Major Economic Provinces Shoulder the Heavy Load and Must “Set an Example” in Promoting Common Prosperity for All the People

On the afternoon of March 5, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping, when participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress, stressed: “To successfully fulfill the development goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the major economic provinces must shoulder the heavy load.” [1]1 The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) is the national economic and social development plan for the People’s Republic of China. This important directive is not only an ardent expectation for Jiangsu but also a clear requirement for all major economic provinces nationwide. At last year’s Two Sessions, [2]2 “Two Sessions” (两会) refers to the annual plenary sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). in the Jiangsu delegation, General Secretary Xi Jinping likewise stressed that Jiangsu should “better leverage the major economic province’s radiating and driving force for regional and even national development.” From the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee meeting in July 2022, where General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed that “major economic provinces must bravely shoulder the heavy load,” to the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2023, where General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that “major economic provinces must truly shoulder the heavy load and make greater contributions to stabilizing the national economy,” and then to the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2024, where General Secretary Xi Jinping again stressed “supporting major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy load” — this series of important expositions indicates that major economic provinces hold a pivotal position in the overall national development landscape. They must deeply comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, bravely take on heavy responsibilities, and make greater contributions to achieving high-quality development and the overall national development situation.

2025年3月5日下午，习近平总书记参加十四届全国人大三次会议江苏代表团审议时强调：“圆满实现‘十四五’发展目标，经济大省要挑大梁。”这一重要指示不仅是对江苏的殷切期望，也是对全国经济大省的明确要求。去年全国两会，在江苏代表团，习近平总书记同样强调江苏要“更好发挥经济大省对区域乃至全国发展的辐射带动力”。从2022年7月中央政治局会议习近平总书记首次提出“经济大省要勇挑大梁”，到2023年12月中央经济工作会议习近平总书记提出“经济大省要真正挑起大梁，为稳定全国经济作出更大贡献”，再到2024年12月中央经济工作会议习近平总书记再次强调“支持经济大省挑大梁”。这一系列重要论述表明，经济大省在国家发展大局中具有举足轻重的地位，必须深刻领会习近平总书记的重要讲话精神，勇挑重担，为实现高质量发展和全国发展大局作出更大贡献。

The National Strategic Significance of Major Economic Provinces Shouldering the Heavy Load

经济大省挑大梁的全国战略意义

“Major economic provinces shouldering the heavy load” is an important requirement put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the context of the New Era for economically developed regions. This requirement is not only based on the development advantages of the major economic provinces themselves but also proceeds from the overall national development strategy, entrusting these provinces with an important mission in areas such as national economic development, regional coordination, scientific and technological innovation, and common prosperity.

“经济大省挑大梁”是习近平总书记在新时代背景下对经济发达地区提出的重要要求，这一要求不仅是基于经济大省自身的发展优势，更是从全国整体发展战略出发，对经济大省在全国经济发展、区域协调、科技创新、共同富裕等方面提出的重要使命。

The stable development of major economic provinces plays a crucial supporting role in national economic growth. Major economic provinces are the “ballast stone” for stabilizing the overall national economic picture and the “pillar” supporting high-quality development. The dialectical relationship between the part and the whole is an important principle of Marxist philosophy: the function of the part and its changes affect the function of the whole. As the “vanguard” of China’s economic development, major economic provinces occupy an important position in the overall structure of the national economy. Their level and quality of development directly affect the stability and growth of the national economy. At the same time, by virtue of their superior geographical locations, solid economic foundations, complete infrastructure, and strong innovation capabilities, major economic provinces have become the “growth poles” of China’s regional economic development. They can effectively drive the economic development of surrounding areas and even the whole country, promoting coordinated regional development. Therefore, major economic provinces shouldering the heavy load is an inevitable requirement for exerting the positive influence of the part on the whole and promoting high-quality development of the national economy. Major economic provinces, with nearly one-fifth of the country’s land area, carry more than half of the population and create over 60% of the GDP. Currently, due to the complex and volatile domestic and international development environment, insufficient momentum in world economic growth, and the still unstable foundation for China’s economic recovery and improvement, major economic provinces must, with unshirkable responsibility, bravely take on heavy burdens and demonstrate a greater supporting and driving role in continuously consolidating the trend of economic recovery and improvement.

