Summary of Key Points
Recently, Sichuan officially released the 15th Five-Year Plan for the integration of the Chengdu Metropolitan Area, which is the third national-level metropolitan area in China to have its 15th Five-Year development plan implemented, following Nanjing and Xi'an. As the third national-level metropolitan area approved in China, the Chengdu Metropolitan Area covers an area of 33,100 square kilometers, including Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan, and Ziyang. By 2025, its total GDP had exceeded 3.1 trillion yuan, accounting for nearly half of Sichuan's total economic output. The plan aims to increase the combined GDP of the four cities to 4.1 trillion yuan by 2030, representing a growth of 1 trillion yuan in just five years. The goal is to build the first metropolitan area in China where all three sub-centers are connected by subway, achieving coordinated industrial development and shared public services among the four cities, and to create the strongest economic growth hub in the western region.
Easy-to-Understand Explanation of Each Point
1. This plan is not just empty rhetoric; solid foundations have been laid in the past five years
Many people think the new plan is just the government making empty promises, but in fact, the Chengdu Metropolitan Area has been actively developing since 2020, with two three-year action plans already completed. Over the past five years, the GDP of the entire metropolitan area has increased by 40%, and the daily population flow between cities has risen from 470,000 to over 700,000 people, which means that a significant portion of the population from medium-sized counties commutes and conducts business between the four cities. The S3 inter-city railway connecting Chengdu and Ziyang is already in operation, transporting over ten million passengers annually. By 2027, when the S11 line to Deyang and the S5 line to Meishan are also operational, all three cities will be directly connected by subway, a unique feature among all metropolitan areas in China. The 15th Five-Year Plan is simply an acceleration of the progress that has already been made, not something based on unattainable goals.
2. The goal of a 1-trillion-yuan increase in GDP over five years may seem daunting, but it's actually less difficult than you think
When people hear about the need to add 1 trillion yuan to GDP, they often worry about the pressure. However, the calculation shows that by 2030, the GDP of the metropolitan area needs to grow at an annual rate of around 5.6%, which is slightly lower than the 5.8% growth rate achieved in 2025. This means maintaining the current pace of development would be sufficient to meet the goal. Moreover, this growth doesn't have to be solely borne by Chengdu. With a GDP of 2.47 trillion yuan, Chengdu already has a strong industrial foundation, and a 3% annual growth would contribute several hundred billion yuan. The remaining growth can be shared among Deyang, Meishan, and Ziyang, with each city needing to grow by less than 150 billion yuan over five years. This aligns with the plan's goals for developing high-value industrial clusters in each city: Deyang in high-end energy equipment, Meishan in lithium-ion and photovoltaic materials, and Ziyang in aerospace and digital industries. These sectors are currently favored by policies, making it highly likely to achieve the targets.
3. The real benefits are tangible improvements in people's lives
The development of a metropolitan area is not just about large companies and the government; it also directly enhances the quality of life for ordinary people. For example, there will be greater freedom in living across cities, with unified medical insurance, social security, and housing provident funds. You can use your medical insurance to visit hospitals in Chengdu without a referral letter, and the housing provident funds you contribute in Chengdu can be used to buy a house in Meishan. In the future, there may even be no need to transfer your household registration for schooling across cities. Additionally, living costs will decrease; housing prices in Chengdu's main areas are generally around 10,000 to 20,000 yuan per square meter, but if you work in the southern high-tech zone and take the S5 line to Meishan in half an hour, where housing prices are only 5,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, you can save a significant amount of money on housing. Commuting time will also be much shorter. Job opportunities will also increase significantly, with people in new energy industries able to work in Meishan, those in equipment manufacturing in Deyang, and those in aerospace in Ziyang, without having to compete in the intense work culture of Chengdu.
4. The development of the Chengdu Metropolitan Area is part of a larger strategy for Sichuan
Some criticize Sichuan for focusing most of its economic resources on the Chengdu Metropolitan Area, suggesting it's "fattening up Chengdu at the expense of the rest of the province." However, this is not the case. Sichuan has previously tried to promote balanced development with scattered investments, but without success, leading to many young people moving to regions like the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. By strengthening the Chengdu Metropolitan Area, Sichuan is creating a powerful economic engine in the west that can attract businesses, investment, and talent. This way, young people don't have to travel thousands of kilometers to work in Jiangsu or Zhejiang; they can earn similar salaries right at home. By 2030, when the Chengdu Metropolitan Area's GDP reaches over 4 trillion yuan and combines with the Chongqing-led metropolitan area to form the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic zone, it will become the fourth-largest economic hub in China, solidifying the development foundation of the entire western region.