Hosted by the publicity department of the CPC Taicang municipal committee and organized by Taicang Daily, the Taicang radio and television station, the Taicang news website and the Taicang Journalist Association, the 2013 Taicang top 10 news stories were released recently. Below are Taicang’s top 10 news stories of 2013.

Cao Yong becomes deputy to National People's Congress

Cao Yong was elected as a deputy to the 12th National People’s Congress on Jan 23, 2013. It was the first time a migrant worker from Suzhou attended the National People’s Congress.

Cao Yong, came from the village of Zigong, Sichuan province, and has been working at Suzhou Dongnan Carbon Products Co in Shuangfeng town of Taicang since June 2004. Cao has participated in researching and developing more than 1,000 new products and was awarded the National Labor Medal in 2011.

Lu Dingxing wins recognition as ‘Chinese good man’

Lu Dingxing from Fuqiao town of Taicang was elected as a “Chinese good man” on Feb 1, 2013, for his dedication and commitment. Lu has projected more than 1,000 movies for the army in Taicang Port since 1998 for free.

Promoting interaction between local government and communities

The interaction between the Taicang government and its communities won high praise from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in 2013. Taicang will further promote interaction in 2014.

Taicang Port sets up comprehensive free trade zone

The State Council approved the establishment of a comprehensive free trade zone in Taicang in May 2013.

Foreign goods are bonded in the comprehensive free trade zone and domestic goods are regarded as export goods with tax refunds. Goods leaving the zone and sold at the domestic market should be declared as imported goods. Goods transacted between enterprises of the zone will not be levied value-added taxes and consumption duties.

Taicang is awarded model county of national safety construction

Taicang was awarded as a model county of national safety construction in 2013. It was the first county from Jiangsu province awarded the prize.

Technological innovations win national prizes

Taicang Special Function Materials Hi-Tech Industrial Base was upgraded to the national level in July 2013. Taicang was selected as a pilot city for national intellectual property rights in September. Taicang’s new district was identified as a Suzhou national advanced manufacturing technology innovation park in November and was awarded as a model city in the assessment of national advanced technology.

Taicang was awarded four national-level prizes in 2013.

Improving ecological environment

Taicang improved its city and ecological environment to create a modern garden city. To build Taicang as a demonstration area for southern Jiangsu’s modern construction, Taicang spent three years improving the environment of its city, towns and villages.

Taicang Center of Bohai Commodity Exchange opens

The Taicang Center of the Bohai Commodity Exchange was set up in Taicang on September 12, 2013, with a first day trading volume of over 200 million yuan.

The Taicang Center of the Bohai Commodity Exchange is based on the good condition of Taicang Port to build itself into a comprehensive business platform gathering manufacturing enterprises, logistics enterprises, financial enterprises, e-commerce enterprises and customers. It aims to be the most influential exchange and delivery center for bulk commodities in East China. It is expected to launch 8 to 10 commodities on the market in 2015, with trading volume up to 1 trillion yuan ($170 billion).