经济大省的稳定发展对全国经济增长具有重要的支撑作用。经济大省是稳住全国经济大盘的“压舱石”、支撑高质量发展的“顶梁柱”。部分与整体的辩证关系是马克思主义哲学的重要原理，部分的功能及其变化会影响整体的功能，经济大省作为我国经济发展的“排头兵”，在全国经济整体格局中处于重要地位。它们的发展水平和质量直接影响全国经济的稳定与增长。同时，经济大省凭借优越的地理位置、雄厚的经济基础、完备的基础设施、强大的创新能力，成为我国区域经济发展的“增长极”，能够有效带动周边地区乃至全国经济发展，促进区域协调发展。因此，经济大省挑大梁是发挥部分对整体的积极影响，推动全国经济高质量发展的必然要求。经济大省以全国近两成的面积，承载着五成以上的人口，创造了超过六成的GDP。当前，由于国内外发展环境复杂多变，世界经济增长动能不足，我国经济回升向好基础还不稳固。经济大省更要责无旁贷、勇挑重担，在持续巩固经济回升向好态势方面展现更大支撑带动作用。

Major economic provinces have a powerful leading role in promoting high-quality development. Major economic provinces are the core areas for China’s scientific and technological innovation and industrial upgrading. These provinces possess numerous universities, research institutions, and innovative enterprises, and their R&D investment and innovation achievements occupy an important position nationwide, leading the country in economic and social development. For example, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are at the national leading level in fields such as intelligent manufacturing and the digital economy, while Guangdong and Shanghai are at the national leading level in areas like artificial intelligence and biomedicine. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics: Guangdong, as the country’s top economic province, reached a GDP of 14 trillion yuan in 2024; Jiangsu followed closely, with its GDP also approaching 14 trillion yuan and the highest incremental increase nationwide; each of these two provinces accounts for 10% of the national total, making them well-deserved national “bellwethers.” In terms of economic growth rate, among the top ten provinces, seven had growth rates higher than the national average, with Jiangsu and Hubei both tied for first at 5.8%, and Shandong and Sichuan tied for second at 5.7%. At the same time, major economic provinces are the front lines of China’s reform and opening up, possessing rich experience and advantages in institutional innovation, business environment optimization, and open economy development. Through deepening reform and expanding opening up, major economic provinces can create a favorable environment for promoting high-quality economic development.

经济大省在推动高质量发展中具有强大的引领作用。经济大省是我国科技创新和产业升级的核心区域。这些省份拥有众多的高校、科研机构和创新型企业，研发投入和创新成果在全国占据重要地位，经济社会发展全国领先。例如，江苏和浙江在智能制造、数字经济等领域，广东和上海在人工智能、生物医药等领域，都处于全国领先水平。根据国家统计局数据显示：广东作为全国经济第一省，2024年GDP达到14万亿元的新高度;江苏紧随其后，其GDP也接近14万亿元，且增量全国第一;两省各占全国总量的10%，是当之无愧的全国“领头羊”。从经济增速看，十强省中有7个省份高于全国增速，其中江苏、湖北的增速均为5.8%并列第一，山东、四川的增速为5.7%并列第二。同时，经济大省是我国改革开放的前沿阵地，在制度创新、营商环境优化和开放型经济发展等方面具有丰富的经验和优势，经济大省能够通过深化改革、扩大开放，为推动经济高质量发展创造良好的环境。

Major economic provinces play a key role in implementing major national regional development strategies. “Strategic issues are fundamental issues for a political party and a country.” Promoting coordinated regional development is a fundamental strategy long upheld by the cause of the Party and the state. Since reform and opening up, and especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee has proposed many strategic measures for regional development based on the stage of China’s economic and social development. In the strategy for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the region has achieved significant results, with economic and social development leading the country and becoming an important engine driving China’s economic growth. Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui promote regional integrated development through industrial coordination, transportation connectivity, and joint ecological protection. In the strategy for the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, major economic provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui cooperate with central and western provinces to promote coordinated development between the eastern, central, and western regions. Major economic provinces fully leverage their own advantages to drive the common development of surrounding areas, narrow regional development gaps, and achieve coordinated national regional development, playing a critical role.

