CHENGDU SUMMIT GOAL: INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Annual fair at major hub and gateway in western China promotes integration, cooperation

As a major hub and gateway for western China, Chengdu is becoming an important part of the global innovation network.

The annual Chengdu Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair kicks off on Friday to promote cooperation among participants, and to create an exhibition and trading platform for the new economy. It is the fourth year the city has held the event.

This year, the fair is themed "Developing New Economy and Cultivating New Growth Engine". High-level forums, trading events, reports' release and entrepreneurship competitions will take place during the event.

Business leaders, along with representatives of cities, colleges, research institutes, investment institutions, incubators and industrial parks, are expected to attend.

So far, the fair has attracted more than 600 participants, including people from 32 countries and 41 sister cities, university principals from more than 10 countries, one Nobel laureate and executive managers from about 30 companies, such as Mobike, Sogou and Aliyun.

The fair includes an opening ceremony, an innovation and entrepreneurship trading event, an innovation and entrepreneurship competition and 11 subforums.

The 11 subforums will focus on hot topics in the area of the new economy and unicorns, to enhance cooperation among colleges, research institutes, companies and local authorities, and to attract experts to share their innovative insights into the development of the new economy.

Organizers said they will record and blend data from innovative participants via an online platform to provide diverse services for trade, and to make information services more intelligent and visualized.

Chengdu will invite young professionals worldwide to exchange their ideas about innovation and entrepreneurship to expand influence of the city's new policies toward experts.

Two large-scale recruitment events will target Chinese and foreign experts and specialists with sophisticated skills the region lacks.

With active economic performance and high quality of life, Chengdu has become one of the most popular choices for professionals to begin their career. Since the government released 12 preferential policies to attract professionals in July 2017, more than 170,000 young people have settled in the city.

Data from major recruitment website Zhaopin showed Chengdu has surpassed Shanghai to become the second most competitive city to attract professionals.

Compared with other new first-tier cities such as Hangzhou, Nanjing and Tianjin, Chengdu has a relatively more active economy, slower pace of life and lower housing prices, all of which make most of its immigrant workers satisfied with their work and life there.

In many places, said Liu Dong, vice-president of Zhaopin, the biggest challenge for professionals is a decline of life quality as they climb the ladder in their career.

That's not so much of a problem in Chengdu, he added.

"Just like the slogan said, 'Chengdu promises you a good future' - realizing your dreams in Chengdu is making a home of your own," he said.

Zhaopin analyzed the big data and future development of Chengdu, and said the attractiveness of Chengdu will become stronger with the rise of the cities in central and western China and people who choose Chengdu will have a bright future.

(China Daily 05/18/2018 page6)