An aerial view of Chengxi Lake in Jinta county, Jiuquan, Gansu province, on July 27, 2024. [Photo/IC]

Jiuquan has achieved notable progress in economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period.

The city's gross domestic product grew around 8 percent annually. Building on breakthroughs of 80 billion yuan ($11.24 billion) in 2022 and 90 billion yuan in 2023, GDP surpassed 100 billion yuan in 2024, reaching 104.17 billion yuan. The total ranks third in the province, completing the 14th Five-Year Plan target one year ahead of schedule. Per capita GDP reached 100,000 yuan, exceeding the national average.

Jiuquan leveraged the strategy of carbon peak and carbon neutrality to advance renewable energy and equipment manufacturing. Over the past five years, the city added 22.81 million kilowatts of renewable capacity, bringing the total installed capacity to 35.32 million kilowatts, or 47 percent of the provincial total. Renewable energy generation reached 182.62 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to 58.44 million tons of standard coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 182 million tons.

Ecological protection projects strengthened water conservation. Forests covering 1.38 million mu (92,000 hectares) were planted, 4.86 million mu of desertified land were rehabilitated, and 6.25 million mu of grassland were restored.

The city also strengthened social welfare. Urban employment grew by over 10,000 people annually. In 2024, per capita disposable income reached 49,800 yuan in urban areas and 27,300 yuan in rural areas, up 24 percent and 37 percent from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), respectively.

Over 80 percent of public spending supported social services, with full implementation of provincial and city-level projects, expanded social security coverage, and pension participation exceeding 98 percent. Basic medical insurance coverage remained steady at 95 percent, improving residents' quality of life.