Guests
Pan Yi'ming, Yao Rongwei
Introduction
The year 2026 marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Standing at this new stage of development, how will Jing'an commit to its goal of "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area" and play a leading role in and contribute to Shanghai's "Five Centers" initiative? What new plans and measures will we see in the next five years in areas such as industrial upgrading, consumption growth, reform and opening-up, spatial optimization, urban development, cultural enrichment, social welfare, and district governance?
Compere:
The year 2026 marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Standing at this new stage of development, how will Jing'an commit to its goal of "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area" and play a leading role in and contribute to Shanghai's "Five Centers" initiative?
This interview features in-depth discussions with two guests: Pan Yi’ming (Deputy Director of the Development and Reform Commission of Jing'an District) and Yao Rongwei (CEO of Shanghai Hualue Think-tank Group). It will be focused on the background condition of planning, overarching approach, development goals, and strategic priorities.
Pan Yi'ming:
Hello. Thank you for having me here.
Yao Rongwei:
Hello, glad to be here. Hello, everyone.
Compere:
Jing'an is one of Shanghai's most resource-rich central urban areas. Its development has always been aligned with the city's "Five Centers" initiative. Mr. Pan, could you elaborate on how Jing'an's 15th Five-Year Plan builds on this initiative and positions the period as a crucial phase for the district to fully advance its role as a key hub for Shanghai's "Five Centers" initiative and to secure a decisive victory in the transformation and upgrading era?
Pan Yi'ming:
As a part of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the basic framework of the "Five Centers" initiative is in place. The main concern is whether we have the strength, global influence, and the ability to pioneer. The most direct and effective approach for Jing'an is to enhance its urban functions.
Aligning with Shanghai's four major functions, our plan focuses on four core areas to support the "Five Centers" initiative: clustering and promoting high-end factors, developing a source of sci-tech innovation and integrated innovation, agglomerating high-end industries and developing the service sector, and promoting high-standard two-way opening-up. Additionally, the overall goal comprises 21 specific indicators covering four major areas: economic development, scientific and technological innovation, urban development, and public services. This ensures the blueprint is followed through to the end, making solid progress in building "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area".
Compere:
Thank you for your introduction. Compared with the "3+3" industrial system of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Jing'an proposes a new "(3+3)+(1+3+X)" modern industrial system for the 15th Five-Year Plan. What considerations underlie this shift?
Pan Yi'ming:
The "(3+3)" in the plan still focuses on six major industries, but with two notable changes beyond shifts in focus: (1) The commercial and trade services industry has been transformed and upgraded into the fashion consumption industry. (2) Data intelligence, cultural creativity, and life sciences have been elevated from three potential industries during the 14th Five-Year Plan period to three emerging industries for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
The shift from "3+3" to "(3+3)+(1+3+X)" builds on the foundation of the previous industrial system while restructuring and upgrading the development logic. Data shows that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, total commodity sales in Jing'an District remained above RMB 1 trillion, with total retail sales of consumer goods ranking first among central urban areas. However, growth momentum in the commercial and trade services industry has weakened, with issues such as an imbalanced industrial structure, brand development, and regional development. Transforming and upgrading the commercial and trade services industry into a fashion consumption industry is essential to consolidating Jing'an's core competitiveness. Moreover, the three previously potential industries—data intelligence, cultural creativity, and life sciences—have made substantial advancements in both clustering and scale during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. This has laid a solid foundation for their upgrading into emerging industries.
Yao Rongwei:
The core of the "(1+3+X)" system lies in addressing the shortcomings in sci-tech innovation development and forging a distinctive path of integrated innovation.
Pan Yi'ming:
Yes. "1" represents a main theme: the deeply integrated innovation of business, culture, creativity, and technology, which serves as the fundamental guideline for Jing'an's sci-tech innovation development. "3" refers to three key sub-sectors—blockchain, ultra-high-definition audiovisual, and beauty & health—which map the three emerging industries of data intelligence, cultural creativity, and life sciences, driving industrial upgrading from specific points to broader areas. "X" allows room for growth in fields like generative artificial intelligence and the metaverse and ensures the industrial system remains flexible and forward-looking.
