China will promote the high-quality development of state-level new areas, making them new highlands of reform and opening-up, according to an action plan released on Friday by the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner.

The country now has 19 state-level new areas, including Pudong New Area, Xiong'an New Area and Binhai New Area. (source:

In 2023, the gross domestic product of the 19 regions reached 6.2 trillion yuan (about 873.55 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 5 percent of the total nationwide, according to the commission.