In April, as spring deepens, all things vie to flourish.
Recently, Dongguan released its “report card” for the first quarter of this year— the city’s regional gross domestic product reached 275.268 billion yuan, an increase of 5.5% year-on-year. The total fixed asset investment in the city increased by 5.8% year-on-year, with the growth rate 3.1 percentage points higher than the annual average of last year, and 1.8 percentage points higher than the provincial average. Among them, as a “strong engine” driving investment growth, Dongguan’s major projects completed an investment of 29.198 billion yuan in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 19.1%. The progress was 3.6 percentage points faster than the same period last year, effectively leading and driving the “opening momentum” of the economy.
This year is a crucial year for advancing the implementation of High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages. With the rhythm of spring, Dongguan’s major project construction is stepping up and accelerating. Looking at scientific and technological innovation, the construction of the second phase of China’s Spallation Neutron Source has begun, which will drive high-level technological self-reliance and empowerment. Looking at manufacturing, the OPPO Intelligent Manufacturing Center, with a total investment of nearly 10 billion yuan, is entering the final countdown before operation, which will enhance the resilience and vitality of the characteristic industrial chain. Looking at transportation, the main structures of 22 stations of Urban Rail Transit Line 1 have been completed, sprinting towards the goal of full line operation and receiving the first train in December this year... These scenes depict the unfolding of a “spring busy picture” that implements the “Investment Year” action and promotes the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages towards deeper progress.
Advanced manufacturing makes fresh progress
Stimulating the vitality of town and village development
Opening the report card on major project construction for the first quarter, “stability” and “progress” are the main themes—42 major projects have commenced construction, with 13 major projects completed and put into operation. Among them, there are 11 industrial projects, with an estimated additional annual output value of 6.177 billion yuan.
Walking into the construction sites of industrial projects in towns, subdistricts, and parks across the city, one is greeted with an increasingly gathering momentum of new quality productive forces.
At the site of the OPPO Intelligent Manufacturing Center, over 600 builders are working with full enthusiasm, seizing the schedule to advance the construction of the main structure of the high-level talent housing. The modern park where it is located integrates production, research and development, office, and residential functions. Currently, interior decoration and exterior curtain wall installation are underway on-site, with the first phase expected to be operational in October this year. “The project will be developed into a landmark technological innovation and smart park, driving Dongguan’s science and technology industry to a new level,” said Song Guangsheng, General Manager of OPPO China Central Region.
According to reports, the OPPO Intelligent Manufacturing Center, a major initiative in the Binhaiwan Bay Area’s High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages aimed at cultivating distinctive leading industries, has a total investment of about 10 billion yuan. The project will include a product technology research and development center, a 5G industry R&D center, an AI artificial intelligence lab, and a smart manufacturing R&D center. It is expected to create 30,000 jobs and generate an annual output value of 28 billion yuan.
Spring is competing in a surge of enthusiasm. In Tangxia Town, one of the first model towns in Guangdong Province’s High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages, the construction of a new-generation electronic information industry base near Shenzhen is progressing swiftly and steadily. At the site of the LEOCH Battery Corporation’s headquarters and energy storage system manufacturing project, several buildings covered in green netting have taken shape, with about 900 workers engaged in interior decoration and facade construction. Project manager Zhao Jinping revealed that the project is set to be completed and inspected one month ahead of schedule, with the aim of starting production and operations by the end of the year.
The project involves an investment of 1.1 billion yuan and a building area of approximately 230,000 square meters. It is expected to generate an annual output value of 5 billion yuan, which will promote the “strong chain, complementary chain” development strategy and facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the leading industries in Tangxia Town.
Charged up and ready to go, the vitality never ceases. Leveraging a relatively well-established innovation ecosystem, Songshan Lake is set to play a significant role in the biopharmaceutical industry. Currently, the city is pushing forward with the construction of its first biopharmaceutical-themed industrial park, Songhu Pharma Harbor. The first phase of the project, “Dongguan Biotechnology Industry Building,” will be completed and delivered by mid-year; the second phase, “Dongguan Biotechnology Industrial Park,” has completed geological surveys and will break ground in September. The two phases will work together to create the city’s biopharmaceutical industry transformation platform and comprehensive industry service platform, providing biotechnology companies with headquarters office space, pilot-scale production, technical R&D, and other supporting services.
As the primary developer, Song Tao, the chairman of Dongguan Biotechnology Industry Development Co., Ltd., stated that the second phase is a new industrial land (M0) project, where having a thorough understanding of land-use planning and relevant policies is critical. “With guidance and assistance from government departments, the project now has a more rational plan to meet industry needs.”
Also moving forward in the same direction in the medical field is Science and Intelligence Hub City.
With the support of various government departments, Phase I of the Science and Intelligence Hub City was approved at the end of June 2022. It has successively achieved “starting construction upon land acquisition”, topping out the main structure in 12 months, and acceptance and delivery in 16 months. A responsible person from Dongguan Songshan Lake Science City Development Group Co., Ltd. introduced that Phase I of the Science and Intelligence Hub City is expected to be completed and open in June this year, and the first land plot of Phase II of the Science and Intelligence Hub City has now completed land acquisition. Focusing on the construction of the biopharmaceutical industry cluster, a biopharmaceutical industrial park, which focuses on high-end medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, and synthetic biology, will be transformed from planning to reality.
