Editor's notes: It is common to set goals, be it long-term goals or short-term goals. Zhejiang will strive to achieve several short-term goals related to environment protection and improving citizens' living standards, let's take a quick look at todays' Zhejiang Highlights.

1. 2nd Yangtze River Delta Chrysanthemum Exhibition to come

On November 5, Hangzhou Botanical Garden will hold the 2nd Yangtze River Delta Chrysanthemum Exhibition and 2021 West Lake Autumn Chrysanthemum Art Festival.

Nearly 9,000 pots of chrysanthemums of various shapes and with different varieties are spread throughout the botanical gardens.

the forthcoming Chrysanthemum Exhibition (Photo/Zhejiang News)

2. Goals nailed down! By 2025, all cities and towns in Zhejiang to complete construction of the "zero direct discharge of sewage area"

On November 2, the conference on the construction of "zero direct discharge of sewage area" across cities and towns and rural domestic sewage management was held in Chun'an County, Hangzhou. 

In terms of urban sewage treatment, by 2023, 98% of counties (cities and districts) will have fully completed the construction of urban "zero direct sewage discharge areas" and established a long-term operation and maintenance mechanism. By 2025, all counties (cities and districts) will have completed the construction of urban "zero sewage direct discharge areas" and achieved significant results in standardized operation and maintenance

3. Latest update on Covid-19 cases in Zhejiang 

From 0:00-24:00 on November 2, one new confirmed case was reported (an asymptomatic infected person previously imported from Russia) and one new asymptomatic infected person was reported (imported from Tanzania). As of 24:00 on the 2nd, a total of 1496 confirmed cases have been reported (276 imported cases from abroad).

4. Zhejiang is working towards nine common-prosperity-related sub-goals in farmers’ living and villages’ development by 2025

With regard to improvement in farmers’ living, by 2025, per capita agricultural labor productivity to increase from 41,000 CNY (approximately 6408.3USD) to over 55,000 CNY (approximately 8596.5 USD); Farmers’ income to increase from 31,900 CNY (approximately 4985.97 USD) to 44,000 CNY (approximately 6877.2 USD); income of peasant household with low-income to rise to over 24,000 CNY (approximately 3751.2 USD) from 14,000 CNY (approximately 2188.2 USD)

In terms of the income gap, by 2025, the ratio of urban incomes to rural incomes narrowed from a difference of 1.96 times to a difference of 1.9 times; the ratio of farmers' income across the whole province to that of low-income farmers narrowed from a difference of 2.22 times to a difference of 1.9 times while the ratio of farmers' income in the province to farmers' income in the 26 mountainous districts narrowed from a difference of 1.32 times to a difference of 1.2 times

When it comes to villages development, the ratio of villages that meet the standards of the New Era Beautiful Village grew from the current 57% to 100%. The minimum level of total income for the village-level collective economy increased from 100,000 CHY (approximately 15,630 USD) to 200,000 CHY (approximately 31, 260 USD). The ratio of provincial-level good governance (model village) increased from the current 29.5% to over 50%.

5. Zhoushan aims to attract more talents

A national-level talent who decides to work in Zhoushan can receive a maximum reward of nearly 5 million yuan ($782,000), with the city providing some talents with a one-time housing subsidy of 900,000 yuan and a furnished flat to live in for five years.

Zhoushan also published eight measures to support the short-term employment of high-level professionals and the introduction of elderly experts. It will also offer them preferential treatment, including government subsidies and housing in the city.

Zhoushan launched a program this year to support the startup and innovation projects of high-profile talents.

For entrepreneurial talents, the city will offer a maximum subsidy of 10 million yuan, while innovation talents will receive 5 million yuan in research and development expenditures, as well as a maximum subsidy equivalent to 40 percent of their annual salary from the local government.

Editor: He Zhenzhen