A view of the assembly line at an automobile manufacturing enterprise in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. (CFP file photo)

In the first half of the year, the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the Yangtze River Delta region exceeded 16.39 trillion yuan. Specifically, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, which form the delta region, recorded year-on-year growth rates of 5.1%, 5.7%, 5.8%, and 5.6%, respectively.

Among the key developments, Jiangsu surpassed its semi-annual target for 800 provincial-level major industrial projects, indicating an accelerated pace of development. Meanwhile, the Jiangsu City Football League, one of the most vibrant sporting events in the country this summer, contributed to the boost in cultural and tourism-related consumption.

In terms of foreign trade, the region reported a total import and export volume of 8.16 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, up 5.4% year-on-year, accounting for 37.4% of the country's total foreign trade.

Private enterprises exported goods worth 3.36 trillion yuan, raising their share of the region's total exports up to 64.4%.