Xinyang aims to become open gateway in southern Henan, says NPC deputy

In an interview during the ongoing two sessions, Zhang Hongwei, Party secretary of Xinyang, Henan province, and National People's Congress deputy, said that the city intends to pursue the goal of "building Xinyang into an open gateway in southern Henan and a pioneer in the development of old revolutionary base areas".

In recent years, Xinyang has coordinated efforts to stabilize growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure social stability, she said.

In 2025, the city's economic output rose to 319.67 billion yuan ($46.6 billion), achieving about a 6 percent increase year-on-year.

Zhang noted that Xinyang is now home to nearly 600,000 business entities and approximately 13,000 industrial enterprises.

Xinyang has adopted a development strategy focused on strengthening industry, enhancing agriculture, promoting cultural tourism, and fostering coordinated growth across sectors.

"We aim to add over 400 enterprises above the designated size this year, enabling industrial growth to drive broader employment and income gains," Zhang added.

Zhang emphasized that Xinyang will deepen its integration into the national unified market, strengthening exchanges and cooperation with key regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Based on its ample tourism resources and natural beauty, Xinyang is expected to host the 34th Tea Culture Festival and diversify tourism offerings, including red heritage tours and rural leisure experiences, she said.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), nearly 80 percent of Xinyang's fiscal expenditure was allocated to social welfare, creating 326,600 new urban jobs and maintaining pension and medical insurance coverage rates above 95 percent, according to Zhang. "We want more residents to achieve quality employment and stable income growth close to home," she added.

Additionally, Xinyang focused on improving governance, addressing public concerns, and enhancing residents' security and well-being.