To advance high-standard opening up, deepen international economic and trade cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, Zhou Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Yangpu District Committee and Head of Yangpu District, recently led a delegation to Germany, the Netherlands and the UK on a friendly visit tour. The delegation had in-depth discussions with local companies, industrial parks, chambers of commerce and prestigious universities, further expanding Yangpu's international network and opening a new page for win-win cooperation.

Chapter of Promotion

In mid-June, the Yangpu delegation held an innovation and development promotion conference in London. Zhou Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Yangpu District Committee and Head of Yangpu District; Bao Ling, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the UK; Lord Daniel Joseph Brennan, a member of the British House of Lords; and Guo Kunzhang, Executive Vice Chairman of the UK Chinese Business Association (UKCBA) delivered addresses. British Parliament member Mark Logan, along with British politicians and business representatives, some Chinese entrepreneurs in the UK, and heads of relevant departments in Yangpu, were also present.

Innovation was the key theme of the conference. Zhou noted that Yangpu is currently at a critical juncture for renewed innovation and development, with a huge potential for cooperation with the UK in fields such as the digital economy, new energy and talent development. He warmly welcomed British companies and organizations to invest and innovate in Yangpu. Yangpu will actively build a bridge for Sino-British cooperation and exchanges, aiming to work together with all to share opportunities, promote development and create a bright future.

Bao remarked on the enduring friendship between China and the UK, and the leading role Shanghai has played in economic and financial cooperation with the UK. She noted Yangpu's strong innovation atmosphere and rich educational and scientific resources, describing it as a pearl in the history of China's national industry. She hopes that the two sides will continuously deepen economic and trade exchanges and practical cooperation to inject strong momentum for high-quality development.

Lord Daniel Brennan, in his address, said that both Shanghai and London are international metropolises with a concentration of talents and strong industry complementarity. He suggested that the two sides should further strengthen comprehensive exchanges and cooperation, and welcomed entrepreneurs to invest in both areas.

Vice Chairman Guo Kunzhang, in his address, highlighted Yangpu's unique innovative endowments and vibrant openness. He expressed his desire to strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation with Yangpu in exploring new projects, new businesses and new technologies.

At the conference, Zhou awarded plaques to Yangpu's investment partners — Bank of China London Branch and UKCBA. The Yangpu Science, Technology and Economy Commission and Envision Group signed a memorandum of cooperation, Xiashu Tech and TusHoldings concluded a strategic cooperation agreement, and Shanghai Yangpu Binjiang Investment and Development Group and Fuchang Group entered into a strategic cooperation memorandum. The conference has enhanced Yangpu's profile and influence in the UK, building a platform to attract investment from British companies and professionals.

Following the conference, Zhou granted an exclusive interview to Xinhua Finance. The event received focused coverage from media outlets such as Xinhua Silk Road, China Daily and Nouvelles D'Europe.

Chapter of Germany

Established in 1871 and headquartered in Germany, Continental Group is a world leading automotive parts supplier. The establishment of the China headquarters for Continental Group and its subsidiary ContiTech in Yangpu in 2009 marked a significant step in the deepening partnership between Yangpu and the company. Last year, Yangpu, Continental Group and Tongji University jointly established an innovation consortium, achieving positive results in promoting collaborative innovation and talent exchange. In Frankfurt, the Yangpu delegation visited Continental Group and its subsidiary ContiTech, and had an amicable discussion with Mr. Juergen Heim, President of Automotive R&D at Continental Group, focusing on the further implementation of the tripartite cooperation agreement among Yangpu, Continental Group and Tongji University to promote high-level development. They reached a consensus on strengthening project cooperation in relevant fields and increasing investment in China and Shanghai.

As Germany's sole public-private partnership for economic promotion, the Berlin Economic and Technological Promotion Agency is dedicated to helping businesses settle in Berlin and around, offering a comprehensive range of services including office location, talent recruitment, employment services and financial support. The Yangpu delegation had talks with the agency. Both sides expressed the desire to establish a regular exchange mechanism and to pursue more multi-tiered, high-level mutually beneficial cooperation at multiple levels.

During their visit to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Munich, the Yangpu delegation explored its innovation transformation laboratory. Christoph Mitterer, Head of Innovation Market, International Research Cooperation Department, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, shared experience and practices of Sino-German exchanges. The two sides discussed issues such as establishing a research center in Yangpu and strengthening talent exchanges. Established in 1949, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, with its 75 research institutes and institutions in Germany, is a world leader in applied research. In recent years, it has intensified exchanges with China, establishing relevant cooperative institutions in Beijing and Shanghai, significantly contributing to the promotion of Sino-German exchanges in science, talent and academia.

