Futian District doubles as Shenzhen’s central business district and is spread over 78.66 square kilometres. It comprises 4% of Shenzhen’s total area, and enjoys direct access to Hong Kong via Huanggang Port and Futian Port, as well as the Futian Free Trade Zone No.1 Tunnel. The two ports handle up to 500,000 cross-border passengers every day.
Futian is pulling out all the stops to develop three new engines of growth: Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (HTCZ), the new Xiangmihu Financial Centre, and the Central Park Vitality Circle. At the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, President Xi Jinping said HTCZ is an important strategic platform in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone, with a strong focus on the development of life science, information science and material science.
To see first-hand the city’s potential, the Chamber led a delegation of 30 members on a mission in June.
Futian is also pushing the development of its I&T, finance and fashion industries as it works to gain more international influence. China Committee Chairman Eric Fok said it was only a matter of time before Futian began shining on the global stage, and hoped that Shenzhen and Hong Kong would strengthen cooperation and seize opportunities for growth.
At the same time, the authorities are promoting green development and cultural integration. While HTCZ is home to technology and business development projects, Xiangmihu Financial Centre and the world-class ecological zone in Central Park Vitality Circle are examples of how cultural and green elements are being incorporated into development plans. Also on the trip was GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam, who pointed out that both Hong Kong and Shenzhen are pursuing high-quality growth while making efforts to protect the environment, which would help China achieve modernization and steady economic growth.
Futian is also home to several research centres set up by medtech companies, among them XtalPi’s Laboratory and Computing R&D Centre, where members were taken on an insightful tour of the AI lab. Felix Lee, Vice Chairman of the China Committee and Co-CEO of GBA Healthcare, noted that the Mainland has seen rapid development in technology, especially in AI, which is widely used in medtech research. He hoped that there would be more opportunities for pharmaceutical R&D professionals to share research outcomes and to further promote the sector through cooperation.
The delegation also attended a luncheon hosted by Yao Ren, Deputy Secretary General of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, and Wu Huan, Standing Committee Member and Director of United Front Work Department, CPC Futian District.
At a seminar on Shenzhen-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation, hosted by Gu Dongzhong, Director General of CCPIT Shenzhen, members met with representatives from several Shenzhen businesses.
The trip was rounded off with visits to the HKU Business School Shenzhen Campus, Shenzhen Stock Exchange and Electronic One-stop Service Centre.