Xinyang, a pivotal city in Henan province, is strategically positioning itself as southern Henan’s foremost open gateway and a development pioneer for old revolutionary base areas. This ambitious vision was articulated by Zhang Hongwei, Party Secretary of Xinyang and National People’s Congress deputy, during the ongoing two sessions.
The city has demonstrated remarkable economic progress, with its economic output surging to approximately 319.67 billion yuan ($46.6 billion) in 2025, reflecting a robust 6 percent year-on-year growth. This development stems from Xinyang’s comprehensive approach balancing economic expansion, livelihood improvements, and social stability maintenance.
Xinyang’s economic landscape now boasts nearly 600,000 business entities and approximately 13,000 industrial enterprises, forming a substantial foundation for continued growth. The municipal government has implemented a multifaceted development strategy emphasizing industrial strengthening, agricultural enhancement, cultural tourism promotion, and cross-sectoral coordination.
Secretary Zhang announced ambitious targets for the current year, including adding over 400 enterprises above designated size to further stimulate employment and income growth through industrial expansion. The city plans to deepen its integration into China’s national unified market while strengthening cooperation with key economic regions including the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Capitalizing on its abundant tourism resources and natural beauty, Xinyang will host the 34th Tea Culture Festival while diversifying its tourism offerings to include red heritage tours and rural leisure experiences. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the city demonstrated strong social commitment by allocating nearly 80 percent of fiscal expenditure to social welfare programs, creating 326,600 new urban jobs, and maintaining pension and medical insurance coverage rates above 95 percent.
The municipal government continues to prioritize improved governance, addressing public concerns, and enhancing residents’ security and overall well-being, ensuring that development benefits are widely shared among Xinyang’s population.