Fourth, we strengthened innovation's leading role, spurring the rapid development of new growth drivers.We took further steps to implement the Internet Plus action plan and the national big data strategy, fully implemented the Made in China 2025 initiative, and implemented and improved policies and measures to encourage people to launch businesses and innovate. We developed and launched a plan for completing major science and technology programs by 2030, supported Beijing and Shanghai in building themselves into global R&D centers, and established another six national innovation demonstration zones.
China's R&D spending reached 2.08 percent of GDP. The number of in-force Chinese patents issued in China passed the million mark, and the value of technology transactions exceeded one trillion yuan. The contribution of scientific and technological progress to economic growth rose to 56.2 percent, and innovation's role in powering development grew markedly.
五是促进区域城乡协调发展，新的增长极增长带加快形成。深入实施“一带一路”建设、京津冀协同发展、长江经济带发展三大战略，启动建设一批重点项目。编制西部大开发“十三五”规划，实施新一轮东北振兴战略，推动中部地区崛起，支持东部地区率先发展。加快推进新型城镇化，深化户籍制度改革，全面推行居住证制度，又有1600万人进城落户。发展的协同叠加效应不断显现。
Fifth, we promoted more balanced development between regions and between rural and urban areas, and saw faster emergence of new growth poles and growth belts.We stepped up work to implement the three strategic initiatives (the Belt and Road, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration, and the Yangtze Economic Belt), and began construction on a number of key projects. We formulated the plan for the 13th Five-Year Plan period for large-scale development in the western region, launched a new round of initiatives as part of the Northeast revitalization strategy, drove progress in the rise of the central region, and supported the eastern region in leading the rest of the country in pursuing development. We sped up efforts to promote new types of urbanization, deepened reform of the household registration system, introduced the residence card system nationwide, and granted urban residency to another 16 million people from rural areas. The synergy building through coordinated development became more and more evident.
六是加强生态文明建设，绿色发展取得新进展。制定实施生态文明建设目标评价考核办法，建设国家生态文明试验区。强化大气污染治理，二氧化硫、氮氧化物排放量分别下降5.6%和4%，74个重点城市细颗粒物（PM2.5）年均浓度下降9.1%。优化能源结构，清洁能源消费比重提高1.7个百分点，煤炭消费比重下降2个百分点。推进水污染防治，出台土壤污染防治行动计划。开展中央环境保护督察，严肃查处一批环境违法案件，推动了环保工作深入开展。
Sixth, we strengthened ecological conservation and made fresh progress in pursuing green development.We formulated and introduced measures for assessing progress made in ecological improvement, and established national pilot zones for ecological conservation. We took stronger measures against air pollution and, as a result, saw a 5.6-percent decline in sulfur dioxide emissions, a 4-percent cut in nitrogen oxide emissions, and a 9.1-percent drop in the annual average density of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 74 key cities. We continued to improve the energy mix, increasing the share of clean energy consumption by 1.7 percentage points and cutting the share of coal consumption by 2 percentage points.
We continued efforts to prevent and control water pollution, and adopted an action plan for preventing and controlling soil pollution. Central government inspections on environmental protection accountability were launched and violations of environmental protection laws were investigated and prosecuted, giving impetus to deeper efforts to protect the environment.
七是注重保障和改善民生，人民群众获得感增强。在财政收支压力加大情况下，民生投入继续增加。出台新的就业创业政策，扎实做好重点人群、重点地区就业工作。全面推进脱贫攻坚，全国财政专项扶贫资金投入超过1000亿元。提高低保、优抚、退休人员基本养老金等标准，为1700多万困难和重度残疾人发放生活或护理补贴。财政性教育经费支出占国内生产总值比例继续超过4%。重点高校招收贫困地区农村学生人数增长21.3%。免除农村贫困家庭学生普通高中学杂费。全年资助各类学校家庭困难学生8400多万人次。整合城乡居民基本医保制度，提高财政补助标准。增加基本公共卫生服务经费。实现大病保险全覆盖，符合规定的省内异地就医住院费用可直接结算。加强基层公共文化服务。实施全民健身计划，体育健儿在里约奥运会、残奥会上再创佳绩。去年部分地区特别是长江流域发生严重洪涝等灾害，通过及时有力开展抢险救灾，紧急转移安置900多万人次，最大限度降低了灾害损失，恢复重建有序进行。
Seventh, we gave particular attention to ensuring and improving living standards, helping Chinese people gain a stronger sense of benefit.
Despite growing pressure from fiscal imbalance, we continued to increase inputs in areas related to living standards. We launched new policies on employment and business startups, and carried out solid work on increasing employment for key target groups and priority regions. We made all-around progress in key battles to eradicate poverty and earmarked over 100 billion yuan from government budgets for poverty relief. We increased subsistence allowances, benefits for entitled groups, basic pension payments, and other subsidies; and over 17 million people benefited through the provision of cost-of-living allowances for people with disabilities in financial difficulty and nursing care subsidies for people with severe disabilities.
