlan.

PurCotton's personal care products. Wang Haolan

“Last year marked the debut of Winner Medical’s operating room and high-end dressing products in local markets across Kenya, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and several Southeast Asian countries,” said Li. “This year, our new industrial building in Guanlan will come into operation. We plan to relocate Winner Medical’s Qianhai business to Longhua to further drive the district’s high-quality growth.”

New urban spatial planning released

The new territorial plan unveiled at the conference outlines Longhua’s future urban development by 2035, featuring “one axis, two centers and multiple key areas.”

"One axis" refers to the north-south development axis of Longhua Districrt, formed along three corridors of Guanlan River, Meiguan Expressway and Longlan Boulevard.

The northern center of Longhua District focuses on the Luhu area, planned as a high-level municipal functional hub and a digital economy innovation center within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The southern center, encompassing the Shenzhen North Railway Station, Meilin Pass and South China Logistics Park, will serve as a pilot demonstration area and hub for the digital economy industry.

Longhua's urban spatial layout.

The plan also outlines the future development of Longhua’s seven key areas. The Longhua Digital Industry Core Area will host the southern headquarters industrial park of Hexagon AB and Phase II of the Longhua Design Industrial Park.

The Meilin Pass Area is advancing its urban renovation and land redevelopment efforts, aiming to become a digital economy innovation hub.

The Jiulong Hill Digital City will cultivate an innovation ecosystem for the digital manufacturing industry by establishing R&D centers for smart devices and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) power systems.

The Luhu Central Town is fast-tracking the construction of comprehensive public service facilities, which will support high-quality regional development in both Shenzhen and Dongguan.

The Longhua Super Business Circle will see the development of more commercial complexes, contributing to the creation of a world-class consumer hub.

Urban renovation projects in the Shiao No. 2 Industrial Zone and surrounding areas of Dalang Fashion Town will be accelerated, furthering the establishment of a global center for the modern fashion industry.

Guanlan Culture Town will expand its tourism and culture offerings, with the construction of a Hakka culture block, including the Guanlan Ancient Market and Guihutang Ancient Residence, alongside the Guanlan Public Culture Center.

(Wang Haolan)