The development of new quality productive forces exhibits distinct regional agglomeration. Photo: TUCHONG

On April 13, Xiamen University (XMU) in southeast China’s Fujian Province released a report on a newly compiled index for measuring new quality productive forces, the first such index since General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping introduced the term in September 2023. 

Drawing on data from 31 provincial-level administrative regions (excluding the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau), as well as economic statistics, text mining, and analysis of big data from the internet, economists at XMU comprehensively assessed such indicators as sci-tech development, digital transformation, and the green economy across the dimensions of industrial development, infrastructure, policy support, and workforce cultivation. Through the principal component approach, they built a sound evaluation system with multidimensional indicators. 

According to the report, the development of new quality productive forces exhibits distinct regional agglomeration as measured by the composite index. Beijing is at the forefront, markedly outperforming other regions, and economically developed coastal areas in southeastern China generally feature a high level of new quality productive forces. 

The report also shows that the development of new quality agriculture is relatively balanced across the nation. Those regions marked by a higher index in new quality agriculture have largely achieved better results in agricultural modernization and digitalization, thus enhancing the overall quality and competitiveness of agriculture. 

The report further indicates that new quality industry is exhibiting a scale effect. Apart from municipalities like Shanghai and Beijing, provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Fujian, which are among the top of the list of new quality industry, are also foremost regarding the size of their secondary industries. With an edge in industrial scale, these powerhouses have gradually stretched their lead in new quality industry through self-strengthening and scale effects, proving their status as “top provinces” in the development of new quality industry. With respect to new quality services, Shanghai, Fujian, and Beijing stand out as notably more advanced than other regions which show slight variation. 

Moreover, Beijing and southeastern coastal areas are also ahead of other regions when it comes to infrastructure for new quality productive forces, with significant disparity looming large between top-performing regions and those lagging behind. Accordingly, the report suggests designating the northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern parts of China as key investment areas for future infrastructure construction. 

According to the report, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hebei, Guizhou, and Heilongjiang provinces, which rank high in policy foundation for new quality productive forces, have attached great importance to fostering these new productive forces. They have made remarkable achievements in policymaking and media publicity, but it will take time to produce tangible results. 

The report points out that a higher-caliber workforce is the primary element for accelerating the development and formation of new quality productive forces in China. Using data points including the number of scientific researchers, educational funding, and the proportion of employees with a bachelor’s degree and above in the workforce, it shows that Beijing and Shanghai, as hubs for sci-tech education, have spearheaded the cultivation of new quality talent nationwide. 

Concurrent with the report release conference, a high-level seminar on the theme of “new quality productive forces and the digital economy” was held, during which scholars explored the mutual promotion between these two domains. The event was jointly held by the School of Economics, the Institute for Studies in Chinese Modernization, the Wang Yanan Institute for Studies in Economics, and the Paula and Gregory Chow Institute for Studies in Economics at XMU. 

Edited by CHEN MIRONG