At a critical period when the country's development has entered a new stage of the 15th Five Year Plan, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has made comprehensive arrangements for the comprehensive construction of a socialist modernized country, clearly proposing to "build a regional economic layout with complementary advantages and high-quality development", emphasizing the need to "promote the formation of a new pattern of western development" and "create an inland open economic highland". These important statements have pointed out the direction for the development of Lanzhou in the new era and provided fundamental guidance. In September 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during his inspection of Gansu that it is necessary to "deeply integrate into the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of the Western Land Sea New Corridor", "strengthen Gansu's strategic position in the country's westward opening-up layout", and specifically entrusted "Lanzhou to undertake important missions in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative". This series of important instructions have profoundly clarified the special position and important role of Lanzhou in serving the national strategy, injected strong impetus into the construction of the "the Belt and Road" hub city of Lanzhou, and entrusted Lanzhou with the responsibility of the times to serve the overall situation of the country's opening up.

Lanzhou, as an important central city in the northwest region, is located at the geometric center of China's land area. It is the only provincial capital city where the Yellow River passes through the city and also a land hub connecting Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe. In recent years, Lanzhou has gradually consolidated its hub function foundation around the strong provincial capital action: the comprehensive transportation system has been continuously improved, the third phase of Zhongchuan Airport has been put into operation and opened 192 domestic and foreign passenger and cargo routes, and international trains have stably operated in six directions including China Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia; The industrial foundation continues to consolidate, with a year-on-year increase of 27.1% in industrial investment in the first half of 2025. Industrial clusters such as petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, and new energy are accelerating their formation; With rich scientific and technological innovation resources, it has high-level scientific research institutions such as Lanzhou University and Lanzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and has technological advantages in heavy ion medicine, ecological environmental protection and other fields. In addition, Lanzhou has successively been approved as a "Northwest Advanced Manufacturing Base, Regional Science and Technology Innovation Highland, and Land Sea New Channel Hub" and other national positioning, providing multiple policy opportunities for the construction of hub cities. Based on the national strategic deployment and local resource endowment, Lanzhou needs to coordinate the construction of the "six major hubs" and achieve the transformation from an inland hinterland to an open frontier.

Build a comprehensive transportation hub with three-dimensional connectivity. Lanzhou needs to further improve the multimodal transport system of "air, rail, road, and sea" and strengthen its international logistics organization capabilities. For example, relying on Zhongchuan Airport to build the Northwest International Aviation Hub, we aim to achieve a passenger throughput of 48 million and a cargo and mail throughput of 500000 tons by 2035; At the same time, we will deepen the functions of land port national logistics hubs, accelerate the construction of multimodal logistics parks, and build a transportation network that serves the whole province, radiates to the west, and connects Europe and Asia.

Building an open and collaborative hub for industrial synergy. Lanzhou needs to focus on its manufacturing foundation and promote the development of high-end, intelligent, and green industries. On the one hand, accelerate the extension and supplementation of traditional industries such as petrochemicals and equipment manufacturing; On the other hand, actively undertaking the transfer of industries from the eastern and central regions, cultivating emerging industry clusters such as new energy and biomedicine. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen production capacity cooperation with the international market, promote the "Lanzhou Manufacturing" and "Lanzhou Service" to go global, such as expanding cooperation with ASEAN, Central Asia and other regions through platforms such as the Lanzhou International Fair.

Build an innovation led technology talent hub. Lanzhou should rely on the strength of the "New Fourth Army" of scientific research and jointly build a national laboratory with "the Belt and Road" to promote the export of advanced technologies such as heavy ion medicine and desertification control. At the same time, it is necessary to optimize the talent introduction mechanism, build an international talent community, create a "overseas like" environment, and provide intellectual support for scientific and technological cooperation.

Build a deeply integrated digital intelligence hub. Lanzhou needs to actively integrate into the "East Data West Computing" project, accelerate the construction of the Lanzhou New Area supercomputing center cluster, and create a green data center. At the same time, we will promote the integration of digital technology and the real economy, build a "digital corridor" for the China Europe freight train (Central Asia direction), establish a multilingual cross-border trade big data platform, and enhance the level of digital trade facilitation. The construction of the Lanzhou New Area Digital Silk Road International Trade Innovation Zone is the practice of this path.

