On July 17, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics and the Beijing Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics released the economic performance of Beijing in the first half of the year. According to the unified accounting results of regional GDP, in the first half of the year, Beijing achieved a regional GDP of 2,179.13 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4% at constant prices.

　　In the first half of the year, Beijing's regional GDP grew by 5.4% year on year, higher than the national average, demonstrating that Beijing's economy has achieved both quantitative and qualitative improvement, maintained steady development and shown a momentum of recovery and improvement. It also reflects the stable support of advantageous sectors, the growth and expansion of new drivers, and the strong and effective protection of people's livelihood.

　　Looking at Beijing's economic data for the first half of the year, the development of new drivers is a prominent highlight. In the first half of the year, the added value of Beijing's high-tech manufacturing industry above designated size and strategic emerging industries (the two overlap) grew by 9.0% and 12.9% respectively, contributing more than 40% and 70% to the growth of industry above designated size respectively. Among them, the output of new energy vehicles, smart TVs, 5G smartphones and industrial robots increased by 3.5 times, 87.0%, 16.9% and 12.4% respectively. High-tech manufacturing and strategic emerging industries are important carriers of new quality productive forces and a powerful manifestation of regional competitiveness. Beijing's "half-year report" vividly shows that new drivers are being cultivated at a faster pace, presenting a vibrant and dynamic new atmosphere.

　　The growth and expansion of new drivers is underpinned by continuous increases in R&D investment and innovation levels. From January to May, the R&D expenses of large and medium-sized key enterprises in Beijing increased by 7.4% year on year, 1.2 percentage points higher than the growth rate from January to February. Among them, the R&D expenses of industry and of scientific research and technical services grew by 14.5% and 9.4% respectively. Beijing has long increased R&D investment, stimulated the vitality of scientific and technological innovation, accelerated its pace on the track of new quality productive forces, and demonstrated new achievements.

　　The growth and expansion of new drivers cannot be separated from a high-quality innovation ecosystem and business environment. In recent years, focusing on accelerating the construction of an international center for science and technology innovation, Beijing has formulated and improved a system of laws and policies led by the Regulations on the Construction of Beijing International Center for Science and Technology Innovation, persisted in advancing reform under the rule of law, actively removed institutional obstacles restricting the development of scientific and technological innovation, promoted the continuous emergence of original scientific research achievements, accelerated the construction of a system for transforming scientific and technological achievements, and the effect of the "combined punch" of legal and policy measures has continued to show.

　　As the capital, Beijing enjoys unique advantages in science and technology and talent. In addition, it has solidly promoted the coordinated matching of scientific and technological innovation, industrial innovation and government service innovation, and continuously optimized the innovation ecosystem and business environment, attracting more and more market entities to believe in Beijing, choose Beijing and take root in Beijing. High-quality projects gather high-tech talent, and the virtuous cycle of revitalizing industries with talent is becoming increasingly prominent. For example, on June 18 this year, the Beijing Times Battery Base project held its groundbreaking ceremony in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. After completion, the project will provide high-quality battery products capable of stable mass production for customers of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei automakers such as BAIC and Xiaomi.

　　Beijing is building an international center for science and technology innovation at a faster and steadier pace, and the horizon for high-quality development is becoming broader and wider. Beijing's economy continues to recover and improve, but at the same time we must clearly recognize that development knows no end, and the building of an innovation ecosystem and business environment also knows no end. Only by adhering to a problem-oriented approach, making good use of reform as the "key move", gathering the "** driving force" of innovative development, carrying forward the spirit of "hammering nails", and concentrating efforts to create a first-class innovation ecosystem and business environment, can new industries and new drivers continue to bear abundant fruit under careful cultivation and continuously shape new advantages for Beijing's development.

　　Mission inspires people to forge ahead, and hard work achieves the future. All localities, departments and market entities in Beijing should firmly grasp the general tone of the work of seeking progress while maintaining stability, fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, adhere to the standard of being the best, actively promote the implementation and effectiveness of the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and forge ahead, pioneer and innovate, and work diligently. By doing so, they will surely continue to strengthen new drivers, ensure that strategic emerging industries advance steadily and go far, and inject inexhaustible momentum into the high-quality development of the capital's economy.