Province aims to build modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing, high-quality and efficient services, characteristic agriculture and comprehensive infrastructure

In the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), Fujian province is committed to focusing on the real economy — defined by goods and services — as the main driver of economic development and on building a modern industrial system.

Zhou Zuyi, Party chief of the province, emphasized during his recent research visit to Ningde that it is necessary to accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, coordinate all tasks between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, and ensure a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.

He also remarked at the open meeting of the Fujian delegation during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress: "We will steadfastly focus our economic development on the real economy, emphasizing intelligence, green transitions and integration, while combining scientific, technological and industrial innovation." "Our goal is to achieve a comprehensive upgrade of the industrial system and promote high-quality, holistic development," Zhou noted.

To support these objectives, measures will be implemented to build a strong province with a dynamic private sector in the new era; deepen comprehensive reforms to improve the development environment for private enterprises, and launch a succession plan for the new generation of private entrepreneurs.

Additionally, efforts will be stepped up to upgrade infrastructure and further optimize the business environment, laying a solid foundation for the development of a modern industrial system and fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, internationalized and convenient.

Zhao Long, governor of Fujian, stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan, Fujian will adopt more dynamic institutional mechanisms to advance the development of new quality productive forces, enhance the effectiveness of government governance, and promote the well-rounded development of individuals.

"Only when institutions are dynamic can we fully stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of all sectors. This will lay a more solid and reliable institutional foundation for building superior industries, ensuring people's prosperity and preserving ecological beauty," Zhao added.

Fujian will build a modernized industrial system with advanced manufacturing, modern services, characteristic modern agriculture and comprehensive infrastructure at a faster pace, local officials said.

Key layouts

According to a provincial news conference held on Feb 3, Fujian will upgrade the quality of manufacturing, innovate emerging industries, cultivate future industries, advance high-end producer services, diversify consumer services, enhance characteristic modern agriculture and strengthen the construction of modern infrastructure over the next five years.

In terms of manufacturing, the province will consolidate and upgrade pillar industries such as electronic information, modern chemicals, advanced equipment manufacturing and modern textiles and footwear.

Moreover, it will upgrade and improve the efficiency of advantageous industries such as food processing, new metallurgy, green building materials and characteristic light industry to boost manufacturing in the province.

In 2025, the export of passenger vehicles from Fujian reached 11.41 billion yuan ($1.65 billion), a year-on-year increase of 68.1 percent. Building on an average annual growth rate of 46.5 percent in auto exports over the past five years, locally manufactured automobiles are set to accelerate their expansion into international markets in the next five years.

Leveraging its abundant mountain and sea resources, the campaign to enhance distinctive modern agriculture will promote the development of grain storage facilities and strengthen three key agricultural belts in coastal areas and northwestern and southeastern Fujian. The campaign also aims to cultivate 30 industrial clusters, each with an output value exceeding 10 billion yuan, and develop 30 counties, each featuring a characteristic agriculture sector valued at over 10 billion yuan.

Additionally, by relying on modern services, Fujian will adapt to lifestyles and the trend of consumption upgrades, aiming to expand the capacity and enhance the quality of the service industry to better meet the needs of residents. The province also plans to elevate culture and tourism into a pillar industry and work toward building itself as a major hub for consumption.

With its robust infrastructure as a foundation and guided by the principles of systematic planning and comprehensive coordination, Fujian will prioritize the development of transportation, energy, water, information and logistics networks. The aim is to construct an intensive, efficient, safe, reliable and cutting-edge modern infrastructure system that continually enhances the quality of life and overall well-being of residents.

Cluster drive

The "555X" industrial clusters serve as a crucial pillar in establishing a modern industrial system unique to Fujian and are an initiative for promoting new industrialization during the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Fujian aims to create a development framework characterized by "trillion-yuan pillars, 100-billion-yuan enhancements, and 10-billion-yuan growth", thereby accelerating its transformation into a leading manufacturing province.

In the new era, Fujian has a solid development foundation for building a modern industrial system with local characteristics. The electronic information industry, for example, has addressed weaknesses by enhancing chips and strengthening displays. Driven by major projects such as BOE, United Semi, Tianma Microelectronics and Mantix Display Technology, there has been rapid development in integrated circuits, new displays, smart device terminals and core electronic components, realizing the comprehensive coverage of mainstream technology routes in new displays.

