The third session of the 15th Ningbo People's Congress commences in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Jan 16. [Photo/Ningbo Fabu WeChat]

The third session of the 15th Ningbo People's Congress convened on Jan 16 with 472 deputies in attendance to propose suggestions and outline the blueprint of the city.

The city's mayor, Qiu Dongyao, delivered a work report reviewing the achievements of the past year and putting forward work arrangements for 2018.

Qiu said Ningbo witnessed steady and healthy economic growth in the year of 2017. The GDP of the previous year had reached 985 billion yuan ($153.35 billion), an increase of 7.6 percent, according to the current statistics. The revenue of the general public's budget, over 124 billion yuan, is estimated to have increased by 10.9 percent, the report stated.

The initial goals for 2018 were also highlighted in the report. The growth of GDP is set to rise by 7.5 percent in Ningbo this year. The government will work in creating 150,000 urban jobs.

Qiu said the government will focus on nine aspects to fulfill the goals, including strengthening the competitiveness of Ningbo's real economy, boosting innovation, deepening the overall reforms, revitalizing rural areas and improving the cultural strength.

The government also raised new requirements for its own development. In 2018, Ningbo government agencies will constantly improve administrative services for the public with full diligence and responsibility, according to the work report.

Members of the 15th Ningbo Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and 22 honorary citizens were invited to the congress, and 50 citizens sat on the sidelines.

Qiu Dongyao, mayor of Ningbo, delivers the work report of the government at the People's Congress on Jan 16. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Deputies to the Ningbo People's Congress listen to the work report of the government on Jan 16. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]