Longtan Container Terminal of Nanjing Port in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, May 6, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jiangsu province has set its GDP growth target for this year at 5 percent and will roll out multiple policies to facilitate growth, according to Xu Kunlin, governor of the economic hub.

"We will focus on stabilizing growth, employment and prices and endeavor to take the lead in achieving overall economic recovery," Xu said on Sunday as he delivered the government work report at the annual session of the Jiangsu People's Congress.

The province vowed to create 1.2 million jobs, maintain the unemployment rate at around 5 percent and ensure that the consumer price index would only increase by about 3 percent this year, according to the report.

It said that imports and exports, as well as foreign trade and the actual use of foreign capital will be further improved, while energy consumption per unit of GDP will be cut by about 4.5 percent.

Jiangsu will fully embrace its role in China's overall economic growth plans and contribute more to the country, Xu said.

He added that the province will focus on 10 tasks to further its economic development, including establishing a modern industrial system, cultivating more scientific and technological talent and further promote reform and opening-up.

Jiangsu has had the second-highest GDP in the nation for years, only trailing Guangdong province. Jiangsu's GDP for 2022 is expected to surpass 12 trillion yuan ($1.78 trillion), with its per capita disposable income reaching 49,800 yuan, according to the work report.

When its GDP increased to 11.64 trillion yuan in 2021, Jiangsu surpassed the World Bank's income threshold for developed countries, as its per capita GDP reached 137,000 yuan.

Xu said the Jiangsu government will continue to carry out reform and innovation, and vigorously promote the development of a clean, service-oriented, learning-oriented and law-based government.

Among Jiangsu's 13 cities, four — Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong — have joined the 1-trillion-yuan GDP club. Nanjing and Wuxi have set a GDP growth target of over 5 percent for this year. Suzhou's growth target is around 5 percent, while Nantong is about 5.5 percent.

Chen Zhichang, mayor of Nanjing, said at the annual session of the Nanjing People's Congress last week that the provincial capital's GDP for 2022 is expected to show a 2 percent increase from 2021.

Suzhou, whose GDP surpassed 2.27 trillion yuan in 2021, topped Jiangsu and ranked sixth nationally.

Wu Qingwen, mayor of Suzhou, said at the annual session of the Suzhou People's Congress that the city's GDP in 2022 is expected to be more than 2.4 trillion yuan.

He underscored the importance of the development of Suzhou's real economy and industrial innovation clusters this year. The city also aims to fully develop its digital economy while improving its modern services.

Zhao Jianjun, Wuxi's mayor, said that the city expects its GDP from last year to increase by 3 percent, while its per capita GDP should rank first among all Chinese cities.