CGTN's Sun Tianyuan reports.

Zhejiang province has seen remarkable changes since the launch of a plan focused on high-quality development in 2003. The plan, known as the Double-Eight Strategy, was initiated by President Xi Jinping, who, at the time, was secretary of the CPC Zhejiang provincial committee.

CHE JUN, SECRETARY CPC ZHEJIANG PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE "Zhejiang had experienced growing pains and was facing a middle income trap at that time. The strategy was a timely implementation designed to make up for deficiencies such as a lack of natural resources. Under the strategy, Zhejiang has carried out eight targeted measures to deepen economic and industrial transformation and upgrades through innovation. Starting in 2002, Zhejiang's GDP grew by 1 trillion yuan or 150 billion U.S. dollars every three years. Its GDP stood at 5.6 trillion yuan at the end of 2018.

CHE JUN, SECRETARY CPC ZHEJIANG PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE "16 years have passed, yet we still adhere to the same blueprint. Some have asked why we haven't changed our strategy. I said simply because the plan works. The Double-Eight Strategy has made full use of Zhejiang's advantages and opened a door for high-quality development."

Despite growing global trade protectionism and uncertainties, cargo throughput of Zhejiang's Ningbo-Zhoushan Port reached 1 billion tons in 2018. It has ranked first worldwide among ports for ten consecutive years.

YUAN JIAJUN, GOVERNOR ZHEJIANG PROVINCE "It's been a tough year, but exports are expected to maintain a good momentum. While traditional trade may have felt the impact, emerging trade tactics such as cross border e-commerce have opened new markets in Europe and Africa, thus offsetting the impact by China-U.S. trade tensions."

As those trade tensions continue, the governor promised Zhejiang companies to help in getting through. Meanwhile, the province is also expected to develop new drivers for growth.

SUN TIANYUAN BEIJING "The officials say they will continue implementing the strategy non-stop to deepen reform and opening-up. And more details and improvements will be added to the measures in the future. Sun Tianyuan, CGTN, Beijing."