How China could narrow a tech hub’s income gap – and avoid Silicon Valley’s fate

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Mandy ZuoMarch 1, 2026 at 03:00 AM

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Zhejiang, a province in eastern China and home to tech companies like Alibaba, is a testing ground for Beijing's "common prosperity" campaign to reduce income inequality. Between 2021 and 2025, the province narrowed its urban-rural income gap, a notable achievement during a period of technological growth. Now, Zhejiang aims to avoid the high levels of inequality seen in places like Silicon Valley as it develops into a hub for advanced manufacturing and the digital economy. The provincial government has mandated further reduction of the urban-rural income gap by 2030, with goals for per capita GDP and average income to approach levels in developed economies. Zhejiang was designated a demonstration zone in 2021 to pursue President Xi Jinping’s “common prosperity” goal.

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Key Player Opposition Context

South China Morning Post 40% Unitree Robotics 40% DeepSeek 40% Xi Jinping 50% Alibaba 60% Silicon Valley 60% Beijing ×270% Zhejiang ×580% China ×590%

Keywords

common prosperity 100% income inequality 90% urban-rural income gap 80% zhejiang 70% economic recalibration 60% advanced manufacturing 50% digital economy 50% silicon valley 50% policy 40%

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Positive

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South China Morning Post

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Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

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90%

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China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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common prosperity income inequality urban-rural income gap zhejiang economic recalibration advanced manufacturing digital economy silicon valley policy

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