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 - Jiangsu province has notable economic performance in county-level economies, with cities like Kunshan, Changshu, Jiangyin, and Zhangjiagang being well-known for their strong economic indicators, referred to as the "Four Little Dragons of Southern Jiangsu" [1] - Taicang, a lesser-known city in Jiangsu, has shown impressive strength, ranking sixth in the 2024 National Top 100 Counties and second in the "National Science and Technology Innovation Counties" list, with a GDP of 188 billion yuan in 2024 [3][5] - The per capita GDP of Taicang is 221,800 yuan, which is higher than that of major cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, and only slightly lower than Beijing, indicating its economic robustness [3] Group 2 - Taicang hosts around 500 German enterprises, including over 60 global manufacturing "hidden champions," with key industries in high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, and modern trade [5] - The city has a unique German cultural influence, featuring German-style dining and bars, reflecting the presence of a significant German community [5] - Taicang is one of the first cities in China to implement the German "dual education system," allowing students to learn while interning at companies, which fosters a direct pathway to employment post-graduation [7] Group 3 - Despite complex political relations, many German companies continue to invest in China, with BASF increasing its investment in the Chinese market, even as it reduces investments in other regions [9] - In the first half of 2024, German investments in China reached a record high of 7.3 billion euros, with a significant portion being reinvested profits from Chinese operations, indicating strong confidence in the Chinese market [9]