Focus of the two sessions | Start from Puxi and Break the thousands of waves: the new starting point of Shanghai’s “five centers” construction
In 2024, as Shanghai steps towards 2025, the number “5” holds profound significance for the city. It not only marks the beginning of a new year but also represents a new milestone.
In Shanghai’s economic development, the threshold of 5 trillion yuan has been crossed, with the city’s GDP expected to reach a new level of 5 trillion yuan by 2024, as stated by Mayor Gong Zheng in his New Year’s address. Simultaneously, the Shanghai Port has achieved a breakthrough, with its container throughput exceeding 50 million TEU, becoming the first container terminal in the world to surpass this milestone.
The construction of the “five centers” – economy, finance, trade, shipping, and science and technology – is a reflection of Shanghai’s ever-growing importance on the international stage. Since the 1990s, Shanghai has been undertaking more and more development missions, and has won increasing favor on the global platform. In 2024, with the successful completion of the 500 millionth TEU at the Shanghai Port, the city has demonstrated the strength of its “five centers” capabilities.
As we move into the 2025 session of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress and Council, a series of proposals and motions are being submitted to guide the construction of the “five centers” and write new stories about the number “5”. As Shanghai moves towards a new historical phase in 2025, which is also the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the city is about to embark on its journey towards a new phase.
Shanghai, a “great port” as well as a “great ship”. On December 22, 2024, at the automated container terminal of Yangshan Port Phase 4, a red container was precisely lifted and loaded onto an ocean-going vessel through remote operation by a bridge crane. This moment marked the completion of Shanghai Port’s 500 millionth TEU, creating a new record for global port container transportation and establishing Shanghai Port as the world’s first container terminal to exceed this milestone.
The significance of “port” lies in its role as a hub for global connectivity. As of 2024, Shanghai Port has nearly 350 international routes connecting it to over 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions worldwide. The city’s status as a global shipping center has been ranked among the top three in the world for five consecutive years.
The “five centers” are all named after “international”, indicating Shanghai’s focus on enhancing its international competitiveness in various fields. By 2024, Shanghai has added 47 new regional headquarters of multinational companies, with a total of over 1000 recognized regional headquarters of multinational companies.
In addition to setting records, Shanghai is also deeply involved in global industrial chain and supply chain restructuring. For example, the Tesla Shanghai Energy Storage Superfactory project, which started trial production after passing inspection in December 2024, is expected to mass produce by early this year. This is Tesla’s first energy storage superfactory outside the United States, and its establishment in Shanghai demonstrates the city’s strength in global resource allocation.
The creation of innovation hotspots is also a highlight of Shanghai’s development. The city’s financial market transaction scale reached 350 trillion yuan in 2024, and the output value of three leading industries grew by 8.6%. In particular, the integrated circuit industry grew by 20.8%. Meanwhile, advancements are being made in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, with the “Model Speed Space” ecosystem growing rapidly.
In terms of transportation development, Shanghai has witnessed breakthroughs in both cruise ships and airliners. The first domestic large cruise ship “Ada Magic City” began its commercial maiden voyage in 2024, and C919, China’s first homemade large passenger aircraft, has carried over 1 million passengers since its launch.
Looking back at the scene of container lifting at the port, it is noteworthy that the background features automated terminals and automated guided vehicles. The automation and digitization of Shanghai Port Yangshan Phase 4 Terminal have continuously improved efficiency. Data shows that the average operational efficiency of the terminal has increased by over 30% compared to its opening. Compared to traditional terminals, Yangshan Phase 4 has reduced personnel by 70%, improved overall efficiency by 30%, and raised labor productivity to 213% of traditional terminals.
The construction of Shanghai International Science and Technology Center marks its tenth anniversary in 2024. Over this period, Shanghai has gathered over 80 national-level scientific platforms, including over 24,000 high-tech enterprises and
