Big Changes in a Small Village

OVER just 40-plus years of development since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy, a poor village built on reclaimed tidal marshes in east China’s Jiangsu Province has emerged as an eco-friendly, industrialized urban center with modern facilities matching any major city.

- ZHOU LIN

Situated on the south bank along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Yonglian Village in the town of Nanfeng in Zhangjiagang City has seen an earth-shattering transformation. During the annual sessions of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 2021, Wu Huifang, NPC deputy and secretary of the Party Committee of Yonglian Village, accepted an exclusive interview with China Today, sharing Yonglian’s experience in making growth benefits available to all, guaranteeing people’s political and civil rights, and achieving sustainable development.

Booming Industry

Fifty years ago, Yonglian was among the poorest villages in China, where villagers attempted to earn a living by digging ponds to raise fish. Later, it became home to various plants producing iron and steel products, furniture, cement, and pillow covers. At present, the steel mill, built with self-raised funds in 1984, has developed into Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co., Ltd., a large-scale integrated iron and steel enterprise.

What are the underlying factors driving all these changes?

“As China’s economy shifted to a new normal after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, we have been transforming and upgrading our business in an all-round way,” Wu said, then proceeded to introduce the following four major measures that had been taken.