Core Insights - The article highlights the emergence of "river basin economy" as a new concept in China's 14th Five-Year Plan, indicating that cities along major rivers are gaining importance and new opportunities are opening up [2][4] - Yibin, known as the "First City of the Yangtze River," is presented as a successful example of this transformation, having evolved from a traditional economy reliant on liquor to a hub for the global power battery industry [4][14] Group 1: Economic Transformation - Yibin is recognized as the "Battery Capital of China," marking its established position in the global green energy landscape [4][18] - The city has seen a significant increase in high-tech enterprises, growing from 150 to 487 during the 14th Five-Year period, representing a 2.6-fold increase [17] - Industrial output value in Yibin is projected to exceed 160 billion yuan in 2024, a 50% increase from the end of the 13th Five-Year period [20] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Yibin has made strategic decisions to develop specialized industrial parks for power batteries and has established a talent fund of 1 billion yuan to attract skilled professionals [16][17] - The city has successfully attracted over 120 upstream and downstream projects related to the power battery industry, with a total investment exceeding 200 billion yuan [29] - Yibin's power battery production is expected to account for over 16% of China's total and 10% of the global market by 2024 [18] Group 3: New Economic Paradigm - The concept of "new river basin economy" is introduced, emphasizing a shift from traditional goods logistics to flows of knowledge, technology, capital, and data [40][43] - Yibin has increased its number of universities from 2 to 14 and student enrollment from 25,000 to over 100,000 in the past decade, addressing its educational resource gap [45][47] - The city is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of battery technology with the upcoming launch of the first domestic solid-state battery production line [34][36] Group 4: Regional Impact - Yibin's development is seen as a response to China's regional development imbalances, contributing to the new development pattern by leveraging its strengths in green manufacturing and emerging industries [52][53] - The city plays a crucial role in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, enhancing regional industrial collaboration and supply chain resilience [50][51] - Yibin's success serves as a model for other inland cities, demonstrating that they can overcome traditional limitations and become engines of high-quality growth [52][54]
长江首城与“新流域时代”:一块动力电池如何重塑西部地理?