City sees bright future in advanced technologies and economy

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, has huge potential to develop new internet technologies, according to Shen Jiye, CEO and chairman of the Beijing-based Nsfocus Information Technology Co Ltd.

He was speaking during the 2018 China Cybersecurity Week that was held in the city recently.

On Sept 18, Nsfocus Information Technology and a number of other high-tech enterprises across China have signed agreements to launch 12 big data and cybersecurity-related projects in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, with investments totaling more than 31.2 billion yuan ($4.54 billion).

These projects are aimed at helping the city to build its new economy, information technology and cybersecurity sectors while growing both its global and domestic influence.

"Nsfocus built a research and development center in Chengdu long ago with some 300 employees. The center plays a key role in the company's overall R&D," said Shen, adding that Nsfocus has also developed two to three production lines in Chengdu since then.

He said the company will build its southwest headquarters in the city and expand its R&D investment in the future.

"We hope that the Chengdu center will play a vital role in the company's safety operations and R&D production," he said.

The rapid development of information and communications technology has had a profound impact on the industrial transformation of China as the country embarks upon a new era. Enterprises see new technologies such as big data, cloud computing, the internet of things and 5G as key to their growth.

One example is the Sichuan branch of China Telecom, which plans to invest 22 billion yuan to establish a big data center in the eastern part of the Chengdu high-tech zone as one of its "big four" data centers in China.

The company also plans to build a 2.75 billion yuan smart city in the area, named "Yunjin Tianfu". Other examples include Sichuan Western Xinchen Integrated Circuit Co Ltd and Sichuan Troy Information Technology Co Ltd, which are involved with the development of projects related to the internet of things and 5G.

The former is expected to conduct research into the internet of things and offer products and technology solutions for that sector.

The latter wants to boost R&D into 5G products and tackle key technological problems with advanced communication networks and the application of high-speed wireless integration.

Sichuan Anke Jiayu Technology Co Ltd, meanwhile, is planning a project related to information safety and intelligent manufacturing in the Chengdu high-tech zone.

The company wants to expand its R&D into software and systems that can enhance protection at cloud-computing, big data and manufacturing facilities.

Chengdu Fengchuang Technology Co Ltd plans to establish platforms for analyzing online threats and safety issues, managing industrial control systems and conducting training to cultivate professionals.

In recent years, Chengdu has created a good business environment to nurture the strategic development of high-tech enterprises, especially in the new economy and information technology sectors.

The city is a key player in China's electronics and information industries, and plays a leading role in the fields of integrated circuits, new displays and information safety.

The city has attracted many renowned enterprises in these sectors, including the United States-based Texas Instruments, Intel, Dell and BOE Technology Group.

By the end of this year, the scale of Chengdu's electronics and information industries is expected to surpass 725 billion yuan.

Wei Qing, chief technology officer of Microsoft China, described Chengdu as an important market for the company that has a vibrant economy and plays a prominent role in the development of new technologies.

The city's vitality can be seen in the close relationships Microsoft has developed with local universities and research institutes, he said.

Wei described digital technologies and projects as the future, adding that Chengdu has the resources required to succeed in the digital era.

"I think that is the reason why so many multinationals choose Chengdu as their base in China," he said.

Dong Yue, vice-president of Beijing Venustech Inc, a provider of network security solutions, said that as Chengdu develops, it will create more opportunities, a bigger market and faster growth.

"The city's goal to be a demonstration city for cybersecurity in three to five years gives us and other enterprises more confidence, opportunities and prospects for development," he said.

Earlier this month, Chengdu hosted a cybersecurity and information conference focused on the digital economy and information industries, which proposed constructing an industrial cluster of information industries worth more than 1 trillion yuan in the city within the next three to five years. There are also plans to make Chengdu a world-class city for cybersecurity and information safety, a renowned industrial base for the information sector and a key transport hub. As a demonstration area and one of the first batch of smart cities in China, Chengdu will further strive to improve its public services and management to become "a beautiful and livable park city", as well as a good example of intelligent digital development.

(China Daily 09/26/2018 page19)