In November 2018, during his inspection of Nantong, Premier Li Keqiang emphasized the need to plan and build Tongzhou Bay Port to an international first-class standard, making Tongzhou Bay a strategic pivot for the Yangtze River Economic Belt. In early April 2020, the Jiangsu implementation plan was released in the Outline of the Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration Development Plan, which clearly proposed the construction of a new seaport for Yangtze River container transport at Tongzhou Bay in Nantong. Tongzhou Bay, the only city in Jiangsu that is both riverside and coastal, is the focal point of Nantong’s strategy to extend its advantages from the Yangtze River to the sea. High-quality development is the fundamental requirement for formulating and implementing the development strategy for Tongzhou Bay.
Tongzhou Bay boasts unique geographical advantages, serving as a gateway to the Pacific Ocean, connecting the urban agglomeration of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, bordering the international metropolis of Shanghai to the south, and linking to the vast hinterland of the northern Jiangsu Plain to the north. It possesses high-quality locational conditions, natural resources, infrastructure, and industrial clusters. By integrating the urban layout, transportation system, industrial characteristics, resources, and logistics advantages of Tongzhou Bay and drawing on the development experiences of Tokyo Bay and the Pudong New Zone, the development requirements and suggestions for Tongzhou Bay are proposed.
1.Creating a Legal, International, and Convenient Business Environment Aligned with High-Standard Investment and Trade Rules: With the support of national strategy, Tongzhou Bay leads the development of river-sea linkage. A suitable business environment facilitates Tongzhou Bay's full utilization of the port to reach the world and gather global innovation elements, thereby promoting the improvement of the regional innovation system, industrializing innovation achievements, and ultimately significantly enhancing the innovation vitality of Tongzhou Bay, leading to better and more sustainable economic development.
2.Building a Modern Manufacturing Base with Distinct Industrial Characteristics and a Pleasant Living Environment: The development of Tongzhou Bay meets the requirements of the national development strategy. Efforts should be made to expand openness, achieve institutional innovation, and participate in the national strategy in all aspects, ultimately achieving interconnected markets, integrated systems, shared resources, connected transportation, talent exchange, and complementary industries. Tongzhou Bay should become the primary platform for receiving industrial and capital transfers from Shanghai and internationally.
3.Focusing on the Development of Six Major Industries: High-end manufacturing, new energy, new materials, factory-assembled green housing, modern services, and education, science, culture, and healthcare. Fully leveraging the advantages of the port, land, policies, and environment, the focus should be on key links in the industrial chain, improving collaborative supporting systems, fostering industrial alliances, creating industrial complexes, and strengthening distinctive industries. The aim is to develop Tongzhou Bay into a new growth pole for the expansion of Nantong city, a new engine for coastal development in Jiangsu, and a new strategic point for the northern wing of the Yangtze River Delta.
