As China's most economically dynamic region, the Yangtze River Delta contributes strongly to the country's modernization under the national strategy for integrated development in the region. CGTN's Chen Yilin explores its major achievements over the past five years.

The Yangtze River Delta covers Shanghai and its three neighboring provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.

In 2022, the GDP of the region reached over four trillion USD, approaching Japan's which ranked 3rd among countries in the world.

At the opening ceremony of the 1st China International Import Expo in 2018, President Xi Jinping announced integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta as a national strategy.

ZHANG JUN Director, Institute of Integrated Development of Yangtze River Delta Region This is the most advanced economy of china accounting for about 1/4 of Chinese economy. And the resources can be freely relocated across provinces and cities.

One keyword for the region's development is integration. It was first manifested in road and railway connections.

Inter-provincial roads and bridges have been built. Now it only takes 1-2 hours to travel between key cities in the region by high-speed train.

CHEN YILIN Shanghai The environment and ecology have always been placed at the top of the agenda. And one problem that can be addressed through integration is responsibility for environmental protection that's shared across regions.

In a demonstration zone covering more than 2,000 square kilometers at the border area of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the proportion of blue and green space should be no less than 66 percent by 2035.

Green transportation will account for 80 percent. Another key concept is high quality.

The region aims to form some world-class industrial clusters that promote scientific innovation. The Yangtze River Delta national technology innovation center opened in June 2021. At present, the integrated circuit industry in the region accounts for nearly 60 percent of the country's total.

Artificial Intelligence and medicine industries account for about one-third. And the output of new-energy vehicles accounts for nearly 40 percent of the national total.

ZHANG JUN Dean of School of Economics, Fudan University This is very important for the economy of China. It doesn't matter whether a company is located either in Zhejiang or in Shanghai. Any company can actually produce a very strong spillover effect for neighboring province of the city.

CHEN YILIN Shanghai This is China's big ambition for the Yangtze River Delta. China is building the region into a powerhouse that will drive the country's future development. CYL, CGTN, SHANGHAI.