The province of Henan, with a GDP volume of 1.46 trillion yuan ($ 237.42 billion), is ranked first in the new economic report focusing on Central China during the first half of the year.

The report concerns Henan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan, and Hubei is ranked second, with 1.09 trillion yuan($ 178.58 billion). Anhui ranks the highest for growth rate.

Professor Ye Qing of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law said that Henan is one step ahead of Hubei in GDP volume due to its larger population and economic scale. “Henan has more counties with a fairly developed economy. As for Hubei province, Wuhan city has always been the only economic leader. Given the current circumstances, it is very hard for Hubei to beat Henan,” said Professor Ye.

Regarding growth rate, Anhui ranks first with a 10.9 percent growth rate, followed by Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and Henan. Of the five provinces, Hubei and Henan are the only ones with a growth rate lower than 10 percent, 9.7 percent and 8.4 percent respectively.

“Anhui beats Hubei by 1.2 percent due to the contribution of some of its new industrial investment projects, especially the Suchu modern industrial park, whose projects greatly accelerate the development of the local industry,” said Professor Ye.

According to the report, Anhui is also the first among the five provinces in the growth of the secondary industry with a 13 percent growth rate.

Edited by Niva Whyman and Le Qin