The advanced equipment manufacturing industry has spearheaded electric-driven development by initiating the "Electric Fujian" project and issuing the first national construction guidelines for the integration of photovoltaics, energy storage, charging and testing.

Fujian has been designated by national ministries and commissions as a pilot area for the green and intelligent development of inland river ships. It has established an electric ship industry chain that spans upstream research and design, midstream construction and development of the "three electric" (battery, electric drive and control) systems, and downstream applications.

The petrochemical industry has made rapid progress through a project-driven development approach. Major national-level foreign-funded projects, including the Sino-Saudi Arabia Gulei Ethylene project, are advancing rapidly. The Gulei petrochemical base in Fujian's Zhangzhou city has also been recognized as one of the country's seven major petrochemical bases.

The textile and footwear industry has bolstered its strengths by enhancing and extending its industry chain. The footwear sector in Fujian leads the nation in revenue, and the province produces nearly half of the country's nylon, one-third of shoes, one-quarter of clothing, and one-fifth of yarn.

Strategic emerging industries also enjoyed momentum. In 2024, Fujian revealed the world's largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine, featuring independently controllable core technologies. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the output value of such industries had risen by 9.5 percentage points as a proportion of the total output value of industries above a designated size, compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Solid foundations

Fujian currently has 20 industrial clusters, each with an output value exceeding 100 billion yuan. Two clusters — power battery in Ningde and modern sports products in Quanzhou — have been selected as national advanced manufacturing clusters. It has also cultivated 19 national-level and 60 provincial-level characteristic industrial clusters for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The breadth and depth of digital transformation has advanced; over 70 percent of enterprises have achieved full digitalization in key business areas, placing Fujian second nationwide. Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, and Longyan have been designated as national pilot cities for the digital transformation of SMEs. This has accelerated the formation of a new industrial digital ecosystem within the province, positioning its overall digital capabilities among the best in the country.

In terms of the service industry, Fujian has advanced comprehensive pilot projects to expand openness in Fuzhou and Xiamen, aiming to enhance the integrated development of modern services with advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture. The province has also vigorously developed modern logistics, industrial design, financial services, business services, information services and sci-tech services, promoting the specialization and high-value chain extension of production-oriented services in various sectors.

Efforts have also been made to build a strong transport network in Fujian. Currently, 86 percent of the cities can be reached within two hours of each other; 95 percent of the cities can reach their respective counties within one hour; and 94 percent of the counties can access their respective towns within one hour. The overall development level of Fujian's comprehensive transport system is among the highest in the nation.

In its recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the Fujian Provincial Party Committee has emphasized the acceleration of the "555X" industrial clusters.

Five 1-trillion industrial clusters

Fujian will make efforts to develop industry clusters in electronic information, modern chemical industry, advanced equipment manufacturing, modern textile and footwear, and new energy, each aiming to achieve an output value exceeding 1 trillion yuan ($145 billion). Among these, the two world-class clusters for modern textiles and footwear, and new energy, will be prioritized to enhance their global influence.

Five 500-billion industrial clusters

In addition to the formation of five trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters, Fujian plans to enhance and optimize five industrial clusters, each with an output value of 500 billion yuan. These clusters are: new materials, green food, new metallurgy, distinctive light industry, green building materials and smart homes. The goal is to consolidate their industrial foundation, improve product quality and core competitiveness, and provide robust support for the province's industrial development.

Five 100-billion industrial clusters

The province will develop and expand five industrial clusters, each with an output value of 100 billion yuan, focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics, biomedicine, energy conservation and environmental protection, the low-altitude economy, and the optoelectronic industry. These emerging clusters will receive strategic policy support and be driven by technological innovation, aiming to inject vitality into Fujian's high-quality development.

Several 10-billion industrial clusters

In the fields of emerging and future industries, Fujian will nurture several clusters more rapidly, each projected to achieve an output value of 10 billion yuan. These clusters include new-type batteries and satellite technology along with its applications. The aim is to capitalize on the development opportunities presented by cutting-edge industries, strategically positioning the industry chain for future growth.