A visit to China Speech Valley shows the artificial intelligence industry in Hefei city for a group of overseas returnees. [Photo from WeChat account hefeigaoxinfabu]

More than 30 Beijing and Anhui overseas returnees visited Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone on Sept 27-29, at the invitation of Anhui Western Returned Scholars Association.

Organized by a committee of Chinese graduates from American Universities, the activity aimed to promote talent exchange and project cooperation between overseas returnees in Beijing and Anhui province.

The visiting group learned about the business environment and development plans of Hefei city through visits to tech firm iFlytek, Hefei International Talent City, China Speech Valley and the administration offices of the zone.

Zone officials gave briefings on its policies to support innovation and entrepreneurship and talent services, as well as support for projects being developed by overseas returnees.

Fang Zhen, CEO of Sino-Ocean Capital, was excited about what he saw.

"My impression of Hefei has completely changed by this visit, as it turns out that Hefei's technological research and development and corporate strength is so strong," he said.

"The city will be able to achieve something in the years to come."

Chinese-German businessman Wu Jianhua, general manager of Conec (Shanghai), said: "I felt the change in Hefei in its efforts to build itself as a city of innovation and technology, as well as its rapid development."