This year, Dongguan will also accelerate the construction of 60 modern industrial parks, aiming to demolish no less than 10,000 mu under the 'industrial to industrial' redevelopment, drive 70 billion yuan in urban renewal investments, and provide strong support for attracting high-quality projects to the towns.
Each one exudes a “new” vibe, and each is filled with vitality. Adhering firmly to “technological innovation + advanced manufacturing,” a batch of emerging industrial projects is continually unleashing the developmental potential of Dongguan’s towns and parks. They are solidifying the economic foundation of the city, propelling coordinated urban-rural regional development to higher levels, and nurturing the “spring story” of future high-quality growth.
Science and innovation upgrade “Spring Tide Surging”
Unleashing momentum for urban development
Projects pull together technology, capital, and talent, representing the driving force of a city’s advancement. As the core engine of Dongguan’s high-quality development, Songshan Lake plays a crucial role in fully advancing the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages. From a bird’s eye view of the Science City “corridor”, major scientific infrastructure, large-scale scientific instruments, and universities and institutes are linked like a chain of beads, becoming a “magnet” that enhances Dongguan's innovative ecological advantages and attracts innovative talents.
Reputed as a “super microscope” for exploring the microstructure of material, the China Spallation Neutron Source has been updated. On March 30, following over five years of operation of the Phase I project, the construction of Phase II of the China Spallation Neutron Source was initiated.
As a major national scientific infrastructure, Phase II of the project will construct 11 neutron spectrometers and experimental terminals. Upon completion, the number of neutron spectrometers will increase to 20, and it will also include the first domestic muon experimental terminal and a high-energy proton experimental terminal. Phase II is expected to be completed in 2029. Once operational, it will produce more neutrons in the same amount of time, significantly enhancing the research capabilities of the facility. The precision and efficiency of experiments will be substantially improved, providing a powerful scientific tool to explore the frontiers of science, address major national needs, and solve key scientific issues in industrial development.
Occupying 179.6 acres, the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) Project (Phase I) has a total investment of 1.092 billion yuan. Since its commencement in 2021, the project has, after more than two years of construction, smoothly completed the main structural engineering in August 2023. Recently, there has been more good news—the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) has been approved by the Ministry of Education for establishment. Currently, including the library, supporting facilities are being rapidly advanced to ensure a high-quality learning environment is ready for students by September this year.
As an educational institution with independent corporate status established through cooperation between Mainland China and Hong Kong, the school will inject new and strong momentum into building a high-level international talent hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, leading the development of a comprehensive national science center in the Bay Area, and enhancing the level of higher education development in Dongguan.
With the blueprint drawn up, led by the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages, Songshan Lake Science City is rapidly gathering more top-tier innovative resources to more vigorously promote the enhancement of the area’s capabilities, supporting Dongguan in seizing the initiative in the mutual reinforcement of industry and technology.
“Smooth path” created by transportation project
Promoting the co-prosperity of people and the city
In the first quarter, a series of transportation projects have been progressing robustly, accelerating the creation of a comprehensive environment suitable for new types of productivity, promoting the co-prosperity of a population of tens of millions.
At the site of the Dongguan Rail Transit Line 1 Phase I project, the sound of steel colliding can be heard from underground from time to time, as workers start their new day’s labor early.
“Among the 25 stations along the line, 22 have completed the main structure topping-out, 22 stations are undergoing entrance and exit pavilion construction, and 18 stations are in the process of interior decoration and installation,” explained a responsible person from Dongguan Rail Transit Line 1 Construction Development Co., Ltd. The Line 1 route extends 57.46 kilometers, and it is expected that by December 2024, the entire line will achieve track completion and receive the first train. At that time, it will form a “cross” shaped network with Line 2, significantly enhancing the coverage of Dongguan’s rail transit and facilitating the connection between Dongguan and Guangzhou.
Below ground, there is bustling activity, and above ground, the scene is also one of busy activity.
The Changping–Humen Expressway reconstruction and expansion project, with an investment of 18.776 billion yuan, and the Dongguan-Shenzhen Expressway reconstruction and expansion project, with an investment of 17.584 billion yuan, are fully underway with earthwork for roadbeds, foundation and substructure construction for bridges, and tunnel construction. Upon completion, these projects will significantly enhance the city’s east-west traffic arteries, further strengthening connectivity with Guangzhou and Shenzhen...
Since this year, Dongguan has been vigorously advancing the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages with top priority, deeply implementing the “Year of Investment” offensive, and applying “daily dispatch, weekly coordination, monthly supervision, and quarterly reviews”. An investment incentive mechanism and a “red and black list” have been established, and the reform of the project approval system continues to be deepened. A single form ensures the land needs of over 2000 acres for major and high-quality medium and small projects, timely identifying and proactively coordinating issues in the implementation of major projects. With 'attentive service' throughout the entire cycle, the initiative promotes early commencement, rapid construction, and early effectiveness of projects, continuously making breakthroughs in the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages race.
Going forward, Dongguan will continue to leverage the role of the special task force for parallel approval of major projects, continuously strengthen service guarantees and project scheduling, and push for newly started projects to begin construction as soon as possible, for ongoing projects to generate more physical workload, and for the accelerated implementation and conversion of planned projects. This will further solidify the “hard support” for high-quality development.
A series of major projects are accelerating this spring, swiftly turning “construction blueprints” into “real-life scenes”, injecting powerful momentum into Dongguan’s High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns and Villages.
