Xi'an aims to be a metropolis that is particularly strong in advanced manufacturing. [Photo/Xi'an municipal government's WeChat account]

The city of Xi'an – capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province – is continuing to prioritize growth of its manufacturing base, and data showed that last year it generated more than 200 billion yuan ($27.92 billion) in industrial added value, which was 1.8 times the level of 2012.

In the first half of this year, the added value of industries above a designated size was up by 11 percent year-on-year – the highest level in five years – taking it to the top of all sub-provincial cities and national central cities.

The strategic goal of making Xi'an a powerful manufacturing city was put forward in 2019 and now the city has formed five 100-billion-yuan industrial clusters – electronics information, aviation and aerospace, high-end equipment, automobiles, and new energy and new materials – and has identified 19 major industrial supply chains.

With the city's industrial scale expanding, the automobile manufacturing, computer and information technology and equipment manufacturing sectors saw output increases of varying degrees in 2021 – 1.8 times, 14.3 times and 3.1 times, respectively, more than those in 2012.

In the smart manufacturing process, Xi'an's manufacturing sector has entered a fast-growth phase with the assistance of the industrial internet. A heavy truck capacity expansion project funded by Shaanxi Automobile Holdings Group Co has, for example, been equipped with advanced technological and digital equipment. This enables a truck to roll off the production line every 4.8 minutes.

On Oct 24, the Xi'an's industry and information technology development guideline for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) was issued. It is estimated that by the end of the period, industrial added value will account for 25 percent of Xi'an's GDP and that the average annual growth rate of industries above a designated size will reach 8 percent.