经济大省在落实国家重大区域发展战略中具有关键作用。“战略问题是一个政党，一个国家的根本性问题”。促进区域协调发展是党和国家事业长期坚持的根本策略。改革开放特别是党的十八大以来，党中央根据中国经济社会发展所处的阶段，针对区域发展提出许多战略举措。在长三角一体化发展战略中，长三角地区发展取得明显成效，经济社会发展走在全国前列，成为引领中国经济发展的重要引擎。上海、江苏、浙江和安徽通过产业协同、交通互联、生态共保等方式，推动区域一体化发展;在长江经济带发展战略中，江苏、浙江、安徽等经济大省与中西部省份协同合作，促进东中西部地区协调发展。经济大省充分发挥自身优势，带动周边地区共同发展，缩小区域发展差距，实现全国区域协调发展，发挥了关键性的作用。

Major economic provinces provide a demonstration effect for achieving common prosperity for all the people. Common prosperity is the essential requirement of socialism. At the beginning of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping put forward the vision of allowing some to get rich first, then driving others to get rich, and ultimately achieving common prosperity: “Some regions may develop first under favorable conditions; regions that develop more slowly should be driven by the developed regions, ultimately achieving common prosperity.” With the rapid economic and social development, the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development in China has become more prominent, manifesting in areas such as regional disparities, urban-rural gaps, industry differences, and income distribution. How to enhance the balance of regional development has become an arduous and heavy task. Major economic provinces, developing faster and possessing the foundation to take the lead in achieving common prosperity, should actively explore ways to promote common prosperity for all the people, play a demonstrative and leading role, increase support for less developed regions, promote rural revitalization, urban-rural integration, and income distribution reform, and enhance the balance and accessibility of public services, thereby providing a demonstration and guidance for common prosperity nationwide.

经济大省为实现全体人民共同富裕提供示范作用。共同富裕是社会主义的本质要求，改革开放之初，邓小平曾提出先富带后富而后共富的设想，“一部分地区有条件先发展起来，一部分地区发展慢点，先发展起来的地区带动后发展的地区，最终达到共同富裕”。随着经济社会的快速发展，我国发展不平衡不充分问题比较突出，体现在区域之间、城乡之间、行业之间、收入分配等方面。如何增强区域发展的平衡性，成为艰巨繁重的任务。经济大省发展较快，具备率先实现共同富裕的基础，应在促进全体人民共同富裕上积极探索，发挥示范带动作用，加大对欠发达地区的支持力度，推动乡村振兴、城乡融合，收入分配改革，增强公共服务的均衡性和可行性，为全国共同富裕提供示范和引领。

Practical Pathways for Major Economic Provinces to Shoulder the Heavy Load

经济大省挑大梁的实践路径

When participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave important instructions on how major economic provinces should shoulder the heavy load: “Jiangsu must grasp the focal points for shouldering the heavy load: take the lead in promoting the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, strive to be at the forefront in advancing deep-level reform and high-level opening up, walk ahead in implementing major national development strategies, and set an example in promoting common prosperity for all the people.” This points the direction and practical pathway for major economic provinces to further promote high-quality development and make greater contributions to the overall national development situation.

