Shanghai's Changning district boasts impressive growth

The average growth rate of the annual GDP of Shanghai's Changning district over the past five years was 7.9 percent, 1.3 percentage points higher than the city's average, authorities of the district said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The district has introduced an integrated offline-online system to promote its business environment, allowing both online and offline information to be shared across different levels. The system also has a self-service option that allows registered users to complete any of 308 tasks and processes in a single visit, according to Wang Weiren, the Party secretary of the district.

In addition, the district has an online market supervision and service demonstration zone where authorities can carry out cross-regional supervision.

Wang said that the modern service industry has become the major driving force behind economic growth in the district.

Some 4,900 internet companies including Meituan Dianping and Pinduoduo, as well as over 200 artificial intelligence companies, are located in the area. Other industries like aviation services are also booming in the district, where airline headquarters and regional headquarters of multinational companies like Unilever and Bosch are located.

Wang said the district will support new companies and business models emerging during the COVID-19 epidemic and facilitate the integration of online and offline service in multiple fields such as online education and online medical care in the future.