Imports and exports of goods to and from China's Yangtze River Delta region hit an all-time high of 16.01 trillion yuan (about 2.23 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, according to the Shanghai Customs authorities.
This figure translates into a 5.6 percent year-on-year increase in foreign trade value in the region, accounting for 36.5 percent of China's total foreign trade value in the year, according to the customs authorities.
The export value of high-end equipment in the region reached 261.16 billion yuan (about 36.35 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, contributing 56.7 percent of the country's total, while exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 5.96 trillion yuan (about 830 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 39.4 percent of the country's total.
Smart products and components, such as phones, tablet computers, integrated circuits, and lithium batteries, have grown into a major force to drive the exports of mechanical and electrical products from the Yangtze River Delta region.
"Mechanical and electrical products are the largest category of exports from the Yangtze River Delta region, and are also the foundation to stabilize the development of foreign trade. As an important component of high-tech products and a major commodity in international trade, the steady growth of the export of mechanical and electrical products reflects the upgrading of the industrial structure and the improvement of the technical level in the region, which is conducive to enhancing the stability and resilience of the regional economy," said Qu Huili, head of the statistics division at Shanghai Customs.
The value of the Yangtze River Delta region's trade with Belt and Road partner countries reached 7.7 trillion yuan (about 1.07 trillion U.S. dollars), while the value of its trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) totaled 4.9 trillion yuan (about 682 billion U.S. dollars). Trade with other BRICS countries amounted to 2.13 trillion yuan (about 296.45 billion U.S. dollars), the customs data showed.
Yangtze River Delta in east China reports record-high foreign trade in 2024
China's push toward a greener future is once again in the spotlight at this year's annual political "two sessions", as lawmakers are reviewing a draft ecological environment code, a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection.
The draft code was submitted on March 5 to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for deliberation.
Once adopted, it will become China's second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020.
The rule of law has been continuously strengthened to support the country's green progress. China already has more than 30 laws related to environmental protection, along with over 100 sets of administrative regulations and more than 1,000 sets of local rules.
The latest legislative move comes amid China's historic gains in ecological conservation over the past decade or so. Championing green development, the country has recorded the world's fastest growth in forest resources and afforestation, led globally in renewable energy development, and achieved one of the fastest national reductions in energy intensity worldwide.
The 1,242-article draft has five chapters, covering areas including pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development.
Scholars involved in drafting the legislation say the code goes beyond broad legal principles. It is also designed to address environmental issues that affect people's daily lives.
"Electric vehicles are becoming very common in China. My family has one. We all think it environment-friendly. But have you ever thought about this question: how do we deal with the first generation of EV batteries after they expire a few years later? The same goes for wind turbine blades and solar panels," said Ding Lin, assistant professor of the Renmin University of China.
China's environmental progress has drawn global attention in recent years, from improving air quality to expanding renewable energy. Yet amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, some observers have questioned whether the country will maintain the same pace of green transition.
"Last year during the COP30, even some friends who are very familiar with China asked me whether China will continue its green development path. I told them we have gradually worked out new policies. We have a very clear direction and goal. In a world full of uncertainties, we are providing the most certainty," said Wang Yi, an NPC deputy from east China's Zhejiang Province and professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In a country pursuing modernization, taking the time to codify environmental laws sends a clear message: economic growth and environmental protection are not a trade-off to be managed, but a commitment to be upheld. For China, a beautiful environment is not a luxury for the future, it is a right for the present, and a responsibility to the next generation.
"This code reflects China's vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It shows how development and environmental protection can move forward together," said Lyu Zhongmei, vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.
China will accelerate the green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by a total of 17 percent in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development submitted to the NPC for deliberation on March 5.
Chinese lawmakers review draft ecological environment code in major green legislative push
