"Never-before-seen problems and challenges": Changchun resists decline
Like the entire country, the old industrial town in the northeast is also trying to implement Xi Jinping's policy and to tailor the local economy to high-tech. But the historical legacy weighs heavily. A visit to the site.
Changchun, a city in northeastern China with a population of nearly 10 million, is struggling to modernize its economy and shift towards high-tech industries as ordered by President Xi Jinping. The city's industrial heritage, dominated by large state-owned enterprises such as First Automotive Works (FAW), has hindered its efforts, with FAW's vehicle sales declining for six consecutive years.
The local economy grew only 1.6% in the first six months of the year, significantly lower than the national average of 4.7%. Many residents, including day laborers, are struggling to find work, with some blaming the city's economic woes on the decline of the construction industry.
Written by urgent.news from NZZ Wirtschaft's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
