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An aerial view of Keqiao district in Shaoxing. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

In mid-January, the "Two Sessions", an annual gathering of local lawmakers and political advisors, concluded in Keqiao district.

Reflecting on the achievements of 2023, Keqiao district announced that its GDP surpassed 200 billion yuan ($27.92 billion) for the first time.

Statistics indicate that in 2023, the district launched 266 new projects, with total fixed asset investment reaching 65.4 billion yuan, representing a remarkable 12 percent increase and exceeding the annual target.

The district prioritized strategic emerging industries such as semiconductors, new materials, and biomedicine in its investment endeavors.

The year 2023 also witnessed the establishment of 91 new national high-tech enterprises and 318 provincial technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises in Keqiao district.

Keqiao has been proactive in facilitating international trade, with total exports projected to reach 147.5 billion yuan by the end of the year.

During this year's Two Sessions, a report titled "Efforts to Build a Modern 'International Textile Hub' in Keqiao district: Comprehensive Construction of 'Five Centers'" garnered attention.

In its report, Keqiao set ambitious targets for the future, aiming for a turnover exceeding 450 billion yuan in the China Textile City by 2025. Additionally, the district aspires to achieve more than 150 billion yuan in output in its modern textile industry, with research and development expenditures accounting for 1.5 percent of the main business income of textile enterprises.

The China Textile City is the bedrock of Keqiao's industrial landscape. The district's textile sales network currently extends to 206 countries and regions, with one-quarter of the world's fabric traded here annually. Its dominance in the Chinese textile market has remained unchallenged for the past 32 years.

At the 6th World Fabric Merchants Conference, the overseas public platform for the China Textile City was officially launched, with pilot operations commencing in six cities: Milan, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Dhaka, Dubai, and Istanbul.