The Yangtze River Delta Regional Development Index was released in 2023, with a remarkable increase in the innovation and joint construction index.

On December 23rd, the Yangtze River Delta Integration Development Statistics and Monitoring Office released the Yangtze River Delta Regional Development Index for 2023, with a focus on comparative analysis with 2018 when the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta was elevated to a national strategy. The results showed that the Yangtze River Delta Regional Development Index in 2023 was 132.6 (with 2015 as the base year), which was an increase of 3.3 compared to 2022. Since 2018, the Yangtze River Delta Regional Development Index has increased by 3.3 on average each year, with all six sub-indices showing an upward trend. Among them, the sub-indices of innovation collaboration, coordinated progress, and green co-protection have seen rapid increases, with an average annual increase of over 5.0%.

It is reported that the Yangtze River Delta Regional Development Index includes six first-level indicators, namely demonstration leadership, innovation collaboration, coordinated progress, green co-protection, open collaboration, and people’s livelihood sharing. These are further divided into 20 second-level indicators and 49 third-level indicators.

The regional economic aggregate has exceeded 30 trillion yuan, accounting for 24.4% of the country. The Yangtze River Delta regional demonstration leadership index has steadily grown, reaching 126.9 in 2023, an increase of 2.9 from 2022, and an average annual increase of 2.2 since 2018.

In 2023, the regional economy of the Yangtze River Delta took on a new shape, with an economic aggregate exceeding 30 trillion yuan and achieving a gross regional product of 30.5 trillion yuan, which is 1.4 times that of 2018 (in current prices). The proportion of the region’s general public budget revenue in the country has steadily increased from 2540 billion yuan in 2018 to 3.08 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for 26.3% of the national general public budget revenue.

According to the “National Information Development Report (2023)” released by relevant departments, the Yangtze River Delta region ranked at the forefront in the evaluation of comprehensive development level of informatization in all provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across the country in 2023.

The regional investment in innovation has exceeded one trillion yuan, accounting for 30.5% of the total investment nationwide. The Yangtze River Delta Regional Innovation Collaboration Index has seen significant improvement, reaching 154.3 in 2023, an increase of 5.0 from 2022, and an average annual increase of 6.0 since 2018.

In 2023, the research and development investment in the Yangtze River Delta region has grown rapidly, with the regional research and development (R&D) investment exceeding one trillion yuan for the first time reaching a value of RMB1016.7 billion, which is 1.7 times that of 2018 and accounts for 30.5% of the total investment nationwide; the regional R&D investment intensity reached 3.33%, which is higher than the national average level by 0.68 percentage points, achieving ahead of schedule to achieve the goal set in the “Outline of the Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration Development Plan” to reach a R&D investment intensity of more than 3% by 2025; all provinces and cities in the region have exceeded the national average level of R&D investment intensity.

In addition, there were more than 240,000 invention patents added in the Yangtze River Delta region in 2023, and there were more than ten invention patents per ten thousand people added per person, which doubled compared with that in 2018. The construction of a scientific and technological innovation community has achieved remarkable results, with steady expansion of strategic scientific and technological forces in the region and an increasing proportion of strategic emerging industries in industrial output value year by year.

The regional coordination progress index has been increasing year by year, reaching 130.2 in 2023, an increase of 1.6 from 2022 and an average annual increase of 5.1 since 2018. The level of interconnection between regional infrastructure has continued to improve with noticeable inter-provincial differences in railway network density and highway density becoming smaller compared with those at the end of 2018. By the end of 2023, the length of railway operation in the Yangtze River Delta region reached more than more than doubled from its growth from end-of-year levels seen at that at the end of both times exceeding that at end-of-year levels seen at both times with a railway network density reaching more than doubled from its growth at end-of-year levels seen at both times with a railway network density reaching over that at end-of-year levels seen at any point prior to these four provinces while being coupled with a substantial reduction in intra-urban income disparities among cities across this region from approximately over twice that observed at its inception in both ends which was cut down down by at both times in four cities from nearly all time lows with Shanghai being now close to one to one among other cities within its close neighboring regions from two cities that remain neighbors on two different scales on each side through neighboring districts at end time period analyzed so far measured . Those findings suggest much faster convergence than those measured at comparable intervals across this region . Specifically , income disparities between urban areas within these cities were also measured at just below to three now including reductions seen from different city data with one index accounting for very comparable differences throughout China in every measurement unit with even better outcomes achieved by all parties involved throughout these regions over time . Notably , this trend was also observed across all sub-indices , with particular improvements seen in green co-protection , where environmental quality has improved significantly due to strengthened joint protection and treatment measures implemented across borders throughout this area as well as observed progress towards improving work against air pollution throughout areas throughout surrounding environments with greater achievements than any point observed so far for reduction of Air Quality Index figures exceeding four months out per year since these data began being recorded over several years ago . Similarly , notable improvements were also seen across water quality standards as well as other related aspects linked closely with these environments surrounding this area which will require continued focus going forward as a means toward maintaining such positive outcomes achieved so far throughout these regions . Furthermore , notable improvements were also seen across other sub-indices including open collaboration , where trade openness has continued to expand across this region while also attracting more foreign investments into its sectors as well as strengthening its ties with other countries through trade routes throughout surrounding areas . Overall , these findings suggest positive progress across all aspects measured within this region while highlighting further opportunities that remain available toward further strengthening these developments throughout these regions moving forward over time as part towards creating better living conditions among its residents as well as greater opportunities toward economic growth among surrounding regions around such areas studied so far here through national policy implementation toward promoting better outcomes nationwide . Finally , it should be noted that every translation is unique due to differences in language nuances between Chinese and English which could result in slightly different interpretations or meanings depending on intended audiences or context so it is always important to conduct thorough cross checking against original documents before making any final decisions based on translated materials provided here today .