Shanghai seeks ideas for YRD development

Deputies to the Shanghai People’s Congress discussed further integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta on Thursday.

After Chinese President Xi Jinping gave Shanghai the task at the first China International Import Expo in November 2018, the city last year had gone all out to promote integrated development of the region with a demonstration zone being built.

The city's Development and Reform Commission said there had been remarkable progress and achievements.

For instance, a new pattern of coordinated regional development had gradually taken shape. The level of infrastructure had also been continuously raised, with the delta‘s high-speed rail network covering more than 90 percent of the region’s cities.

The commission also noted the establishment of the Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science, accelerated construction of a collaborative innovation network system, and the launch of the Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Resources Sharing Service Platform.

By the end of last year, 33 of the 70 companies listed on the STAR Market on the Shanghai Stock Exchange were from the delta region.

For the next step, the city pledged further efforts to promote integrated development, and is seeking suggestions from deputies to the city's people’s congress.

Liu Mingang, a lawmaker from Xuhui District, called for developing Shanghai as an attractive hub for high caliber talent.

"Shanghai should attach great importance to the training of talent as well as the introduction of talent," Liu said.

Qian Juying, a deputy from Qingpu District, highlighted health care and medical services.

Qian suggested the establishment of a cooperation office responsible for making plans for integrated development of the medical industry in the delta region. Interconnections and mutual recognition of health information and data in the region should also be enhanced.

Sun Hui, a lawmaker from Yangpu District, suggested all areas in the region should share education resources, and the validity of credits and certificates granted should also be recognized in the same manner by all its cities.

Currently, to implement the requirements of national and municipal long-term education reform and development plan for the establishment of a “credit bank” system and building a lifelong learning “overpass,” the Shanghai Academic Credit Transfer and Accumulation Bank for Lifelong Education has been set up, which is open to all learners in Shanghai. 

Many other cities in the delta also have similar "credit banks,” but the data have not been well interlinked among systems in various cities or provinces, and there are also some areas that have not yet built the system. More efforts should be made to push forward the development of the education system in the region, Sun said.