On June 13, an international media delegation visited Yangpu for a dialogue with the district's leadership. The visit provided a close look at Yangpu's innovation parks, a vibrant showcase of urban living, as well as the waterfronts that draw and delight both local and distant visitors.

During the visit, dozens of foreign journalists experienced Yangpu's endeavor to implement the important concept of "the people's city serving the people", as well as the significant transformation of Yangpu from an industrial belt to a life belt. Zhou Rong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Yangpu District Committee and Li Hao, Deputy Director of the International Liaison Department of the All-China Journalists Association, accompanied the delegation for the visit.

The delegation's first stop was Bay Valley in New Jiangwan City, a lush green environment encircled by wetlands. Within a 5-kilometer radius, it boasts the concentration of renowned universities such as Fudan University, Tongji University, and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. This strategic location mirrors the geographical advantage of Silicon Valley, harmoniously blending the intellectual contributions of universities with the area's natural ecology.

Through presentations and corporate project sharing, the delegation gained a comprehensive understanding of Yangpu's innovative development, learning about the Future Valley - Bay Valley Innovation Center and the Technological Achievement Transformation Agglomeration Area. In recent years, Bay Valley has become a model for regional collaborative innovation by integrating superior resources from universities, science parks and industries, continuously strengthening the linkage of universities, science parks and public communities, and fostering a synergy among the academic, industrial and innovative towns.

"The innovations here are truly impressive. Many popular apps, including Meituan, which many of us use daily, originate from Yangpu. If Shanghai is the 'heart of innovation' in China, then Yangpu or Bay Valley could be seen as Shanghai's 'heart of innovation'," said Malik Zafar, a journalist from Pakistan.

At the corporate booths, companies within Yangpu such as Raise3D, Meituan, Aihuishou, and Zhifei Technology showcased their technological advancements and applications in fields like 3D printing, low-altitude economy, energy-saving recycling and drone soccer. The spherical drones, capable of competing in soccer matches, caught the attention of Moroccan journalist Ayoub Bechrouri. "The advanced technologies here are truly astonishing," he said. "Drones, typically used for photography and videography, have been innovatively applied to gaming here. I think we should all learn from China's innovative ideas, expanding technology applications across various industrial fields."

Nowadays, technologies can also be "commodities". The Shanghai Technology Exchange (STTE) shared with the delegation Yangpu's experience and practices of promoting the transformation of universities' research findings. A head of the National Eastern Tech-Transfer Center (NETTC) made a presentation on the full spectrum of services related to technology transactions, tech finance and industrial incubation. As a key enterprise in Yangpu and a national regional technology transfer platform, STTE serves not only Shanghai, but also the Yangtze River Delta, the country and the global market. Relying on institutional platforms such as STTE and NETTC, Yangpu has been actively building a hub of original innovation, streamlining the process of achievement transformation, enhancing the industry-academia-research ecosystem and promoting the high-quality development of regional technological innovation becoming the "preferred location for the online new economy industry.

During the visit, the delegation visited one of Shanghai's first urban renewal demonstration projects, the only existing historical neighborhood with 20,000 households in Shanghai - Changbai Neighborhood 228. They also strolled down Yangpu Riverside, deeply experiencing Yangpu's practical achievements in the protection and utilization of industrial heritage, exploring the overall planning and construction of the public space in Yangpu Riverside from multiple perspectives.

Changbai Neighborhood 228 was recommended for the 2023 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. As a showcase of "the people's city", it vividly demonstrates Yangpu's beneficial exploration and practice in creating a "15-minute community life circle" and actively promoting urban renewal. The delegation noted the preservation of the area's original architectural fabric and public property, the community's architectural philosophy and feature of openness and sharing, as well as the integration into the "15-minute community life circle" that offers inclusive public services to local residents.

Emre Aytekin, a journalist from Turkey, lifted his camera every now and then to capture and record the everyday life of the residents. "The tranquility and harmony here are captivating. Elderly people are chatting freely beside the spacious green spaces, with happiness radiating from their faces. This scene conveys the significant social value of the government's transformation of this area."

Amidst the gentle breezes of early summer in Yangpu Riverside, the delegation observed historical buildings, accessible facilities, and the Green Hill Women and Children's Home.

The introduction of the Shanghai Yangpu Joint Initiative on Protection and Inheritance of Industrial Heritage last year marked a milestone in the development of industrial heritage. This year, Yangpu was honored as one of the country's first national demonstration zones for cultural heritage protection and utilization demonstration. The district has promoted the massive and concentrated transformation of historical buildings and industrial heritage, allowing them to regain their look, reshape their functions and reassign value, rejuvenating in contemporary times. Zhu Yinqi, Deputy Director General of the Yangpu Culture and Tourism Administration, said, "We hope to share our strategies and measures for the protection and utilization of old buildings, to enlighten more foreign friends about Chinese wisdom and Yangpu's contributions to the protection of industrial heritage."

On November 2, 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the important concept of "the people's city serving the people" for the first time, illuminating the direction forward and providing fundamental guidance for Yangpu, which was at a critical period of innovative development. Over the past five years, Yangpu has kept his entrustment in mind, forged ahead with determination, and implemented the concept of people's city throughout the entire process and all aspects of regional development, bringing tangible benefits, happiness and a sense of security to the people. Moving forward, Yangpu will remain committed to leaving the best resources to the people and delivering the best services to the people, endeavoring to build a beautiful Yangpu that belongs to the people, serving the people and fulfilling their aspirations. It will strive to explore the Yangpu path in building a modern socialist city with Chinese characteristics in the new era.