Summary of Key Points
On August 27th, the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District released its "15th Five-Year Plan," outlining its development direction for the next five years. The overall approach is to "implement national strategies, strengthen collaborative openness, and focus on solving practical problems." The goal is to achieve "three highs and three new achievements": significant breakthroughs in high-level openness, a leap in high-quality development, and a new image for the district as a high-quality urban area. This will be accomplished through five key tasks: optimizing the district's major business functions, hosting large-scale exhibitions, improving transportation infrastructure, and fostering innovation. By 2030, the district aims to become a globally influential center of vitality and a landmark for reform and opening up.
I. Planning Goals: What does Hongqiao want to become?
In simple terms, the plan aims to make Hongqiao more open, competitive, and livable:
- More Open: Enhance international influence externally and strengthen cooperation with sister cities in the Yangtze River Delta region internally.
- More Competitive: Increase the district's economic volume, the number of headquarters companies, and the scale of trade (for example, increasing service trade from $17.9 billion to $23 billion and adding 125 more municipal-level headquarters).
- More Livable: Improve the spatial layout and enhance public services such as schools, hospitals, and parks.
The ultimate goal is to make Hongqiao a globally recognized vibrant area that serves as both an international business center and a desirable place to live.
II. "Big Business + Large-scale Exhibitions": How to maximize the benefits of openness and the China International Import Expo (CIIE)?
These two areas are Hongqiao's key strengths, and the plan focuses on making them even more valuable:
- Big Business: Expand service trade and attract more large corporations (such as Fortune Global 500 companies and leading enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta) to set up headquarters in Hongqiao, with the goal of adding 125 new municipal-level recognized headquarters.
- Large-scale Exhibitions: The plan aims to maximize the "spillover effects" of the CIIE. For instance, products displayed at the expo will not only be showcased but also sold domestically, and exhibitors will be encouraged to become investors by setting up businesses in Hongqiao. Additionally, more high-profile exhibitions will be organized to connect with local shopping malls and tourist attractions, generating both visitor traffic and economic activity.
III. "Big Transportation": How to turn 400 million annual visitors into economic opportunities?
With over 400 million annual visitors through various modes of transportation (airplanes, high-speed trains, subways), the plan aims to turn these passersby into regular users:
- Develop a denser transportation network: Advance projects such as the westward extension of Line 13 and the Jiamin Line to improve connectivity with Shanghai and surrounding cities (such as Suzhou and Jiaxing).
- Create a commuting and business ecosystem: Enable people from surrounding cities to commute to and from work within a day and for businesses to conduct meetings in half a day, thus turning visitors into consumers, employees, and investors who contribute to the local economy.
IV. "Big Innovation": Will Hongqiao become the innovation hub of the Yangtze River Delta?
Hongqiao will not only focus on business and exhibitions but also on technological innovation, working in collaboration with other cities in the region:
- Industrial Upgrading: Modernize traditional business and exhibition activities and develop emerging industries such as life sciences (new drug research and development) and brain-computer interfaces.
- Collaborative Innovation Model: Hongqiao will handle research and development, while other cities in the Yangtze River Delta will focus on manufacturing, with products then sold globally (a model of "Hongqiao research and development + Yangtze River Delta manufacturing + global application").
- Attract Talent: Build more research and development centers (aiming to add 100 new ones) and recruit international, innovative talents to make Hongqiao a hub for talent in the region.
V. High-quality Urban Area: A mix of international style and local charm?
The plan aims to make Hongqiao both stylish and livable:
- Urban Renewal: Promote projects such as "Hongchang Green Hills" and "Gaoxian Feihong" to create a unique urban landscape with features like aerial corridors and waterfront attractions.
- Public Facilities: Build schools (a nine-year consistent education school on the north side of the Songze Overpass), hospitals (Fudan University Hongqiao Medical Innovation Park, New Hongqiao International Medical Center), and parks (Qianwan Park) to provide quality education, healthcare, and leisure facilities for residents and workers.
In summary, the future vision for Hongqiao is a super platform for international business and a happy, livable urban area for ordinary people.