The Pudong New Area High-Level Reform and Opening-Up Promotion Conference is held on April 18 on Pudong's 35th anniversary. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Shanghai's Pudong New Area commemorated its 35th anniversary on April 18 with a conference focused on advancing reform and opening-up.

Established in 1990, Pudong New Area has evolved from a stretch of farmland into a symbol of China's reform and opening-up over the past 35 years.

Local officials at the conference reviewed Pudong's progress and looked into the future.

The event saw the unveiling of a series of successful cases and achievements, announcement of new policy initiatives, and launch of platforms aimed at driving high-quality development, reflecting Pudong's unwavering commitment to becoming a leader of China's modernization.

The conference underscored Pudong's role in fulfilling national strategic missions, accelerating the development of a modern industrial system and building a vibrant, modern city.

Over the past 35 years, Pudong has transformed into a modern metropolis characterized by advanced infrastructure and comprehensive functionality, thanks to the support of the central government and the efforts of its residents.

In 2020, Pudong's strategic importance in leading socialist modernization efforts was announced. Since then, the district has made significant strides in innovation, systemic reforms, and global resource allocation, achieving landmark reform and opening-up outcomes.

Li Zheng, Party secretary of Pudong, emphasized Pudong's responsibility to uphold national strategic goals and implement major reform tasks, such as piloting comprehensive reforms, promoting the free trade zone's institutional opening, and establishing a pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation.

He outlined efforts to develop a modern industrial system, foster economic growth, and create an environment conducive to innovation and business development among youth.

The area will continue to foster an ecosystem for scientific and technological innovation, promote high-level openness, and optimize its business environment. It plans to develop a coordinated approach to higher-level "bringing in" and "going out" strategies, ensuring the flourishing of new quality productive forces in Pudong.

In order to build a lively and modern city by enhancing public services, Pudong plans to make city management more efficient and better integrate the development of urban and rural areas so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of the district’s progress.

By maintaining a spirit of hard work and aiming high, Pudong aims to be an economic leader and reform pioneer and serve as a model for improving people's lives, continually creating new stories of success.

The conference also showcased a compilation of high-level reform and opening-up cases from Pudong, highlighting innovative and pioneering reform measures focusing on key areas. By implementing major reform tasks, Pudong serves as a testing ground for new systems and approaches the country might adopt.

To become a more ideal, safer, and more proactive global investment destination, new support measures were introduced to attract more foreign investment. These measures encourage foreign companies to increase their investment and upgrade their operations in Pudong.

Agreements for notable foreign investment projects, including those by Sumitomo, Daiichi Sankyo, Wilmar International, and Trafigura, were signed at the event. Additionally, the Poly Pudong Development Financial Center unveiled a comprehensive service platform to support Chinese companies in expanding globally and establishing an international presence.

In an effort to become a world-class science city, Pudong announced five major actions to optimize scientific and technological layouts, cultivate strategic scientific forces, and enhance its innovation ecosystem. These efforts will accelerate the development of emerging industries such as integrated circuits, life sciences, biomedicine, humanoid robotics, intelligent vehicles, smart manufacturing, and the internet economy.

To attract young talent from abroad, Pudong has introduced policies focusing on providing affordable housing and entrepreneurial spaces, creating a supportive environment for innovation and growth. The "Two Millions" initiative includes providing 1 million square meters of low-rent apartments for young people and 1 million square meters of low-rent entrepreneurial spaces.

Furthermore, the district aims to strengthen its position as the core area of the Shanghai International Financial Center by promoting the integration of equity investment with tech enterprises and establishing a comprehensive financial service system to support small and medium-sized enterprises.