Rich cultural industries to boost regional growth

By Cao Yingying | China Daily | Updated: 2017-09-13 07:43

Chengdu is committed to promoting the development of its cultural innovation industry, in a bid to become the country's western cultural innovation hub and a leading culture city on the global stage.

The city is one of China's first historical and cultural cities, and one of 10 ancient capitals, with a civilization spanning 4,500 years.

Sichuan-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation Week was held in Hong Kong between Aug 21 and 25 to strengthen communications and cooperation between the three regions.

In Hong Kong on Aug 24, Chengdu held a promotional event to demonstrate the opportunities that are emerging in the innovation and cultural industries in the city to global companies, organizations and investors.

During the event, Chengdu released an action plan for the construction of a western cultural and innovation center. According to the plan, Chengdu will become a model city, a hub of Chinese cultural innovation and the world-leading innovation city in next five years.

In 2022, many cultural brands, landmarks and industrial parks with a national function and international influence are expected to be established. The added value of the cultural industries is expected to top 260 billion yuan ($39.27 billion), accounting for more than 12 percent of the city's GDP.

Thirteen companies from Hong Kong and Macao and one association signed agreements with Chengdu to strengthen links in areas such as film and television creation, cultural tourism and the construction of industry-focused towns.

The Chengdu government has established strong partnerships with leading cultural businesses.

Ciwen Media, the producer of more than one hundred popular TV dramas in China - including Journey to the West, the Condor Hero, the Seven Swords and the Underdog Knight - signed an agreement with Chengdu Qingyang district to establish a new entertainment company in the city. Ciwen promised to invest 50 million yuan annually in Chengdu. The company plans to produce more than 10 films and television programs every year, whose annual revenue is expected to be 100 million yuan.

"Our primary mission in Chengdu is music production, especially film and television music," said Zhu Haipeng, CEO of Ciwen Media's Chengdu branch.

"We chose Chengdu because of its profound cultural history, big music talent pool and strong supporting policies to promote the music industry."

Apart from promoting musical development, Ciwen will also promote other cultural activities including online dramas and variety programs. In the future, many music-related industries will be drawn to Chengdu, Zhu said.

The German Hannover Industrial Design Forum, one of the world's most celebrated and valued forums, signed an agreement with the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone on June 20, announcing that International Forum Design would establish a design center in the zone, its first design center in China.

Covering 4,000 square meters, the center will include exhibitions, design laboratories, offices and work spaces, maintaining the same high-level standards as the German exhibition.

When the International Forum Chengdu center is completed, it will launch long-term exhibitions and hold IF design awards, showcase prize-winning pieces every year and hold internationally renowned design forums, said Ralph Wiegmann, president of IF.