Some of China's top design professionals attended the inaugural Creative & Design Conference held in Zhanjiang on Dec 19, giving their opinions on how to build a positive and vigorous city brand.

The conference, which took place against the backdrop of the nationwide mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative, was aimed at remodeling the city's image by integrating creativity and industry.

The 2016 Zhanjiang Creative & Design Conference, the first of its kind in Zhanjiang opens on Dec 29. [Photo/zjphoto.yinsha.com]

The event was sponsored by the Zhanjiang Development and Reform Bureau, Zhanjiang Science and Technology Bureau, and Zhanjiang, Culture Broadcasting News and Publishing Agency. It was co-organized with Beijing-based Unique Group, a service provider for the cultural creative industry.

"The most potential under the mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative lies in the cultural creative industry," said Lv Zhidao, chairman of the board of Unique Group. Lv, a Zhanjiang native, hoped that design can inject more energy into his hometown's development.

More than 300 design industry experts from Beijing and Shanghai shared their opinions at lectures and seminars on how to develop cultural and creative industries in Zhanjiang, and to make it an example for other cities across the country.

Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing makes a speech on the city's development in innovation. [Photo/zjphoto.yinsha.com]

Wang Tie, dean of the School of Architecture at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) spoke about space design, national development planning and the unity between humans and nature. Wang's thoughts gave insight on how Zhanjiang can design an all-round city fit for the future.

Senior journalists from People's Daily, HKSTV (Hong Kong Satellite TV), and Art and Design magazine attended the event.

The conference announced the deals for several cultural creativity-related projects located in Zhanjiang. The deals were signed between Unique Group and design organizations such as CAFA and the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing said at the conference that to accelerate the development of the creative industry, the city first needs to ensure its sustainable development and economic upgrading.

Several cultural tourism projects are announced in Zhanjiang on Dec 29. [Photo/zjphoto.yinsha.com]

As a port city, Zhanjiang has been eyeing innovation-facilitated development in response to the national call. The city has established South Sea Valley, an incubator for the marine industry, hosted the annual China Marine Economy Expo, as well as the Zhanjiang-ASEAN Agriculture Trade Fair -- promoting the city’s economic development and brand at home and abroad.

It was announced at the conference that Zhanjiang will introduce new rules on finance, tax, land and talent to provide full support for the creative industry.