Once defined by harsh natural conditions, strong winds, and vast undeveloped land, Lanzhou New Area in Northwest China's Gansu province has, over the past decade, transformed itself into a hub for future-oriented industries driven by technological innovation, smart manufacturing, and digital trade.

Founded on Aug 20, 2012, Lanzhou New Area, covering 1,165 square kilometers, became China's fifth national-level new area and the first in the northwestern region. Since its establishment, it has adhered to a development strategy centered on technological innovation, leveraging its resource advantages and policy support to drive economic growth.

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Lanzhou New Area has sustained double-digit growth in key economic indicators, with its growth rate leading that of Gansu province and ranking among the top national-level new areas, according to data from the New Area's economic development and statistics bureau.

Experts said that the economic achievements of Lanzhou New Area represent a microcosm of high-quality development in Northwest China, laying the foundation for the region's high-tech future.

For instance, at the forefront of its high-end medical equipment sector is a domestically developed medical heavy-ion accelerator, created by Lanzhou Ion Therapy Co Ltd (LANITH). The device enables precise tumor treatment using heavyion therapy, offering fresh hope for patients with deep-seated and hard-to-treat cancers.

"We generate carbon and hydrogen ion beams and accelerate them to nearly 70 percent of the speed of light before delivering them to treatment terminals," said Wei Tianhao, a physical design engineer at LANITH. "This allows us to precisely control the energy, concentrating it on tumor lesions while minimizing damage to healthy tissue."

China is now one of the four countries capable of producing such advanced medical accelerators, alongside the United States, Germany, and Japan. The LANITH carbonion therapy system has achieved major breakthroughs in deep tumor treatment, advancing domestic high-end medical equipment production and supporting the national "Healthy China" strategy.

Meanwhile, traditional manufacturing in Lanzhou New Area is undergoing rapid smart transformation. At LS Group, automated production lines issue welding instructions, monitor operations in real time, and optimize production scheduling.

"Our intelligent system has raised one-time welding qualification rates to 100 percent, reduced labor input by more than half, and increased production capacity by around 15 percent," said Xu Wenkui, deputy manager of the heavy equipment and petrochemical branch of LS Group. "It marks a milestone in digital upgrading and intelligent transformation for manufacturing enterprises."

Bai Wenxi, vice-chairman of the China Enterprise Capital Union, said the development of Lanzhou New Area offers a dynamic example of how innovation and industrial upgrading can drive development of the country's western regions.

Lanzhou New Area is also positioning itself as a gateway to the west. As one of China's highest-level special customs supervision zones with streamlined procedures and comprehensive functions, the Lanzhou New Area Comprehensive Bonded Zone is expanding international trade channels and strengthening connections with partner markets that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"We are exporting high-end equipment, new energy, and new materials to regions including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia," said Lyu Jiabiao, deputy director of the management committee of the comprehensive bonded zone. "By integrating logistics, trade, and industrial development, the zone has become a key engine of the area's open economy."

Zhang Chenxu in Beijing contributed to this story.