习近平总书记参加江苏代表团审议时，对经济大省如何挑大梁作出重要指示：“江苏要把握好挑大梁的着力点，在推动科技创新和产业创新融合上打头阵，在推进深层次改革和高水平开放上勇争先，在落实国家重大发展战略上走在前，在促进全体人民共同富裕上作示范。”这为经济大省进一步推动高质量发展，在全国发展大局中作出更大贡献指明了方向和实践路径。

For major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy burden, they must “take the lead” in promoting the integrated development of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that the integrated development of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation is the basic path for developing new quality productive forces. Innovation is an important force driving a country and a nation forward. High-quality development cannot be separated from innovation-driven growth and industrial support; scientific and technological innovation relies on talent, and talent cultivation relies on education. The integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent is a strategic requirement put forward in the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and an important deployment made at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. Major economic provinces should further increase investment in scientific and technological innovation research and development, and support enterprises in carrying out research and development of core and key technologies. They should cultivate new industries and promote the transformation of traditional industries toward high-end, intelligent, and green development. They should strengthen the principal position of enterprises in innovation. Enterprises are an important force combining science and technology with the economy; only when the achievements of scientific and technological innovation are transformed into actual productive forces can they promote substantive economic and social development. Efforts should be made to build a technological innovation system with enterprises as the main body, market orientation, and the integration of industry, academia, and research; increase support for real enterprises; and promote the deep integration of digital technology with the real economy. It is necessary to improve the mechanism for integrating innovation, build innovation platforms, promote the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, optimize the innovation ecosystem, form a collaborative innovation system, and enhance the effectiveness of the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

经济大省挑大梁，就要在推动科技创新和产业创新融合发展上“打头阵”。习近平总书记指出，科技创新和产业创新融合发展，是发展新质生产力的基本路径。创新是推动一个国家、一个民族向前发展的重要力量。高质量发展离不开创新驱动和产业支撑，科技创新靠人才，人才培养靠教育。教育、科技、人才一体化发展，是党的二十大报告提出的战略要求，也是党的二十届三中全会作出的重要部署。经济大省应进一步加大科技创新研发投入，支持企业开展关键核心技术研发。应培育新型产业，推动传统产业向高端化、智能化、绿色化转型。应强化企业创新主体地位。企业是科技和经济结合的重要力量，科技创新成果只有转化为现实生产力，才能推动经济社会实质性发展。要着力构建以企业为主体，以市场为导向，产学研相结合的技术创新体系，加大对实体企业的支持力度，推动数字技术与实体经济深度融合。要完善创新融合机制，搭建创新平台，推动产学研深度融合，优化创新生态环境，形成协同创新体系，提升科技成果转移转化成效。

For major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy burden, they must “strive to be in the forefront” in advancing deep-level reform and high-level opening up. The achievements of more than 40 years of reform and opening up fully prove that reform and opening up is an important magic weapon for promoting China’s economic development. Major economic provinces should take the lead in breaking through key areas of market-based allocation reform of production factors, break down local protection and market segmentation, optimize the layout of productive forces, and promote coordinated regional development. They should fully implement the spirit of the symposium on private enterprises, treat all types of ownership enterprises equally, continuously optimize the business environment, and stimulate the vitality of market entities. They should build a new system for a higher-level open economy, expand new space for the development of an open economy, improve the layout of free trade zones, firmly grasp international common rules, and create a new highland of opening up that is higher-level, has a better business environment, and has a stronger radiating effect.

经济大省挑大梁，就要在推进深层次改革和高水平开放上“勇争先”。40多年改革开放的成就充分证明，改革开放是推动我国经济发展的重要法宝。经济大省应率先突破要素市场化配置改革的关键领域，打破地方保护和市场分割，优化生产力布局，促进区域协调发展。全面落实民营企业座谈会精神，一视同仁对待各种所有制企业，持续优化营商环境，激发市场主体活力。建设更高水平开放型经济新体制，拓展开放型经济发展新空间，完善自由贸易区布局，牢牢把握国际通行规则，打造更高层次、更优营商环境、辐射作用更强的开放新高地。

