East China's Zhejiang province has prioritized the economic development of its 26 mountainous counties as part of efforts to build a demonstration zone for common prosperity.

Among the 388 projects launched in Zhejiang last August, more than a third are located in the 26 counties.

Fixed asset investment in the 26 counties reached 295.8 billion yuan ($46.56 billion) in 2021, up 11.8 percent from the year before. Investments in the secondary industry and technological upgrades of industrial enterprises in these counties grew 22.8 percent and 16.6 percent year-on-year respectively. These growth rates were 5 percentage points and 2.7 percentage points higher than the provincial average.

Private investment in the 26 counties increased by 11.1 percent year-on-year in 2021, 2.2 percentage points higher than the provincial average.

Research and development expenditures in above-designated-sized companies in the 26 counties surged 34.7 percent in 2021, 3.1 percentage points higher than the provincial average.

Five out of the seven new provincial-level economic development zones designated by Zhejiang authorities earlier this year are located in the 26 counties.

The per capita disposable income of all residents, urbanites, and rural residents in the 26 counties rose by 10.9 percent, 9.8 percent, and 11.1 percent year-on-year respectively to 42,139 yuan, 53,710 yuan, and 27,619 yuan in 2021.

The three growth rates were all higher than the provincial average.