Economic performance, major industrial projects, and social development—every step of Yunnan's high-quality growth is closely linked to the lives of its residents. To help the public better understand the priorities and highlights of the province's economic and social progress, a new political and economic column has been launched.
A special press conference on Yunnan's kickoff for the 15th Five-Year Plan period was held in Kunming on May 13. Provincial government leaders outlined the main goals and key tasks for Yunnan's economic and social development over the next five years. During this period, Yunnan will continue to amplify the effects of its major international corridors, transforming transit flows into development gains. The focus will be on industries such as aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, non-ferrous metals, and rare precious metals, accelerating the shift of resource-based sectors toward higher value-added activities. The government will continue to host roundtable meetings with businesses, deepen mechanisms for officials to engage with enterprises through various service formats, and strictly implement the three-list system for government-business interactions. Efforts will also enhance the inclusive financing service system, encouraging financial institutions to increase credit support and effectively address corporate financing challenges. Pro-business policies will be efficiently implemented, leveraging digital tools to enable more initiatives that offer benefits without application, ensuring swift and direct delivery.
Recent developments in Yunnan also warrant attention. On May 12, the Yunnan-Hong Kong "AI+" Development Conference commenced in Kunming, establishing a new platform for deepened exchanges and cooperation. The conference centered on "advancing artificial intelligence and deepening 'AI+' integrated applications," featuring four parallel sessions on AI in advanced manufacturing, plateau agriculture, biomedicine, and ecological governance. These discussions aimed to foster technology matching, project negotiations, and practical applications, jointly exploring AI opportunities and charting a new vision for collaborative development between Yunnan and Hong Kong.
The Yunnan Provincial Health Commission recently issued a notice on implementing measures to care for and support the nursing workforce. It emphasizes safeguarding nurses' lawful rights and interests, including wages, allowances, and social security. The notice calls for strictly defining nurses' professional boundaries to prevent arbitrary reassignment to non-clinical duties, implementing scientific scheduling to control extended shifts and excessive overtime, and encouraging healthcare institutions to establish commendation mechanisms for outstanding nursing staff.
Since the beginning of the year, the Yunnan Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau has consistently utilized its investment attraction service platform and mechanisms, focusing on project implementation, delivering precise services, and strengthening full-cycle support to comprehensively enhance service efficiency.
In April 2026, Yunnan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.4% month-on-month and 1.4% year-on-year. The Industrial Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 2.2% month-on-month and 8.8% year-on-year, with a cumulative rise of 5.5% from January to April. The Industrial Purchasing Price Index (IPI) saw a month-on-month increase of 3.4%, a year-on-year rise of 7.9%, and a cumulative growth of 4.5% over the first four months.
Here are exemplary cases of economic and social development across the province:
Qilin Blueberry: A Model for Prosperity in Qujing Qilin District in Qujing has leveraged the blueberry industry as a focal point, innovating with a "company + cooperative + base + farmer" development model. This approach creates "workshops at the doorstep," enabling land to generate value, increasing farmers' incomes, and strengthening collective economies. Qilin has pioneered a cooperative framework involving township platform companies, village collective economic cooperatives, private enterprises, and farmers, achieving shared benefits through equity linkages. Through agricultural cooperatives, the district encourages village collectives and farmers to invest capital or land, distributing profits in a 40-50-10 ratio among farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises. By consolidating land, implementing unified construction and management, and having villages collectively transfer land use rights, large-scale contiguous planting has been realized. Over 2,700 mu of farmland has been transferred, with an average annual rent exceeding 1,600 yuan per mu, generating over 4.3 million yuan in annual land transfer income and providing a stable foundation for increased farmer earnings. Currently, Qilin has established a blueberry industry association, deploying substrate blueberry bases in areas like Yuezhou, Sanbao, Xiaoxiang, and Yanjiang. The district's blueberry cultivation area has reached 12,000 mu, with an annual output value surpassing 150 million yuan. The blueberry planting bases employ over 300 management personnel year-round and approximately 2,700 people daily during harvest periods, enabling more than 3,000 residents to earn income while managing household responsibilities.
Updates from other prefectures and cities are also noteworthy:
Yuxi: 30 Special Events to Help Graduates "Love and Stay in Yuxi" Yuxi City's 2026 employment service initiative for college graduates, "Love and Stay in Yuxi," has officially launched. During the campaign, 30 specialized employment service activities will be held consecutively, featuring campus recruitment, corporate visits, job promotions, policy consultations, and entrepreneurship competition observations. These diverse formats aim to connect graduates with local quality job opportunities, supporting young talent in securing employment and starting businesses in Yuxi.
Honghe: Jianshui Zitao Selected Among First "Travel with Brands" Experience Sites Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly released the first national list of 30 recommended "Travel with Brands" experience sites, with Jianshui Chongwen Tongchuang Zitao Brand Experience Site in Yunnan making the list. Jianshui Zitao is one of the "Four Famous Potteries of China," recognized as a National Geographical Indication Product and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Xishuangbanna: Guanlei Port Sees Robust Passenger and Cargo Growth in First Four Months In the first four months of this year, Guanlei Port achieved growth in foreign trade, with import and export trade volume reaching 1.553 billion yuan and cargo throughput hitting 93,000 tons, representing year-on-year increases of 49.2% and 4.5%, respectively. Passenger traffic reached 13,000 inbound and outbound trips, with 655 vessel movements, up 44.6% and 40% year-on-year. The port primarily facilitates exchanges with Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, reflecting continued improvements in cross-border convenience and sustained vitality in port operations.
Lijiang: Yunnan Branch Event for "May 19 China Tourism Day" to Kick Off in Lijiang The 2026 Yunnan branch event for "May 19 China Tourism Day" will be held in Lijiang from May 18 to 25. Centered on the theme "Enjoy Quality Tourism, Journey to Beautiful Landscapes," the event will showcase Yunnan's new tourism image, formats, and experiences through both online and offline activities.
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