Core Insights - The city of Taicang has effectively leveraged its geographical advantages and resources to enhance its service industry, achieving significant growth in both scale and quality during the 14th Five-Year Plan period [1][2][3][4][5] Group 1: Economic Growth and Service Industry Development - In 2024, the added value of the service industry in Taicang reached 100.29 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.3%, with a total increase of 31.03 billion yuan compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan [1] - The proportion of service industry added value in GDP rose to 53.3%, an increase of 3.3 percentage points from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan [1] - The added value of the productive service industry was 57.72 billion yuan, growing by 9.4% year-on-year, reflecting significant improvements in development quality and efficiency [1] Group 2: Logistics and Trade Development - Taicang is advancing its port development strategy, enhancing the functionality of its national logistics hub and converting port traffic into economic growth [2] - In 2024, the revenue of large-scale modern trade enterprises in Taicang reached 200.5 billion yuan, an increase of over 80 billion yuan compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan [2] - The Haitong Terminal, the largest automobile roll-on/roll-off terminal on the Yangtze River, officially opened, facilitating a new export channel for domestic automobiles [2] Group 3: International Cooperation and Innovation - During the 14th Five-Year Plan, Taicang expanded its cooperation with Germany, establishing significant projects such as the largest global laboratory by TüV Rheinland and the Fraunhofer Urban Ecology Development Innovation Platform [3] - The city has built the first AHK Academy in China and established the first dual vocational education industrial park, introducing over 30 cooperative projects [3] Group 4: Cultural and Tourism Development - Taicang is exploring the integration of culture and tourism, developing new tourism formats and aiming to become a leisure tourism destination in the Yangtze River Delta [4] - In 2024, the total number of tourists received in Taicang reached 8.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 14% [4] - The city has optimized its commercial layout, being recognized as a leading county in national commercial development, with several landmark commercial projects completed [4] Group 5: Future Directions - Taicang aims to continue focusing on scale, professionalism, and quality in its service industry, integrating modern services with advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture to support high-quality economic and social development [5]

Group 1 - The Taicang Beer Carnival, which started in 2006, has become a significant cultural and economic bridge between China and Germany, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year [1][2] - The event reflects the deep-rooted cooperation between Taicang and German enterprises, with over 560 German companies now established in the region, marking Taicang as a hub for German businesses in China [1][3] - The carnival symbolizes the cultural integration and emotional resonance between the two nations, evolving from a simple gathering to a major city event that showcases Taicang's development as a "German enterprise hometown" [2][3] Group 2 - Taicang has developed a comprehensive "German enterprise ecosystem" over the past 30 years, expanding cooperation beyond economic sectors to include culture, education, and sports [3][6] - The city has hosted various cultural events and exchanges, such as the "Taicang Day" in Germany, which highlights the depth of cooperation in trade, education, and culture [4][6] - The establishment of dual vocational training centers in Taicang has supported the local German enterprises by providing a skilled workforce, with over 10,000 trained professionals [7] Group 3 - Taicang's strategic location near Shanghai and its robust transportation network have made it an attractive destination for German companies, with a significant number of them being industry leaders [5][6] - The city has initiated the planning of a Sino-German industrial cooperation demonstration zone to enhance economic collaboration and facilitate the entry of German enterprises [8] - Recent projects, including the establishment of a brand factory by Henkel and expansions by other leading companies, indicate a growing confidence among German firms in Taicang [9][10]