As part of Chinese New Year Eve festivities, many families around the country gather to watch the Spring Festival Gala. On February 15th, Zhuhai, the forerunner of reform and opening-up in southern China, served for the first time as one of the Gala's venues to hold a parallel session.

An incredible formation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), driverless cars and unmanned surface vessels (USV) was staged. An aerobatic flight team and the UAV formation embodying the scientific and technological strength of Guangdong and its braveness, formed varied and amazing shapes to unveil the Gala.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom were chosen as sites of the visual feast featuring cutting-edge technologies and lighting effects. The demonstration of "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" on the sea, the land and in the air shall display the codes to innovative Zhuhai, a shining "pearl" within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"Code I": development led by opening-up

Opening-up is a prerequisite for high-quality growth. Chinese President Xin Jinping stressed that China will build an open economy of higher standards. According to analysis, the concept of open development shall enhance the positive interaction between domestic growth and international co-operation. China's economic growth will continue to generate enormous positive spillover effect for the world.

Bestriding the Pearl River estuary, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge spans over 55 km across the sea. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, comparable to bay areas around New York, San Francisco and Tokyo, is emerging. China is building an innovative high ground here and pushing forward a new pattern of opening-up under the Road and Belt Initiative. Zhuhai is a shining "pearl" here within the Area.

As one of the first batch of four special economic zones during the early phase of China's opening-up policy, Zhuhai, over the past four decades, has been ranking among the most open and innovative cities in China with solid policy support. With the deepening of China’s opening-up and development and on the basis of independent innovation, Zhuhai is expanding its international influence through promoting frequent and extensive international exchange and co-operation.

Hengqin Free Trade Zone, tasked with the national mission, has so far implemented more than 230 new measures to promote reform and innovation. With capital, technology, human resources, information and services concentrated in Hengqin, it has managed to attract 43 Fortune 500 companies to settle down.

In June 2017, the 3rd China-Israel Investment Summit was held in Zhuhai, with contract value exceeding USD 2.5 billion.

In November 2017, China-Latin America and the Caribbean Exposition was held in Zhuhai. China-Latin America and the Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Industry Park with total investment of RMB 2.5 billion, was also officially unveiled in Hengqin Free Trade Zone.

Global high-tech giants, such as Mylio, the Silicon Valley IoT (Internet of Things) unicorn, and PCCW, an ICT service provider, are also settling down in Zhuhai.

Zhuhai is also building up its edge as a hub for innovation by leveraging favorable policies for free trade zone and independent innovation demonstration zone and all sorts of resources.

China, entering the new era, is accelerating the pace of opening-up. With the operation of the Bridge, Zhuhai has become the new hub linking Hong Kong and Macao. Zhuhai is building up a business environment, which is open, flexible, market-oriented, international, well-regulated and convenient, thereby becoming the channel to attract to the Greater Bay Area the flow of human resources, capital and information.

"Code II": Enhancing scientific and technological innovation

The performance of the aerobatic flight on the Gala was warmly welcomed and photos of it were widely spread, seeming to celebrate the development of the aerospace industry in Zhuhai over the past two decades. A total of eleven sessions of China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, "Zhuhai Airshow" for short, have been successfully held in Zhuhai, marking another milestone for open and innovation.

As the Chinese economy switches to a stage of high-quality development, Zhuhai’s innovation-oriented economy is experiencing fast growth.

On December 24th 2017, AG600, the world's largest amphibious aircraft, made by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. Ltd., took its maiden flight from Zhuhai Jinwan Airport. Mr. Zhang Shuwei, the company’s deputy general manager, said at the press conference, AG600 has been recognized by countries along the Belt and Road, embodying global recognition of Zhuhai technology. 

The industrial robots made by Zhuhai Gree Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd. are amazingly versatile: seal carving on jade, cutting carrot and playing music with a violinist. 

The unmanned surface vessels for environment protection and sanitation, developed by Yunzhou-Tech, marked a major invention in the world. Its unmanned automatic surveying and mapping ship also commands a leading position.  

Zhuhai is emerging as an economic powerhouse fueled by innovation and a vibrant manufacturing sector. Zhuhai boasts 8,401 valid patents for invention, or 50 per 10,000 people, the 2nd highest in Guangdong. The cumulative number of PCT applications amounts to 1,508. The number of high-tech enterprises exceeds 1,400. A cluster of advanced equipment manufacturers, focusing on marine engineering, aerospace and new-energy vehicle, is emerging, alongside the cluster of intelligent manufacturers, represented by ABB and Gree. 

Zhuhai will continue to build up a favorable environment for innovation. By 2025, total revenue from Zhuhai National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone is forecast to exceed RMB 500 billion.

"Code III": Forming Global Cooperation platforms

"Zhuhai is becoming more international, with the completion of world-class projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhuhai Grand Theater and the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. I’ve been here for over a decade, and the city was chosen to held a parallel session of the Gala this year, I feel so proud!” said Ms Wu, a Zhuhai resident.

With 76 km of coastline and superb environment, Zhuhai has become the "Happiest City in China". Excellent natural and living environment attracts talent and fosters international co-operation, further enhancing its competitiveness.

Over recent years, Zhuhai has been developing streamlined co-operation with innovation-oriented countries such as Germany, Israel and Singapore in the areas of joint R&D, training of innovative personnel and incubation of technological achievements.

In June 2017, witnessed by both Chinese premier and German chancellor, Zhuhai 4D Age Technology and German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence signed the agreement to establish the Sino-German Institute of Artificial Intelligence.

Construction of projects based on international co-operation, such as Nanyang International Entrepreneurship Valley, China-Israel Co-operation Industrial Park, is gathering pace. Hengqin Entrepreneurship Valley for Macao Youth has so far attracted 130 start-ups from Hong Kong and Macao, becoming the mecca for entrepreneurial young people from these two cities. According to head of Zhuhai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, the number of entrepreneurs with overseas education experience will reach 9,000 in Zhuhai by 2021.

With the deepening of international exchange, Zhuhai keeps on expanding its circle of friends. Zhuhai is now one of the most popular tourist cities in southern China. In August 2017, Zhuhai was awarded one of the 10 Demonstration Cities of Tourism and Leisure in the country, and it’s the only one in Guangdong province. With events such as International Circus Festival, WTA Elite Trophy, Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, Zhuhai is demonstrating to the world her passion and artistic temperament.    

Zhuhai, the coastal city with warm weather and beautiful scenery, has been benefiting from opening-up and its favorable environment for innovation, and attracting technology and talent from all over the world. Insiders view Zhuhai as a charming city with international attractiveness and competency. The codes to Zhuhai’s success, are opening-up and innovation, which lead to its stunning appearance on the global stage.