Siemens AG is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transportation and healthcare. For 175 years, it has been a driving force in the transformation from Industry 1.0 to Industry 4.0, dedicated to changing human life with technology. In 2005, the Siemens Shanghai Center was established in Yangpu. Over the years, the two sides have pursued innovation-driven development, continuously propelling urban digital transformation. Together, they have built Siemens' first digital display center for the process industry in China. Siemens has also established financial leasing and commercial factoring operations in Yangpu, contributing to Yangpu's economic and social development. The Yangpu delegation had a discussion with Mr. Jürg Vocke, CEO of Siemens Real Estate, on further expanding the cooperation range. Since the establishment of the Siemens Shanghai Center in Yangpu in 2005, the two sides have forged ahead together in fields such as the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, and financial services, achieving positive results, he said, hoping that Siemens will continue to support and participate in the development of Yangpu to write a new chapter in the story of a top-tier city and a leading company achieve success through cooperation.

Chapter of the Netherlands

High Tech Campus Eindhoven is acclaimed as "the smartest square kilometer on the European continent". It is home to over 200 companies and institutions from more than 100 countries, and hosts more than 12,000 researchers and entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of innovation in technology and product development. With an average of four patent applications filed daily, it is also known as "Europe's Brain". The Yangpu delegation toured the campus and engaged in profound discussions with representatives of companies in the park, including Greg Nelson, Senior Customer Manager at Signify; and Mark Dekker, CEO of INBO for the Asia-Pacific Region. They introduced the business environment and industrial development plan of Yangpu, aiming to attract promising companies to settle in Yangpu. Zhou said that the visit to Eindhoven allowed him to experience firsthand the innovative vitality and humanistic spirit of this "City of Light". He hopes that both sides will strengthen cooperation in fields such as design industry, urban renewal and healthcare to achieve win-win.

With a history of more than 50 years, INBO is a prominent design and consulting firm in the Netherlands. It has contributed to the renovation of the vast electrical area in Yangpu Riverside.

Chapter of the UK

In Edinburgh, the Yangpu delegation paid a visit to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), introducing the preparations for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. China and the UK both boast a long history of brewing and a profound alcohol culture. SMWS, as an authoritative representative of the whisky industry, has won the favor and praise of whisky enthusiasts worldwide. James Brodie, Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland of the China-Britain Business Council; and Lindesay Low, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the Scotch Whisky Association, attended the event. Zhou extended a cordial invitation to the association and related companies to participate in the annual Import Expo held in Shanghai, expecting to deepen cooperation and seek common development to achieve more fruitful cooperation outcomes.

The Battersea Power Station, located in the Battersea area on the south bank of the Thames in London, is one of the largest brick structures in Europe. Transformed from a decommissioned power station into a leisure and entertainment complex, the redevelopment spans 42 acres (approximately 17 hectares), making it a significant historical building renovation and urban renewal project in London in recent years. The Yangpu delegation conducted a field survey of the power station and engaged in profound discussions with the project's design team. Yangpu was born by water, and Yangpu Riverside was the cradle of China's modern industrial civilization, and home to Yangshupu Power Plant, the once largest power plant in the Far East. The renovation of Battersea Power Station provided a beneficial reference for Yangpu.

Foster + Partners, with a commitment to a "people first" philosophy, is dedicated to sustainable construction, amassing extensive resources and experience in structural and environmental engineering, urban planning, aviation, industrial design, and more. With a development history of more than 40 years in China, it has contributed to major projects such as Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing International Airport and the "Suhe Centre" in Shanghai. The Yangpu delegation visited the design institute, and the two sides exchanged ideas on the design industry, urban renewal and other issues.

Imperial College London, established in 1907, is a research-oriented university specializing in science, engineering, medicine and business. As one of the world's leading science and technology colleges, it is renowned globally for its robust faculty and outstanding alumni. Imperial College London has carried out in-depth cooperation with Fudan University, Tongji University and other universities in Yangpu in medical education, interdisciplinary research, talent cultivation, and international scientific endeavors. The Yangpu delegation visited the college, where Mr. John Anderson, Chief Investment Officer of Imperial College London, introduced the college. The two sides exchanged views on aligning district-college research initiatives, establishing research platforms and other issues, and reached a consensus on strengthening academic and cultural exchanges and deepening innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation.

For a long time, Yangpu has attached great importance to international friendly exchanges, as well as foreign investment and trade. This visit has not only promoted Yangpu's innovative development concept, but also showed the appeal of Yangpu's innovative environment, achieving fruitful results. As the next step, Yangpu will more actively integrate into the national diplomatic framework and the "dual circulation" development pattern. Leveraging significant events such as CIIE and the WorldSkills Competition, Yangpu will consolidate and expand international exchanges and cooperation, continuously improve the international business environment, and showcase the vivid practice of Yangpu in advancing the building of a people's city in more fields.