Thanks in-part to the first state level 'inland development new area', Liangjiang's regional gross domestic product (GDP) reached 186.10 billion yuan ($29.75 billion) last year, an increase of 15 percent on 2013, according to the Liangjiang administrative committee.

In addition, Liangjiang's main economic indicators reached their proposed targets. The gross value of its industrial output reached 417.9 billion yuan, seeing an increase of 20.10 percent; its fixed asset investments reached 170.70 billion, an increase of 25 percent; the import and export volume reached 31.65 percent, an increase of 68.80 percent, and the actual utilization of foreign capital was $ 4.47 billion.

In 2014, Liangjiang deepened reforms in 16 different areas, including the function and expansion of the bonded port area, the financial innovation of science and technology entities and the comprehensive enforcement of administrative law.

2015 is the last year of the country's 12 th Five-Year Plan, a national macroeconomic plan that came into effect in 2011; it is also the fifth anniversary of the establishment of Liangjiang.

Ling Yueming, director of the Liangjiang administrative committee indicated that, at all levels, Liangjiang's top officials should come to terms with the country's "new normal" - a term to describe the country's recent slower but quality growth and Liangjiang's external development conditions.

Edited by Jacob Hooson