On June 10, a decision to establish East China's Zhejiang province as a demonstration zone for common prosperity was announced in guidelines jointly released by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet.

The decision is understood to have come as China continues to work towards the goal of tackling development problems and narrowing the wealth gap between urban and rural areas, in the wake of  reportedly eradicating extreme poverty last year.

Against this backdrop, Quzhou city in Zhejiang province is set to expand its role as a thoroughfare city. By virtue of its geographic location, it has been a natural transportation center since ancient times, linking the four provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi and Anhui – and is now aiming to make significant progress in its bid to become a pilot demonstration zone for common prosperity by 2025.

That's, according to the latest plenary session of the 7th Quzhou Municipal People's Congress, held on July 27.

By 2035, the thoroughfare city is expected to realize common prosperity with all cities in Zhejiang.  

Quzhou is said to have done particularly well in its economic and social development over the past five years and in achieving major goals set out in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20). Moreover, it has targeted innovation-driven growth and will move to expand international cooperation in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

By 2025, the income gap between urban and rural residents in Quzhou is projected to shrink. The ability of low-income groups to earn more money and increase their living standards is also expected to improve significantly.

In addition, the city is also moving to further promote its urban brand – as the "Home of Southern Confucianism · A Model City of Virtue" – during the process of aligning common prosperity.