Core Insights - The 2025 Small and Medium-Sized Cities High-Quality Development Exchange Conference was held in Zouping City, focusing on exploring new paths for modernization and building a new pattern for the development of small and medium-sized cities [1][2] Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference was attended by over 400 participants, including leaders from national ministries, experts, scholars, and representatives from outstanding enterprises [1] - The conference featured the release of the "2025 China Small and Medium-Sized Cities Development Report," which has been published for 16 consecutive years and serves as a comprehensive and authoritative think tank report in the field of small and medium-sized cities [2] Group 2: Development Strategies - The report emphasizes that small and medium-sized cities should build differentiated competitive advantages based on their characteristics, with specific strategies for different types of cities [2][3] - Development-oriented cities should engage in regional industrial chain collaboration, while resource-based cities need to promote deep processing and high-value manufacturing [2] - Central cities should enhance their regional influence and strengthen the aggregation of characteristic industries, while shrinking cities should focus on resource efficiency [2] Group 3: Performance Metrics - The report established a high-quality development index system covering counties, districts, and towns, highlighting the top 100 counties, top 100 districts, and top 1,000 towns in China [3] - In 2024, the top 100 counties and districts accounted for 2.77% of the national land area, generating 20.79% of GDP and 8.05% of general public budget revenue [3] Group 4: Case Studies and Innovations - The report includes case studies from various cities and towns, showcasing successful practices in modernization and providing valuable insights for other small and medium-sized cities [3] - The conference also launched an AI data platform for small and medium-sized cities, offering comprehensive services for urban management, planning, and policy applications [4] Group 5: Recognition and Contributions - The conference revealed the list of enterprises contributing to the high-quality development of small and medium-sized cities and recognized several cities for their achievements [5] - Zouping City was ranked 44th among the top 100 counties in terms of comprehensive strength, highlighting its ongoing recognition in this category [4] Group 6: Local Development Focus - Zouping City is noted for its historical and cultural significance, as well as its prominence in the aluminum industry, which has become a key driver for local economic development [5][6] - The city aims to build a leading aluminum industry ecosystem through technological innovation and green transformation, serving as a model for high-quality county-level economic development [6]