High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan: Shanxi’s Remarkable Achievements in Natural Resource Management

Natural resources have increasingly underpinned Shanxi’s economic and social progress. On November 26, the Shanxi Provincial Government held the ninth press briefing in its series on the high-quality implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, focusing on achievements in natural resources.

Since the Plan’s inception, Shanxi’s cultivated land has grown for three consecutive years, adding 224,900 mu by 2024 compared to 2020. The province has maintained a cultivated land balance for 25 years, achieving increases in quantity and quality alongside stable land use patterns.

Yao Qinglin, Director General of Shanxi’s Department of Natural Resources, stated, “We have clearly defined protection red lines for farmland, ecology, and urban development, securing food security and improving spatial governance. Our granaries are fuller, fields greener, and cities more vibrant.”

Economically, Shanxi approved 772,300 mu and supplied 854,900 mu of land for construction during this period. This expedited key projects such as Taiyuan Airport’s Phase III expansion, the Xiongan-Xinzhou High-speed Railway, and Jining-Datong-Taiyuan High-speed Railway.

On public service, Shanxi launched a “Clearance Campaign” in 2021 to eliminate real estate registration backlogs. Since last year, efforts intensified, resolving registration issues for over 4.1 million properties.

Deputy Director General Li Mingliang noted, “These measures activated the second-hand housing market, with a 30.67% year-on-year transaction increase in 2024. The market has largely rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, benefiting both residents and the economy.”

As a major coal province, Shanxi also advanced non-coal mineral development by reforming mining rights allocation. Since 2022, public auctions and approvals have bolstered coal supply reliability.

Shao Shejiao, a senior official, stated, “We’ve established a unified, transparent, and efficient mining rights trading system, fully embracing electronic and online transactions to integrate into the national market.”

In ecological protection, Shanxi prioritized restoration and governance, executing national projects on mountainous and water ecosystems, abandoned mine rehabilitation, and land remediation. The restoration of 158 square kilometers of legacy abandoned mines surpassed targets, setting the stage for zero backlog across all nine prefecture-level cities.