What they say

China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-13 08:32

Domestic and foreign experts share their insights on the emerging Changchun New Area.

"The overall plan for Changchun New Area combines the characteristics and advantages of Jilin province, and proposes some new ideas such as being 'innovation driven'. The plan offers a comprehensive analysis of the new area's leading industries.

Through cultivating major industries such as automobile, high-end equipment manufacturing, the photoelectric information and biomedical sectors, the new district can build its value chain, increase its core competitive power in the world, and solve many economic problems.

As an engine that can drive Jilin's economic growth, Changchun New Area should look at the development of the whole province and the Northeast region, to form its leading industries and industrial chain. This can help the new area to realize its objectives such as building innovative economic development demonstration zones."

Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing

"Changchun New Area's overall plan is of a high standard, professional and comprehensive. It has a distinct inner logic and strong momentum. Innovation is crucial for the new area. The new district's development will depend on innovation in industry, land use, technology and education. Opening-up is another key.

The crucial point of the related Changchun-Jilin-Tumen strategy is developing the Tumen River as a sea gate.

The new area, as an important node on the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, is not only a new area in Changchun, but also a supporting point for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is a pilot zone for carrying out cross-border industrial cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road."

Chen Wenling, chief economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges

"The model analysis on Changchun New Area's plan shows the area has strong development potential. The location of the city's aviation economic development zone is very good, and that promises a bright future."

Tim Stonor, internationally respected architect and urban planner, managing director of the strategic consulting firm Space Syntax Ltd, quoted by Changchun Daily

"Changchun New Area proposed a plan to develop an ecological city in China's northern, cold regions. The plan, which has great operation possibility, is based on regional characteristics. The plan considered different factors including environment and energy utilization. It aims to lead green development in Changchun New Area and strengthen the area's competitiveness in ecological construction in the world."

Jyri Nieminen, chief sustainability officer at Sweco Finland Ltd, quoted by Changchun Daily

"A smart city connects physical space and virtual space. On the one side, it is the earth - the physical space where we live in; on the other side is cyberspace. The development of cities requires us to connect the globe's cities together through the use of information technology. The infrastructure construction in Changchun New Area pays attention to the development of a smart city. It highlights the building of high-speed information networks and information platforms, which will form a good foundation for building a smart city in the future."

Vicente Guallart, chief architect of Barcelona City Council 2011-15 with the responsibility of developing the strategic vision for the city, and chief scientist of International Smart City Lab, quoted by Changchun Daily

"The industrial system design in Changchun New Area is reasonable and supported by scientific research, especially in planning for the development of clusters such as automobile production, photoelectric information , high-end equipment manufacturing and biological medicines.

In building service industry platforms, Changchun New Area takes Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai's experiences as reference and follows the polices of free trade pilot zones. It is working to establish 81 industrial platforms to support international trade. The move will build a good business environment.

In addition, Changchun New Area is focused on innovation to establish an open, innovative industrial system. Innovation is not limited to new and high-tech industries, but also can benefit the development of traditional industries."

Liu Binglian, assistant to the president of Nankai University, and director of Nankai University's College of Economic and Social Development

"Decades ago, we only believed in the power of reinforced concrete because it improved our living environment and created ideal homes. However, as time goes by, people found that our cities were incompatible with the environment. People started to consider better ways to build our homes during cities' population expansion.

The fundamental infrastructure plan of Changchun New Area learned from Copenhagen's experience in rainfall and flood management. It stresses building green fundamental infrastructure, using natural ways to store and purify rainfall.

The plan consists of environmental objectives in flood prevention and control. The use of digital sensors and internet communication also formed a good base for establishing a smart city. I think it is necessary to set up a rainfall and flood management and control system, and maintain environmental objectives in cities' overall planning."

Stefan Bruckmann, Germany's urban hydrology expert and ecosystem engineer

"There are three key points that Changchun has taken into consideration during the development of its new area.

First, Changchun New Area aims to deepen its economic reforms and opening-up, thus to become an example of internationalization in the Northeast Asia region.

The new area will contribute to driving the economy and modernization of Changchun and Jilin ahead, and continuing to revive Northeast China.

Second, in the practice of economic reform and opening-up, the new area will spare no effort to be innovative and internationalized in order to attract more foreign investment and talents. The new area will also expand its service and financial information industries, as well as being pioneering with its free-trade experiment zone.

Last but not least, according to the plan, the new area will stick to the notion of a green economy. President Xi Jinping has said that the key of city planning is to preserve an area's natural beauty. Therefore, the new area is advised to put its whole attention to protecting the environment. It will strengthen environmental governance and the prevention of air, soil and water pollution together with neighboring counties and districts.