In an exclusive interview with China News Service, Fu Tianbao, the Secretary of the Yong’an Municipal Committee of Fujian Province, articulated the transformative journey of Yong’an over the past 40 years. “From a county to a city, this one-word change signifies the elevation of urban capacity, the expansion of spatial layout, an explosive growth in development potential, and a comprehensive transformation of the economic and social landscape,” he explained.
Located to the west of Fuzhou, Yong’an emerged as a cultural hub during the Second Sino-Japanese War, serving as the provincial capital for over seven years. This city is now celebrating its 40th anniversary since being elevated to a county-level city in 1984, becoming the only one under the jurisdiction of Sanming City. Since then, Yong’an has significantly expanded its urban framework, with its area increasing from 7.1 square kilometers to 32.36 square kilometers, constantly optimizing its spatial arrangement.
Regarding the industrial landscape, Fu noted Yong’an’s strong industrial foundation established during the “Small Third Line” era. Since being recognized as one of Fujian’s top ten counties in economic strength in 1995, Yong’an has maintained this standing for 28 consecutive years. The city’s economic output and fiscal revenues have reached new heights of 50 billion yuan and 2 billion yuan, respectively. Yong’an has developed a modern industrial system characterized by its “33211” model, breathing new life into its old industrial base.
Within Yong’an, China National Heavy Duty Truck Group’s operations are in full swing, producing up to 50,000 light trucks and 50,000 medium and heavy trucks annually. The company has seen its products exported in large quantities to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative as well as Southeast and Central Asia, achieving a remarkable increase in export numbers, totaling over 35,000 vehicles.
Fu emphasized the importance of fostering new productive forces and strengthening the local industrial ecosystem. Yong’an has created a complete automotive industrial chain led by heavy-duty trucks, focusing on commercial vehicles, new energy vehicles, and specialized vehicles, with 35 related companies establishing a presence in the automotive industrial park.
Focusing on bamboo, Yong’an prides itself as a national center for bamboo production and processing. Harnessing its bamboo resources, the city has formed an integrated bamboo industry chain with 169 enterprises, achieving an impressive output value of 10.7 billion yuan in 2023.
As Yong’an looks to the future, it has identified over 90 million tons of microcrystalline graphite reserves—the largest in Fujian Province—as a key driver for industrial transformation. The municipality is actively developing new carbon materials, creating supportive platforms in policy, funding, talent, and research, and attracting 23 companies engaged in graphite and graphene applications. This emerging industry has led to an annual output value of 3 billion yuan, with a consistent growth rate of over 20% over the past six years.
Looking back over 40 years of sustained efforts, Yong’an has earned recognition as a national advanced county for technological progress and a model area for forestry reform and development. The community has embraced innovation across various sectors, including forestry and healthcare reform.
Yong’an is also committed to enhancing its educational infrastructure, optimizing resource distribution, and implementing comprehensive educational reforms. In the last decade alone, 29 education projects have been executed with nearly 700 million yuan in investments, significantly improving educational conditions in both urban and rural areas. Infrastructure improvements aim to achieve comprehensive connectivity across cities, counties, and villages.
Presently, Yong’an has developed a rich urban environment characterized by greenery and park spaces, improving its livability and earning accolades such as “Top Ten Charming Cities in China” and “National Garden City.”
Yong’an also plays a crucial role in promoting cross-strait agricultural development. The Yong’an Fujian-Taiwan Agricultural (Bamboo) Industrial Park has attracted seven Taiwanese joint ventures, resulting in a substantial production of bamboo containers that dominate over 30% of the global market.
As Fu reflected on the past and looked forward, he expressed a commitment to accelerating industrial transformation, enhancing the quality of urban and rural life, and boosting the welfare of local residents. Standing on the precipice of the next chapter, Yong’an aims to pursue high-quality development with an unwavering spirit of progress and inclusivity.
