‘Four brands’ lead way to polish Pudong’s -Shanghai- pioneering profile (1)

In the past 28 years Pudong has set itself up as a reformer and pioneer on a global scale (SHINE)
In the past 28 years Pudong has set itself up as a reformer and pioneer on a global scale (SHINE)

SHINE | 13-Jul-2020 | By Li Xinran

Keynotes of high-quality development

Pudong will comprehensively enhance the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation.

The new area is expected to produce a large number of leading original achievements in international prospective fundamental research, focusing on strategic areas such as integrated circuits, life sciences, brain sciences and artificial intelligence. It will attract a large number of top scientists, research institutes, R&D centers and innovation platforms home and abroad and give full play to the coordinative advantages of Zhangjiang’s R&D and Lingang’s industrialization and promote the localization of major scientific and technological achievements.

Pudong will comprehensively enhance the competitiveness in global resources allocation. It will promote price signals, such as crude oil futures and “Shanghai Gold Benchmark Price” to become signposts of global resource allocation. Moreover, Pudong will enhance the global shipping service capability and consolidate and promote its status as an international air-sea hub by accelerating the construction of the follow-up phase of Yangshan Deep-Water Port and Pudong International Airport.

It will also accelerate the agglomeration of high-end elements of shipping services and introduce a number of international and national leading shipping enterprises and functional institutions with strong competitiveness and build a number of trade platforms with transactions to exceed 100 billion yuan (US$14.56 billion). Pudong has also promoted “Shanghai brands” in the service, manufacturing, shopping and cultural sectors during the period of reform and opening up. And the waterfront space, which stretches 22 kilometers along the east bank of Huangpu River, is an ideal setting for Pudong to boost its cultural development.

Industrial heritage sites have taken on a new look after renovation and houses some of the most cutting-edge fashion brands in the world with some of the sharpest minds. That is why the east bank is being built into a cultural cluster. One project by the Pudong New Area administrators saw the Shanghai Coal Terminal transformed into a contemporary art museum. More than 350,000 visitors a year have walked through its doors since its opening.

The MIFA 1862, a converted 157-year-old shipyard on Binjiang Avenue, is now an artsy commercial space which plays host to performances and exhibitions. The Minsheng Wharf complex debuted in the 2017 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. Nearly 200 architects, artists and curators from all over the world gathered to brainstorm the idea of “sharing future public space.” Pudong plans to turn itself into a major site for brand building, with Shanghai Service, Made in Shanghai, Shanghai Shopping and Shanghai Culture leading the way.

Meanwhile, the SAIC Group has been granted its first domestic intelligent network-linked automobile road test license to promote SAIC’s intelligent driving technology. In Pudong officials’ opinion, the promotion of an intelligent automobile industry and a major site for the development of the “four brands of Shanghai” are a perfect fit. Today, both local enterprises and the new area have reached a new starting point.

High-end manufacturing

High-end manufacturing is another cutting-edge advantage in Pudong. In Lingang, 240,000 vehicles and 400,000 engines roll off the assembly line at the automated workshop of SAIC’s manufacturing base every year. Rower RX5, the world’s first Internet car, was born there and has become one of the world’s bestsellers. From land to the air, the second C919 jet liner developed by Chinese aerospace manufacturer COMAC has completed its maiden flight.

The jumbo jet project sees China’s manufacturing industry standing at the top of the global labor division for the first time. From air to the sea, at Phase IV of the Shanghai Yangshan Deep-Water Port, bridge cranes and automated guided vehicles are in charge of the loading and transport of containers.

The world’s biggest automated container terminal and machinery “nervous system” are all made by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company, which is seeking cooperation with Maersk, an international shipping giant, to develop global standards for fully automated terminals. To match the highest and best standards in the world and seize the middle and high-end of the global industrial value chain, “Made in Pudong” will become synonymous with high-end manufacturing.

More fascinating tales from China‘Four brands’ lead way to polish Pudong’s -Shanghai- pioneering profile (2)