In 2025, Guangdong delivered an impressive performance with 11 "firsts." The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster topped global rankings, while the province has led the nation in regional innovation capacity for nine consecutive years, and ranked first in multiple indicators such as total high-speed rail mileage and the number of market entities.

These "firsts" span key areas including innovation, transportation, energy, trade, culture, and marine industries. Guangdong ranked first nationwide in the operating revenue of industrial enterprises above the designated size and in the total number of market entities. It also led in regional innovation capacity and the number of valid invention patent applications, while it continues to top the country in total foreign trade value and contributions to the central government's tax revenue, with its cultural industries and marine GDP advancing in tandem. Notably, many of these "firsts" have maintained leadership over long periods, ranging from nine to 40 years. This has fostered an endogenous resilience deeply rooted in institutional mechanisms and market culture, enabling Guangdong to achieve a critical leap from scale to quality amid dual pressures.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Guangdong has the responsibility to take the lead, set an example, and play a pivotal role in the face of a complex international environment, intensifying technological competition, and challenging transformation tasks. The province will transform its confidence into greater drive and convert its data leadership into pioneering action.

The pathway forward lies first in leveraging strengths. Building on its innovation advantages, Guangdong needs to step up efforts to tackle core technological bottlenecks and accelerate the translation of laboratory achievements into industrial chains. Drawing on its vast base of market entities, the province should continue to optimize the business environment, unleashing the creativity of enterprises of all types. At the same time, it should capitalize on its strengths in foreign trade to stabilize traditional markets and expand into emerging fields, establishing new advantages in high-level opening-up.

The 11 "firsts" serve as the cornerstone of past endeavors and the powerful tool for future breakthroughs. Standing at the new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Guangdong should advance with the determination to surmount steep challenges and the sobriety to reset and set off again, to transform existing strengths into momentum for breakthroughs, create more "firsts" in tough challenges ahead, and write a new chapter of staying at the forefront.

11个“第一”是广东打好下一场硬仗的坚实底气

2025年，广东交出涵盖11个“第一”的亮眼成绩单，从“深圳—香港—广州”创新集群登顶全球、区域创新能力连续9年领跑全国，到高铁运营总里程、市场主体总量等多项指标居首。

这些“第一”覆盖创新、交通、能源、贸易、文化、海洋等关键领域：规上工业营业收入、市场主体总量全国第一；区域创新能力、有效发明专利申请量领先；对外贸易总额、中央税收贡献持续领跑，文化产业规模与海洋生产总值齐头并进。尤为可贵的是，多个“第一”保持长期领先纪录，从9年到40年不等，形成深植于体制机制与市场文化的内生韧性，助力广东在双重压力下实现从规模到质量的关键跃升。

展望“十五五”，面对复杂国际环境、激烈科技竞争与艰巨转型任务，广东需“走在前、作示范、挑大梁”，将“底气”化为“锐气”，把数据领先转为行动率先。

转化之道，首在聚焦长板：依托创新优势攻坚核心技术“卡脖子”难题，加速实验室成果向产业链转化；立足海量市场主体，持续优化营商环境，激活各类企业创造力；借力外贸优势，稳固传统市场、开拓新兴领域，构筑高水平开放新优势。

11个“第一”是过往拼搏的基石，更是未来开拓的利刃。站在“十五五”新起点，广东需以“爬坡过坎”的勇毅与“归零再出发”的清醒，将既有优势转化为破局动能，在硬仗中创造更多“第一”，续写走在前列的新篇章。

文｜李妹妍
译｜盛嘉
审｜赵凡