Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, held its 12th Baotou municipal congress on Oct 12, 2016, Baotou Daily reported on Oct 13.

A total of 438 representatives from the city attended the congress presided over by Du Xuejun, mayor of Baotou.

Wang Zhonghe, secretary of CPC Baotou municipal committee, delivered a report at the congress, saying that in the past five years remarkable achievements have been made in Baotou, especially in economic development, environmental protection, industrial development, social welfare, democracy and the legal system, marking new heights in the city's development.

Baotou is the largest industrial and manufacturing city of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, along with being the economic heartland of the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos city cluster. The city has seen average year-on-year growth of 10.7 percent in GDP over the past five years. The GDP per capita figure for the city amounted to more than $20,000, nearly twice times that of the national average.

The future direction for Baotou was introduced by Wang at the congress, stressing the city's determination to boost its economy and build a moderately prosperous society, with innovation being the driving force.

The city is expected to reach 500 billion yuan ($74 billion) in GDP, with year-on-year growth of eight percent, and GDP per capita exceeding $30,000 in the next five years.

The Communist Party of China's Baotou committee holds an opening ceremony for its 12th Baotou municipal congress in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Oct 12, 2016. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Wang Zhonghe, secretary of CPC Baotou municipal committee, makes a report to the congress, reviewing the work that the Baotou Party committee has done over the past five years and outlining future objectives and tasks, Oct 11, 2016. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Representatives listen to a work report delivered by Wang Zhonghe. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]