Ningxia Hui autonomous region masters innovation-driven development

New quality productive forces serve as the driving force of the intelligent, green and integrated development of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, senior officials said at a news conference on Monday.

"Recently, we have vigorously implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, firmly seizing the pivotal role of technological innovation in propelling comprehensive progress, enhancing innovative capacities, cultivating innovation entities and nurturing an innovative environment," said Mai Yanzhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the local Party committee and vice-governor of Ningxia autonomous region, adding that technology innovation is the cornerstone for high-quality development of the region.

In the coal and chemical industry, Ningxia autonomous region has integrated modern technology into the conventional sector. Mai cited the local coal-to-liquids technique, utilizing the indirect liquefaction method to generate oil. This approach tackles the persistent imbalance of more coal and less oil in the nation while disrupting the foreign technology monopoly, he added.

The annual capacity of the coal-to-liquid project has exceeded 4 million metric tons for three consecutive years, maintaining its status as the world's largest single unit of its kind, according to Zhang Yupu, governor of Ningxia Hui autonomous region. In addition, coal-based olefins and high-performance fibers have also taken shape in the region.

The superior natural conditions, with an average temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius and an average altitude of 1,110 meters, have laid a solid foundation for the development of new energy and data technology in the area, Mai said.

"The national inaugural comprehensive demonstration zone for new energy has supplied abundant green electricity resources to Ningxia," Mai said.

With a total installed capacity of 70 million kilowatts and an annual electricity generation of 200 billion kilowatt-hours, Ningxia Hui autonomous region leads the country in both per capita installed capacity and per capita electricity generation. Its installed capacity of new energy has surpassed 37 million kW, accounting for 51 percent of its total and holds a utilization rate of 97 percent, making it a region with the highest intensity of new energy development per unit land area nationwide.

Under the national guidance of channeling more computing resources from the eastern areas to the less developed western regions, Ningxia Hui autonomous region has stood out as the only region in China that hosts the National (Zhongwei) New Internet Exchange Center and serves as one of the national integrated computing hubs, according to Mai.

"In the next step, we plan to take extraordinary measures to support extraordinary industries and achieve extraordinary development, making every effort to build the computing capital of China and contributing to the construction of digital China," he said.