On July 10, the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission presented an update on the progress of county-level economies in the province at the Provincial High-Quality Development Promotion Conference for County-Level Economy. The reporter learned at the conference that in 2023, Sichuan's county-level economies reached a new high, with 146 county-level regions (comprising 109 counties, 19 county-level cities, and 18 districts with county-level economic features) surpassing three trillion yuan in total economic output for the first time. This milestone represents 50.6 percent of the province's total economic output, a 0.4 percentage point increase from the previous year. Notably, 82 of these county-level economies outpaced the provincial average growth rate.

In recent years, Sichuan has prioritized county-level regions as a starting point to advance urban-rural integration solidly. Efforts have been directed towards developing economically robust counties and those with distinctive economic traits, along with supportive assistance for 39 underdeveloped counties. Consequently, the 146 county-level regions have seen accelerated growth, demonstrating a new trend characterized by a surge in total output, structural adjustment, transformed growth drivers, and vigorous competitive development.
County-level regions are witnessing sustained growth in comprehensive strength, accompanied by the further unleashing of domestic demand potential. In 2023, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the 146 county-level regions reached 1.16 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.1 percent. Additionally, 34 of these areas saw their fixed asset investments grow by double digits. Development vitality has been thoroughly ignited, boosting the private sector's added value to 1.69 trillion yuan, which now constitutes 52.7 percent of the province's total economic output, a rise of 0.2 percentage point over the previous year.

The structure of county-level development is increasingly optimized. Among the 146 county-level regions, those with an economic output exceeding 60 billion yuan have risen from four in 2021 to eight in 2023. Similarly, the number of counties with an economic output ranging between 20 billion and 60 billion yuan increased from 51 in 2021 to 56 in 2023. In particular, in 2021, Xichang City and Jianyang City (both county-level cities) made it to the national top 100 counties, signaling Sichuan's initial breakthrough in this list. By 2023, Sichuan further advanced its position with seven counties in the top 100, ranking fifth nationwide and leading the western region in county representation. The 39 underdeveloped counties have picked up pace in their catch-up and leapfrog development. In 2023, their collective economic output rose by 13 billion yuan year-on-year, with the average growth rate climbing 2.7 percentage points higher than the previous year.

The momentum of county-level economies is gaining strength. With a focus on bolstering the industrial sector's pivotal role in county-level economies, 27 counties have achieved value-added industrial outputs exceeding 10 billion yuan, while 62 counties boast industrialization rates surpassing the provincial average. Moreover, 10 billion yuan-level characteristic industrial clusters, including the Shehong lithium battery industry, have been nurtured and established. The modern agricultural industry development platforms have continually elevated their capabilities, leading to the successful establishment of 19 national-level agricultural parks and the cumulative recognition of 212 provincial star-level agricultural parks. The integration of agriculture with tourism, as well as culture with tourism, is further progressing. A total of 47 counties have been named as Tianfu famous tourism counties. Additionally, the province has established nine national all-for-one tourism demonstration zones, six ecological tourism demonstration zones, and 16 night culture and tourism consumption agglomeration zones.

County-level infrastructure is undergoing rapid enhancement. As of 2023, the number of counties accessible by expressways and railways has reached 109 and 86, respectively, with 50 of them now connected by high-speed rail. Essentially, asphalt road access now reaches every township, and hardened roads connect every village. The supply of public service resources continues to be enhanced. Enrollment rates for preschool, compulsory, and senior high school education now exceed the national average. The balanced development evaluation for compulsory education has met all required standards. Additionally, 109 primary-level medical and health institutions have been developed as county-level medical and health sub-centers. The social security system covering the entire population has also been further improved.