Wuxi ready for more chances on innovation

Wuxi Mayor Huang Qin delivers a speech during the Boao Forum for Asia, March 27. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuxi city in East China's Jiangsu province got the chance to promote itself as available for more cooperation all over the world during the Boao Forum for Asia on March 27.

Located in the center of the Yangtze Delta region, the city's GDP reached 1.14 trillion yuan ($170.2 billion) last year, ranking 14th nationwide, with a per-capita GDP of 174,300 yuan, the second-highest in China, Wuxi Mayor Huang Qin explained to forum attendees.

It has also been recognized as the most livable city for three years running by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and aims to boost new sectors, including the new generation of intelligent technology, new energy and high-end equipment manufacturing.

"Innovation remains the major driving force for high-quality development in Wuxi," the mayor said, adding that the city will keep promoting the construction of key innovative platforms, including the national IoT innovation center, a high-performance computing center and a deep sea equipment laboratory.

Wuxi boasts the only demonstration zone for sensor networks in China, the Wuxi National Hi-tech District, which has seen robust development in foreign investment, with $1.3 billion in foreign capital registered in 2018, ranking top in Jiangsu province.

According to its director Wang Jinjian, the district offers great help to enterprises to reduce costs on operating and innovation, recruiting talents and attracting funds for industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and artificial intelligence.

AstraZeneca, the world's leading supplier of prescription drugs and medical services, signs an agreement to build its international life-science innovation park in Wuxi National Hi-tech District, March 27. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the forum, AstraZeneca, the world's leading supplier of prescription drugs and medical services, signed an agreement to build its international life-science innovation park in Wuxi.

Leif Johansson, chairman of AstraZeneca, recognized the importance of the Chinese market for the company's development.

The new park is expected to provide a strong innovation center for start-ups at home and abroad to develop new medical products and technologies and meet more patients' needs.