Huang Chuping, member of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial Committee of CPC and Secretary of Yichang Municipal Committee of CPC，leading a delegation of Yichang City, visited Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom from March 9th to 18th. The delegation studied a batch of major projects of urban planning, ecological new city, port logistics, and cultural tourism. Learning from these developed countries, the delegation has brought back ideas and techniques to boost the development of Yichang.
This is not only a trip to learn from developed countries, but also a trip to introducing Yichang to the outside world. During the visit, the delegation held an Overseas Economic and Trade Fair themed Yichang: the Largest Hydroelectric Base in the World, which was very fruitful.
Many local enterprises including Angel Yeast Co., Ltd, Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd, Qugu Food Co., Ltd, Huayang Chemical Co., Ltd, Xinshiji Food Co., Ltd and Allmed Medical Products Co., Ltd signed business contracts with a value of 67 million USD with companies in the United Kingdom, which is 1.5 times more than Yichang’s total volume of export to UK in 2013. Yichang hit a record in foreign trade, which demonstrates a new era of its development.
“We have maintained a good business partnership with Allmed,” said Mary Brown, Manager of the Purchase Department of a British medical company. “This fair gave us more confidence in our partnership and I believe the future for our further cooperation is quite promising". Right on that day, the two companies signed a business contract of medical dressing export with a value of 12 million USD.
As for independent innovation, Sweden is one of the best in the world, especially in the field of life sciences. Its life technology, medical technology, pharmacy, medical apparatus and instruments and diagnostic facilities are of great importance in the world. In Sweden, Huang Chuping met directors in Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a batch of Chinese elites who reside abroad there. He also paid a visit to the Stockholm City Hall; headquarters of Ericsson and Uppsala City Hall, as well as Stockholm Royal Seaport District and Hammary Waterfront Metro.
The delegation listened carefully to the introduction of Stockholm, the "City of Green" in Europe, and watched multimedia presentations of the city planning of Royal Port New District. During its development, Stockholm paid much attention to the integration of overall urban planning and specific project planning, giving full consideration of the past and future, urban renewal and ecology, life quality and energy-saving and environmental protection, government and academic research and enterprise resources, which inspires the delegation members greatly.
The unique underground waste disposal system of the New District of Hammarby Sj?stad (Hammarby Waterfront) caught the eyes of the delegates immediately. By linking with the underground pipelines of the community, the vacuum suction system carries the household garbage that is sorted by community residents to waste treatment plants to be disposed, transforming garbage and sewage into thermal and electric energy for the residents. This method impressed the delegation deeply because it is both convenient and environment-friendly.
“Yichang Municipal Party Committee and Yichang Municipal Government adhere to the development idea of ‘firstly giving and then gaining’, and we are willing to provide a platform for Chinese elite to display their talent. We will offer them preferential policy and attractive salary.” Huang invited the head of Chinese Merchants\' Association in Sweden, the head of China-Sweden Life Science Association and Chinese elite in Sweden sincerely to pay close attention to the development of Yichang and send top-notch talents and entrepreneurs to visit Yichang. In this way, the win-win development can be realized through the combination of the advanced research and development ability of Sweden, the favorable investment environment in Yichang and the huge market demand in China.
Ericsson is one of the world famous companies. At its headquarters, Huang held talks with Mr. Rowland, vice president of Ericsson. Huang invited Rowland to visit Yichang, so as to promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation and seek common development. After experiencing Ericsson\'s latest innovations, including the direct dialogue between man and tree at Ericsson\'s High-tech Experience Center, members of the delegation felt it was a refreshing and worthy trip.
In the Uppsala Municipal Hall, Huang gained further insight into the city’s organizations, urban construction, industrial development, demographic structure, tax and welfare. He said that Yichang is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with the Uppsala and Uppsala is welcomed to send a delegation to visit Yichang so that the extensive cooperation in economy and trade, science and technology, education, tourism, planning and some other fields could be promoted.
After their visit to Sweden, Huang and the delegation took an overnight ship to Helsinki City Hall for a bilateral meeting.
The experience in Finland provides inspiration for the development of Yichang. The distinctive city planning and construction in Helsinki not only embodies the romantic feeling of the ancient European city, but also shows the charm of an international metropolis. The harmonious coexistence of its urban architecture and natural harbor scenery arouses a hot discussion among them. Currently, Yichang is on the road of a big and strong, excellent and beautiful megacity. The delegation believes that we should learn from Helsinki the advanced experience and creative thinking in city planning, construction and management.
On March 14, the delegation visited Aberdeen, a port city in northeast Britain. Accompanied by Xiao Lei, Director of Aberdeen Harbor Bureau, the delegation visited the world famous Aberdeen Harbor and learned the history, planning and the integrated development of the city. Huang said, “Aberdeen is a port city and there are many similarities between Yichang and Aberdeen. We are planning to build a hub port of Three Gorges of Yangtze River. To realize the dream of building Yichang into a modern port with 100 million tons of throughput and 1 million standard containers, we should learn from Aberdeen.” Huang sent his sincere invitation to Xiao and his colleagues to visit Yichang.
Members of the delegation watched, discussed and contemplated, and benefited a lot from this trip. Advanced experience and concept will be applied to promote the fast development of Yichang into a modern megacity.
Huang attended the London Economic and Trade Fair “Yichang: the Largest Hydroelectric Base in the World", and met some important guests, such as Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador in Britain, Lisa Betterson, Executive Director of China Britain Business Council and Professor Wu Zhipeng, distinguished expert of “Thousand Talents Program" etc.
Li Zhenglun, Chairman of Qugu food Co. Ltd. in Zigui County, receiving an order of cans and red wine with a value of 27 million dollars from a British company, said excitedly, "This is very efficient and meaningful. It is a good platform for exploring the international market and enhancing the trust of the customers to our company and products." (Correspondent: Liu Zhenhua)