Beijing achieves high-quality growth powered by innovation

BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has achieved high-quality economic growth driven by scientific and technological innovation, announced a press briefing on Thursday.

Over the past decade, the city has fully implemented the new development philosophy and strived to write its new chapters in the journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects.

Scientific and technological innovation, reform, and opening-up have significantly promoted high-quality growth in the Chinese capital, Chen Jining, mayor of Beijing, told the briefing.

Over the past ten years, Beijing's GDP more than doubled to 4.03 trillion yuan (585.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, while the per capita disposal income of residents also more than doubled to 75,000 yuan in 2021.

During the period, the city has made breakthroughs in coordinated development and stuck to relieving functions non-essential to its role as the national capital.

Over the past years, Beijing has beefed up efforts in preventing and tackling pollution and improving the ecological environment.

The city's air quality has significantly improved, with the average PM2.5 concentration at 33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, down 63.1 percent from 2013.