Preface

Successive efforts make development, and past achievements break new ground for the future. The year 2021 marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and the launch of a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country. As a political force with a glorious century, the CPC endeavors to lead China’s national rejuvenation. At a critical juncture where the timeframes of the CPC’s two centenary goals converge, the people of Nantong are vigorously stepping into the new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, striving for another profound and transformative change of high-quality development.

Historic achievements will never be forgotten. For more than 70 years, especially after the reform and the opening up of China, under the leadership of the CPC, Nantong’s Party organizations at all levels, Party members, and the masses with unremitting efforts have blazed trails and made all-round and historic achievements in every undertaking. With excellent results of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the city has secured extraordinary historical achievements in building a society featuring a strong economy, prosperous people, beautiful environment, and social civility. This tremendous transformation is bound to be marked in Nantong’s history!

Reviewing history allows us to draw confidence and strength to move forward. The CPC Central Committee has made major decisions and kept a steady hand on the tiller over the past 70-plus years. With combined efforts of over 7.7 million Nantong citizens, the city has witnessed a remarkable transformation. As General Secretary Xi Jinping noted during his inspection in Nantong, “Happy life is realized by your own hands and results from your joint efforts.” As a saying goes, fortune rewards the diligent. Xi’s comments on Nantong’s great transformations and well-being are the highest honor for the city’s achievements of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, as well as a concise summary of the fundamental changes in the Jianghai Plain. As a vivid epitome of Jiangsu Province and China, Nantong’s practice has fully demonstrated the superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics, vividly exemplified the role Nantong played in China’s overall layout and the development of Jiangsu Province, and showcased the innovative spirit of the local citizens. The city has achieved fruitful results in creating a happy life, achieving a high level of moderate prosperity in all respects, laying a solid material foundation for modernization, gaining valuable experience, and accumulating spiritual strength. Nantong is making great strides in creating a promising future on a new journey to realize the Second Centenary Goal.

Embracing multiple national strategies and rising as a new growth pole of high-quality development in Jiangsu Province, Nantong is in a crucial development period and an important window phase for a big stride. The new era presents unique opportunities and growing challenges. The Party members, government officials, and the masses should keep a clear head and shoulder the responsibilities of our times, in a bid to build Jiangsu into a socialist modern province and Nantong an open gateway with local characteristics. All Nantong citizens should act boldly and proactively toward building a well-off society and embark on a new journey toward common prosperity through joint endeavors.

On the journey ahead, the CPC Nantong Municipal Committee and Nantong Municipal People’s Government should bear in mind the important mission entrusted by General Secretary Xi Jinping to Jiangsu Province – “setting an example, making a demonstration, and vying for the forefront” and implement the requirements clarified by the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee for Nantong to “carry out another tremendous transformation of high-quality development.” Taking past achievements as a new starting point, we need to ground our work in this new stage of development, fully implement the new development philosophy in a holistic manner, foster a new pattern of development, and focus on high-quality development. As a vanguard of the province in scaling new heights, Nantong has been pursuing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in an effort to build a major gateway and strive for common prosperity. Firstly, to address the issues related to development through transformation, we should vigorously shape a provincial gateway by comprehensively improving transport networks, industrial infrastructures, and urban functions; secondly, to empower regional prosperity through innovation, we should accelerate the integrated development by coordinating the development of coastal areas and urban and rural areas, so as to achieve shared growth of urban-rural development through interconnectivity and collaboration; thirdly, to respond to the public’s concerns with high efficiency, we should act in line with the people-centered philosophy of development, thoroughly implement the philosophy of innovation, coordination, eco-friendliness, opening up, and sharing, so that we can make marked increase in economic strength, people’s well-being, environment quality, ethical standards, governance competence, and Party building in the new round of tremendous transformation.

Nantong citizens are ready for lauching a new journey and securing extraordinary achievements. Nantong, our homeland, carries our common aspirations.

We firmly believe that, with unprecedented ambition and action, we are bound to make highlights in the city’s high-quality development. More legends will be written down by the Party members and government officials, and modernized Nantong will shine as a splendid pearl of the city cluster in the YRD region.

This book covers development achievements of Nantong and depicts the glorious history of building the city into a moderately prosperous society in all respects over the past 70-plus years. Through joint efforts of journalists, editors and writers from Nantong Daily Group, this book gives you a panorama of Nantong. We hope you enjoy the book and fall in love with the vibrant city by the sea and river.

Hu Weidong

Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman, and President of Nantong Daily Group

October 6, 2021