On October 18, a press conference was held in Changchun to discuss the outcomes of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 12th Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. Officials from various departments in Jilin attended the conference to explain how new policies will turn the “blueprint” for development outlined in the plenary session into tangible realities for the public.

During the conference, the implementation opinions on deepening reforms and revitalizing Jilin Province were presented, as outlined in the document approved during the plenary session. The committee has set a goal to build a modern socialist Jilin by 2035.

Zhang Zhixin, the Director of the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission, discussed initiatives to develop and strengthen the private economy. He emphasized the need to enhance legal frameworks to ensure fair access, improve service awareness to optimize the business environment, elevate service quality to address challenges faced by enterprises, and establish effective communication channels to ensure responsiveness to business needs. The aim is to create a “no disturbance” service system that supports private enterprises in nurturing new productive forces and achieving superior development.

As a major agricultural province, Jilin’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Director, Li Deming, highlighted the four breakthroughs required in agriculture. These include prioritizing innovation in key core technologies, advancing modern seed industry revitalization, developing smart agricultural machinery, and empowering agriculture through smart technology. The focus is on expanding digital applications in areas such as smart planting and storage.

Jilin is also a significant player in education and science, with Zhang Hongbin, Director of the Jilin Provincial Education Department, mentioning the integration of education, technology, and industry. He outlined plans to align university curricula with national strategies and industry needs, adding 100 in-demand programs by 2027 while discontinuing underperforming ones. The goal is to ensure that over 55% of students are enrolled in science, engineering, agriculture, and medical fields, as well as developing specialized technology colleges.

The province’s rich cultural and tourism resources, particularly its winter sports heritage, were discussed by Sun Guangzhi, Director of the Jilin Provincial Cultural and Tourism Department. He noted the remarkable tourism statistics from last season, with 125 million domestic visitors and significant revenue growth. Efforts will focus on creatively merging agriculture and tourism, promoting the ice and snow tourism market centered around Changbai Mountain and nine ski resorts, and enhancing rural micro-vacation offerings.

In response to healthcare challenges faced by residents, Gao Zhandong, Deputy Director of the Jilin Provincial Health Commission, stated that they will tackle three main priorities: smoothing out bottlenecks in medical access and treatment, establishing a new operational mechanism for public hospitals oriented towards public benefit, and promoting continuity and mutual recognition of healthcare services across the region.

Yu Liang, Director of the Jilin Provincial Party Research Office, explained that the implementation opinions outline over 400 measures which are being detailed and assigned to specific provincial leaders and departments. Each reform task will be closely monitored to ensure accountability and effectiveness. He stressed the importance of a genuine approach to governance, avoiding bureaucratic pitfalls, and maintaining a focus on historical context and planning to achieve meaningful results that truly satisfy the public’s needs.