Known as China's "Silicon Valley", Zhongguancun in northwestern Beijing is famed as a technological hub, but it still needs international cooperation to become a model park with global influence, said Zhao Fengtong, Party secretary of Haidian district.

Zhao is also a standing member of the Beijing Committee of the Communist Party of China and Party secretary of the administrative committee of Zhongguancun Science Park.

Synonymous with technological innovation in China, the hi-tech area of Beijing is home to several world famous computer companies as well as technology research institutions and universities. In addition to a number of sprawling science parks, its streets are lined with shops and markets selling electronic goods.

The Zhongguancun Science Park was recognized as a national innovation model park by the State Council last March, which includes the Haidian Science Park - the core park - and a number of industrial zones and parks outside of the Haidian district

"Improvement of the Zhongguancun innovation model park will provide a better base for local enterprises. It will make it a more exciting place to visit for people in Beijing and will help the country to improve its innovation capacities," said Zhao.

"We'd like to encourage international cooperation in this process. In this way we can learn from the intelligence and experiences of experts, industry insiders and other science parks in the rest of the world to help us plan, design, construct and operate the Zhongguancun Science Park as well as we can," he added.

Over the past 20 years the Zhongguancun Science Park has formed links and partnerships with other science parks around the world and international companies. "We have benefited a lot from their experience," said Zhao.

Before the current park was established, the area was the Beijing New Technology Industrial Development and Experimental Zone. In his role as vice-director of the zone, Zhao attended the International Association of Science Park's (IASP) annual conference in Canada in 1993.

A milestone in cooperation between Zhongguancun and international science parks was reached in 1995 when an IASP conference was held in Beijing.

High-flying forum

Brilliant thinkers and high-profile figures came to contribute to discussions at the Zhongguancun Forum held last November, in an example of international cooperation that Zhao hopes to see continue.

Government officials, scientists, and economists from a dozen countries including China, the United States and France offered suggestions for Zhongguancun's development, covering topics like entrepreneurship, government policies and building a system for innovation.

Famous Chinese economist Justin Lin, who is also the vice-president and chief economist of the World Bank, stressed the importance of the proper environment and government policies in the development of industries.

Nobel economics laureate Robert Mondale told the forum that society should create a favorable environment to encourage innovation and foster entrepreneurship, including mature regulatory oversight and intellectual property laws.

"World-leading ideas and information will help Zhongguancun become a science park with international standing," Zhao said. Zhao thinks it is also important to attract more multinational companies, and talent from other countries to help Zhongguancun become a first-class park.

At the same time local enterprises should be encouraged to expand globally so they can acquire experience and new skills by operating in international markets.

Lenovo is an example of a local firm successfully going global. In 2004, Lenovo purchased the PC business of IBM, becoming the third-largest PC manufacturer in the world. In 2008, it joined the list of Fortune 500 companies.

(Source: China Daily)

2013-07-17