Build a green and safe ecological barrier hub. Lanzhou needs to resolutely implement the commission of "taking the lead in maintaining the health of the Yellow River water body" and systematically promote ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin. By building the Western Carbon Trading Service Center and conducting pilot projects for emissions trading, we aim to establish a market-oriented ecological compensation mechanism. It can also rely on local scientific research advantages to promote water-saving irrigation, desertification control and other technologies for the "the Belt and Road" countries to help the construction of the Green Silk Road.

Build an open and inclusive cultural exchange hub. Lanzhou is the intersection of Yellow River culture, Silk Road culture, and ethnic culture, which needs to be linked by culture to promote mutual learning of civilizations. For example, through cultural and tourism activities such as "Impression of the Yellow River", we can jointly build the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt with cities along the Yellow River; Relying on the Dunhuang Cultural and Creative Expo to promote cultural and creative IPs such as "Lan Xiaowu" and promote intangible cultural heritage products to the world; Create high-quality performing arts such as 'The Yellow River is also Beautiful', and enhance the cultural influence of the city through the integration of culture and tourism; Accelerating the transition from resource dependence to creativity driven, new formats such as digital cultural and creative industries and immersive performing arts are flourishing, injecting new momentum into the construction of cultural hubs.

Facing the new development stage of the 15th Five Year Plan, Lanzhou needs to take serving the national strategy as the core and focus on building a higher-level open platform. We will promote the transformation and upgrading of platforms such as the Lanzhou International Fair and the Dunhuang Cultural Expo from regional exhibitions to international exchange platforms, and set up green technology exhibition areas and digital trade zones along the "the Belt and Road" to attract global innovation resources. At the same time, we will deepen practical cooperation with node cities in Central Asia, West Asia and Southeast Asia, build a multi-level and wide-ranging international cooperation network, and make Lanzhou an important hub for exchanges and cooperation among countries along the the Belt and Road.

In terms of institutional opening up, Lanzhou should continue to optimize the business environment and deepen the reform of "streamlining administration, delegating powers, and improving services". We should vigorously promote the "smart customs" model, improve the "single window" function for international trade, compress customs clearance time to within 24 hours, and significantly improve cross-border trade efficiency. We can implement a "minimalist approval" system in the Lanzhou New Area Comprehensive Bonded Zone, carry out pilot projects for negative list management of cross-border service trade, establish a sound intellectual property protection system that is in line with international standards, and provide comprehensive legal protection for enterprises to "go global" and "bring in".

Building a modern industrial system is the key to enhancing the urban level of Lanzhou. We need to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional industries, and promote advantageous industries such as petrochemicals and equipment manufacturing to move towards the high-end of the value chain. At the same time, we should actively layout strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, and biomedicine, and cultivate new economic growth points. We must seize the opportunities of the digital economy, promote the deep integration of digital technology and the real economy, create a digital industry cluster with regional competitiveness, improve the modern circulation system, strengthen the resilience of the supply chain, and enhance the efficiency of economic circulation.

In terms of cultural soft power construction, Lanzhou should deeply explore characteristic resources such as Yellow River culture and Silk Road culture, and promote the creative transformation of excellent traditional culture. By constructing the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River National Cultural Park, we can create a cultural landmark with international influence; Cultivate and strengthen cultural and creative industries, and launch cultural masterpieces that showcase Lanzhou's characteristics; Strengthen the construction of international communication capabilities, innovate communication methods, and make Lanzhou not only a hub for economic exchanges, but also a bridge for cultural exchange and a platform for mutual learning of civilizations.

Standing at a new historical starting point, Lanzhou must bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions to "take the lead and lead the way", and comprehensively promote the construction of the six major hub functions with a broader vision, more innovative thinking, and more pragmatic measures. We need to stimulate new driving forces for urban development through institutional innovation, technological innovation, and cultural innovation, and expand new spaces for opening up to the outside world through infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, and normalized cultural exchanges. This pearl of the Yellow River will surely shine with new brilliance, demonstrating Lanzhou's responsibility and contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Author affiliation: Qu Jing, Party School of the CPC Lanzhou Municipal Committee (Lanzhou Administrative College)