City embarks on journey of innovation

Zhanjiang looking to write a new page in its development by harnessing cooperation between technology, talent, industries and institutions of higher learning, Zhuan Ti reports.

Over the next few years, accelerating the development of new strategic industries and establishing an innovation and technology management system will be the main focuses for the city of Zhanjiang as it looks to tap the potential of the government's Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang Zhongbing, mayor of Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, said the city is preparing to take advantage of a golden age of development opportunities presented by the central government's initiative.

"China is going into a new stage of development; Zhanjiang, too, is entering a new stage," said Wang.

To write a new chapter in its development, the mayor said the city will open wider to the outside world by developing its deep water harbor and expanding its trade volume, especially with Belt and Road countries. It will also promote emerging industries and innovation as new drivers of the local economy.

"We'll build innovation into a driver for the economy. This is both the philosophy and strategy of our local government," said Wang.

This year, he said, Zhanjiang will not only write a new page in its efforts to improve residents' quality of life, but also a new page for its economy and its entrepreneurship.

"We want everyone not only to share in the city's success, but also to contribute to the city's success," he said.

To do this the local government is removing institutional barriers to research and development, and fostering the development of emerging industries such as industrial robots, marine equipment, cold chain logistics, biopharmaceutical and the recycling economy.

It is also promoting 3D printing, the mobile Internet, cloud computing and big data, bioengineering, new energy, new materials and other fields of development.

The focus is on developing integration chains for capital, innovation and industries.

"As one of the key cities on the path of the Belt and Road Initiative, we shall take advantage of the Guangdong-Guangxi Special Economic Corporation Area to better integrate with other cities in the Beibu Gulf Rim in terms of economic development," the mayor said.

Maritime Valley

The industrial clusters centered on the steel, petrochemical and papermaking industries that serve as the backbone of the city's economy are being established, now the local government is exploring ways to promote a closer alliance between technology and other industries to facilitate the city's development, Wang said.

One development strategy that is being put into practice centers on the acceleration of local and regional industrial transformation surrounding the Zhanjiang Bay area.

The Southern Maritime Valley will house a technology park, incubator and R&D zones and will be a cluster of high-level talents, technology and resources.

"It will be a realization of our vision for the future and means the city will be embarking on its journey of innovation," Wang said during a panel discussion earlier this month, in which entrepreneurial participants from South China's Guangdong commerce federation expressed their interest in investing in the city.

Industries such as maritime equipment, cold-chain logistics, information consumption, and biopharmaceutical are to be given priority.

"It will focus on the relations between the ocean and technology, and harness cooperation between technology, talent, industries and the city's excellent institutions of higher learning," said Wang.

Innovation partnerships

A number of industries in Zhanjiang have reached international levels, but technology, innovation, talent and the city itself have yet to catch up. The local government wants to boost the city's innovation capacity and technological contributions to economic growth by harnessing the research capabilities of the city's institutions of higher learning.

Among them, Lingnan Normal University, Guangdong Ocean University and the Zhanjiang campus of Guangdong Medical College all have strong research teams and valuable technological resources, and the local government wants them to help advance the emergence of Zhanjiang.

"Innovation is dependent on technology, education and talent, as well as support from institutions of higher learning. It is a prime time to deepen cooperation with these institutions," said Wang.

Creating a comprehensive intelligent manufacturing base is one of the technology goals for Zhanjiang in the near future.

In the next five years, the city's level of industrial development will be accelerated with the increasingly wider application of intelligent equipment and industrial robots, Wang said.

The goal of the city is to realize 2 billion yuan ($322.18 million) from the output of its intelligent equipment industry by the end of the year.

"The aim is to make Zhanjiang the most competitive and influential city in this particular industry in Guangdong province," said Wang.

The government also wants innovation to make the ocean economy a bigger contributor to local development.

Ocean economy

The local government is looking to extend the oceanic industrial chain and achieve well-structured oceanic industrial clusters, and it is accelerating the building of oceanic industrial parks and pushing forward the oceanic industry's development.

As a key port in South China and a gateway in the country's strategy for South China Sea, Zhanjiang is embracing a rapidly emerging ocean economy, driven by maritime industries, port logistics and sea-related tourism.

The State Oceanic Administration and Guangdong government have provided their support for Zhanjiang to become a model national ocean economy city.

Last year, China Ocean Economy Expo was held in the city. The expo showcased how the marine economy will play an important role in turning the country into a maritime power and pushing forward the initiative of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, said Zhang Hongsheng, deputy director of State Oceanic Administration, at the expo opening ceremony.

Wang said Zhanjiang's ocean economy has bright prospects and the city can benefit from the country's bid to enhance its marine scientific and technological level to become a maritime power in the world.

"We will take opportunities from the country's initiative of developing marine economy to make big strides in development," the mayor said.

Contact the writer at zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/14/2015 page5)