Company leaders taking part in the symposium, all mentioned two things – the “Five-city development strategy” and the “Tianfu New District”. In summarizing Chengdu’s comparative advantages in the world, Groupama China’s president, Zong Guofu, pointed to the advantages of the western region.

Dai Jingtong, the global vice-president of Lenovo, said, “I just saw the balanced urban-rural development and planning exhibition of the Tianfu New District and have gained a new understanding of the New District and the reshaping of Chengdu. I fully agree with the developmental approach as a whole, with its ‘twin nucleus prosperity, three industrial links, and circular integration’ and I’m more confident about the future of the Chengdu industrial base.

The fact is that cooperating with Chengdu was the best choice for Lenovo.” Carrefour’s global vice-president and China president, Eric Legros, had a bold idea and asked playfully, “Could Chengdu aim to be Switzerland?” Legros went on to explain, “At present, the GDP of Sichuan is equal to that of the Czech Republic. By 2020, the GDP will be equal to that of Switzerland. Switzerland and Chengdu have some resemblance. They both have a stable, relaxed, modern atmosphere and share the same values about reforms, opening up, balanced urban-rural development, sustainable development, and an innovative spirit.” Volvo China’s CEO, Tong Zhiyuan, had some feasible suggestions for Chengdu.

First, Tong said, it needs to internationalize its vocational education, introduce a European or German dual-education system, and provide higher caliber talented personnel for modern manufacturing. This is the key to the development of advanced manufacturing. Second, the transportation strategy should lay more emphasis on international development, especially air routes to Northern Europe. Third, Chengdu should attract more competitive enterprises and talented personnel to Chengdu to develop.