For major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy burden, they must “walk at the front” in implementing the country’s major development strategies. This is both a responsibility and a development opportunity. China has a vast territory and a large population; due to differences in their own conditions, various regions exhibit imbalance in economic development. Imbalance is universal, and relative balance must be promoted through development. Therefore, major economic provinces must firmly grasp their mission and responsibility, and fully serve the implementation of the country’s major development strategies. They should actively align with national strategies such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, identify their own positioning, and play a radiating and driving role. For example, Hubei should strive to be in the forefront in the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, using the overall enhancement of its strategic fulcrum to accelerate the rise of the central region. Hunan should continue to make efforts to build the “Three High Grounds” [3]3 The “Three High Grounds” (三个高地) refer to the strategic positioning for Hunan Province: a high ground for advanced manufacturing, a high ground for scientific and technological innovation, and a high ground for reform and opening up., demonstrating new achievements in promoting the rise of the central region and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Chongqing should make a big show of its strength in supporting private enterprises, promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and facilitate coordinated regional development. Shanghai should play a leading and exemplary role in promoting the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, driving the common development of cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, promoting regional synergy and co-progress, and achieving a higher level of coordinated development. Therefore, major economic provinces must firmly establish the thinking of the whole country as a single chessboard, base themselves on their own advantages, and contribute to the overall national development situation.

经济大省挑大梁，就要在落实国家重大发展战略上“走在前”。这既是责任担当，也是发展机遇。我国幅员辽阔、人口众多，各地区由于自身条件差异在经济发展上呈现不平衡性，不平衡是普遍的，要在发展中促进相对平衡。因此，经济大省要牢牢把握使命担当，全力服务国家重大发展战略实施。应积极对接京津冀协同发展、长三角一体化发展、粤港澳大湾区建设、长江经济带发展等国家战略，找准自身定位，发挥辐射带动作用。如湖北应在长江经济带高质量发展中奋勇争先，以支点建设整体提升推动中部地区加快崛起。湖南要持续用力打造“三个高地”，在推动中部地区崛起和长江经济带发展中彰显新作为。重庆应在支持民营企业方面大显身手，推动成渝地区双城经济圈建设，促进区域协调发展。上海要在推动长三角一体化高质量发展中发挥龙头和示范作用，带动长江经济带沿线城市共同发展，推动区域协同共进，实现更高水平的协调发展。因此，经济大省要牢固树立全国一盘棋思想，立足自身优势，为全国发展大局作贡献。

For major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy burden, they must “set an example” in promoting common prosperity for all the people. In the new stage of development, major economic provinces must continue to make efforts in promoting comprehensive rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development, consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation, and ensure that rural areas do not relapse into poverty. To promote coordinated regional development and narrow regional gaps, major economic provinces should, through means such as industrial transfer, paired assistance, and regional cooperation, drive the common development of the central and western regions and economically underdeveloped areas. They can also establish vocational education and skills training bases with the central and western regions, cultivating talent suited for local industrial development in a targeted manner, thereby promoting the realization of the goal of common prosperity. Major economic provinces should fully leverage their own advantages, actively explore experience, and provide replicable and scalable demonstration models for the whole country. For example, Zhejiang, in the construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity, has actively explored new models of integrated urban-rural development, providing valuable experience for the whole country. In short, to solidly promote common prosperity, it is necessary for those who get rich first to help those who get rich later; major economic provinces should naturally set an example.

经济大省挑大梁，就要在促进全体人民共同富裕上“作示范”。新发展阶段，经济大省要在推进乡村全面振兴和城乡融合发展上持续用力，巩固脱贫攻坚成果，确保农村地区不返贫。推动区域协调发展，缩小区域差距，经济大省应通过产业转移、对口帮扶、区域合作等方式，带动中西部地区和经济欠发达地区共同发展，还可与中西部地区建立职业教育和技能培训基地，定向培养适合当地产业发展的人才，促进共同富裕目标的实现。经济大省应充分发挥自身优势，积极探索经验，为全国提供可复制、可推广的示范模式。如浙江在共同富裕示范区建设中，积极探索城乡融合发展的新模式，为全国提供了宝贵经验。总之，扎实推动共同富裕，需要先富带后富，经济大省理应作示范。

(Author bios: Gong Yun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Zhu Ying, Lecturer at the School of Marxism, Jianghan University)

（作者简介：龚云，中国社会科学院经济研究所党委书记；朱莹，江汉大学马克思主义学院讲师）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心