Compere:
Thank you for your introductions. Next, let's discuss the "Two Developmental Axes with One Gathering Zone and Three Areas". Spatial layout serves as the "skeleton" for regional development. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Jing'an has upgraded its original "One Developmental Axis with Three Gathering Zones" layout in the 14th Five-Year Plan period to "Two Developmental Axes with One Gathering Zone and Three Areas". Could you elaborate on this?
Pan Yi'ming:
The two axes are not only central to Jing'an District but also form a strategic intersection where Shanghai's east-west and north-south axes meet. The east-west axis serves as the high-end service-led development corridor along West Nanjing Road and the core section of the Yan'an Road‒Century Avenue axis. It will transcend physical boundaries to radiate its influence across surrounding areas. The north-south axis, as a high-quality balanced development corridor, will continue to enhance its guiding role and foster more balanced regional growth. The "Suzhou Creek‒Pengyuepu River‒Zoumatang River" Σ ecological corridor is a "development meridian" linking the entire district. This 13.7-kilometer waterway network connects scattered blue-green infrastructure. The district has developed Suzhou Creek into a world-class waterfront cultural hub, Pengyuepu River into a high-quality waterside leisure destination, and Zoumatang River into a sci-tech innovation zone. These three distinct yet coordinated sections drive ecological value inland and support integrated development of northern and southern areas.
Yao Rongwei:
Connecting these three waterways in a Σ-shaped pattern is like embroidering a golden boot, which invigorates the entire district and makes its landscapes more vibrant and attractive.
Pan Yi'ming:
Furthermore, in the plan, two functional zones on the West Nanjing Road and the Suzhou Creek Bay are integrated into the central activity zone (CAZ), achieving a synergistic effect. By now, the West Nanjing Road is relatively saturated in space, while Suzhou Creek Bay offers ample potential. Therefore, their integration can address industrial homogenization, foster intensive clustering of high-end factors, and build a more globally competitive CAZ. Additionally, the positioning of the Da’ning Production-Life-Ecology Integrated Innovation Zone and Shibei High-tech Park has been clarified, focusing on industry-city integration and sci-tech innovation pioneer, respectively. These zones collectively shape a coordinated, distinctive spatial development pattern across the district.
Compere:
Thanks for sharing that. In the end, regarding people's livelihood, Jing'an's 15th Five-Year Plan prioritizes livability and residential satisfaction. What development planning underpins this focus?
Pan Yi'ming:
After the merger of two districts (the original Jing'an District and Zhabei District) in 2015, Jing'an faced challenges from imbalanced development between its northern and southern areas. Advancing renovation projects has become a key to addressing imbalanced development in the new Jing’an and putting the concept of building a people-centered city into practice.
From implementing large-scale renovation projects of old neighborhoods below second-class standards during the 13th Five-Year Plan period to completing scattered renovation projects and small-beam thin-slab projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Jing'an has followed a progressive path: large-scale renovation projects, scattered renovation projects, and renovation projects of incomplete building units. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Jing'an's renovation efforts enter the final, critical stage, with the core task of renovating the remaining incomplete old building units to fully achieve the goal of livable housing for residents.
To meet residents' core demand of staying in their hometown and on-site improvements, the renovation work follows tailored, household-specific approaches and ensures resident participation throughout the process. The renovation focuses not only on housing but also on overall community enhancement, with the installation of elevators, underground parking, community health service centers, and other facilities. It also promotes senior-friendly upgrades and greening, transforming old residential communities into livable neighborhoods.
Yao Rongwei:
Overall, I believe Jing'an's industry chain can be further refined and extended, industries can be more clustered and exponentially boosted, and enterprises can better contribute to society.
Pan Yi'ming:
I agree. A well-developed plan is not necessarily a good one; a plan that can be implemented is. In the future, the phrases in this plan will gradually become reality, and its blueprint will materialize into the real-life landscape of "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area".
Compere:
Let's embark on a new journey and work diligently for the future. With clear positioning, innovative measures, and a pragmatic approach, Jing'an is energizing its industrial upgrading, tackling challenges in spatial optimization, and winning public support through better living levels. It is contributing to Shanghai's "Five Centers" initiative and striving to start a new chapter in building "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area". Thank you for sharing! This concludes today's interview. Thank you.
Pan Yi'ming:
My pleasure!
Yao Rongwei:
Thank you!