Core Viewpoint - The central region of China is experiencing a significant economic development divergence among its six provinces, driven by differences in innovation capacity, industrial structure, and openness levels [1][2][3] Economic Growth Rates - Hubei and Anhui are leading in economic growth, with average GDP growth rates of 5.25% and 4.96% from 2022 to 2024, surpassing the national average by 0.75 and 0.46 percentage points respectively [1] - Henan and Hunan show stable but slowing growth, with projected GDP totals of 6.36 trillion yuan and 5.32 trillion yuan in 2024, ranking first and third in the central region [1] - Shanxi and Jiangxi face significant downward pressure, with Shanxi's average GDP growth at 3.87% and Jiangxi experiencing considerable economic fluctuations [1] Innovation Capacity - Anhui stands out with a research and development (R&D) intensity exceeding the national average, leading to a 28.2% increase in high-value invention patents per ten thousand people by 2024 [2] - In contrast, Shanxi and Jiangxi lag in R&D support due to a lack of high-level educational institutions and talent [2] Industrial Structure - Anhui's emerging industries are thriving, with strategic emerging industries accounting for 43.6% of industrial output in 2024, and it ranks second nationally in new energy vehicle production [2] - Hubei has developed clusters in optoelectronic information and high-end equipment manufacturing, with these sectors contributing over 60% to industrial revenue [2] - Other provinces struggle with less diversified industrial structures, with Shanxi heavily reliant on coal, contributing 60% to industrial growth [2] Openness Levels - Anhui leads in total goods import and export volume in 2024, with a total of 490.1 billion yuan, while Shanxi's volume is only one-fifth of Anhui's [3] - Other provinces, except Hubei and Anhui, have foreign trade growth rates below the national average [3] Challenges to High-Quality Development - The central region's overall R&D investment intensity is lower than that of the eastern region, with patent applications only about one-fourth of those in the east [3] - The region's economic openness is limited, with only 8.21% of national import and export totals in 2024, and an economic outward orientation of approximately 12.5% [3] Strategic Development Initiatives - The region aims to cultivate new productive forces by enhancing innovation capabilities in manufacturing and promoting advanced manufacturing clusters [4] - There is a push for regional strategic integration, encouraging collaboration among provinces to enhance economic quality and efficiency [4] - High-level inland openness is being promoted through the development of transportation hubs and integration into the Belt and Road Initiative [4][5] Regional Cooperation - Strengthening inter-provincial cooperation mechanisms is essential, focusing on key industries such as equipment manufacturing and new energy vehicles [5] - The establishment of ecological and economic cooperation zones is being prioritized to enhance regional collaboration [5]