The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is also known as the China Speech Valley and Quantum Center. [Photo/xuexi.cn]

The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, which is located in Hefei, East China's Anhui province, was ranked seventh out of 169 national high-tech zones in China – one place higher than in 2021 – marking its ninth consecutive year in the top 10.

That was according to the latest data released by the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology after a comprehensive assessment of the performance of national high-tech zones in 2022.

Hefei high-tech zone ranked among the top 10 in all first-level indicators, including innovation capability and entrepreneurship vitality, industrial structure and value chain, open innovation and international competitiveness, and comprehensive efficiency and ability to spur further innovation.

A night view of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/xuexi.cn]

In terms of open innovation and international competitiveness, Hefei high-tech zone took fourth place, following Zhongguancun, Shanghai's Zhangjiang, and Suzhou Industrial Park.

Official statistics showed that in 2022, the GDP of the Hefei high-tech zone topped 130 billion yuan ($19.17 billion). The value of total imports and exports was estimated to have reached $8 billion, a new record.