Gearing up to move towards the “new”, the 2024 Kunshan Development Conference was held

In an exclusive interview, we delve into the remarkable journey of Kunshan, a county-level city that has achieved extraordinary economic milestones. With its regional GDP surpassing 500 billion yuan and nearly 10,000 foreign investment projects from 80 countries and regions occupying less than one-ten-thousandth of the nation’s land, Kunshan contributes a striking 1.8% of China’s total import and export value.

On October 20, during the 2024 Kunshan Development Conference themed “Reform Reboot, Advancing on a New Journey,” a significant number of 120 key projects were signed and launched, marking the city’s ambition to become the first county-level city in China to have a GDP exceeding 1 trillion yuan by 2035.

Reflecting on its transformation over the past 40 years, Kunshan embarked on its development journey by independently establishing a development zone, transitioning from an agricultural to an industrial economy. This pioneering approach led to substantial advancements and has put Kunshan on the national map as a model of success.

Kunshan’s impressive industrial backbone includes three enterprises valued at over 100 billion yuan, ten valued at 10 billion yuan, and a remarkable 3,072 high-tech firms, demonstrating its diverse economic landscape. This county-level city manages to host nearly 10,000 foreign investment projects while only occupying a fraction of the country’s land, leading the charge in production and innovation.

At the conference, the Yuancenghu Future Laboratory project was unveiled, aiming to integrate top-tier university innovation resources to deepen the coupling of industry and technology in Kunshan. The initiative includes the construction of several advanced facilities, such as a 60,000-square-meter headquarters for research labs and a 500,000-square-meter base dedicated to AI and energy electronics innovation, which will host key industrial projects.

Among the significant investments highlighted, the AUO Display Technology’s 3 billion dollar low-temperature polysilicon display panel project stands out as the largest single investment from a foreign entity in Kunshan. AUO Chairman, Peng Shuanglang, expressed commitment to continue enhancing their investment and R&D efforts in Kunshan, emphasizing the aim to lead the new display industry globally and elevate the regional industrial chain’s competitive advantage.

During the event, 75 projects worth a total of 51 billion yuan were signed, promising an estimated total output of 82 billion yuan. These projects intersect with Kunshan’s “2+6+X” industrial framework, spanning fields such as electronic information, new energy, smart manufacturing, and advanced materials. This focus on innovation and technology marks a robust uplift in Kunshan’s industrial vitality and urban appeal.

In particular, the signing of a solid-state battery project by Qingtao (Kunshan) Energy Development Group, valued at 10 billion yuan, was a notable highlight. Academician Nan Cewu of Tsinghua University expressed intentions to collaborate closely with Kunshan, aiming to accelerate the conversion of Tsinghua’s innovative outcomes into marketable solutions.

Zhou Wei, Secretary of the Kunshan Municipal Committee, encapsulated the city’s vision for its future, stating that Kunshan is committed to being a model of Chinese-style modernization, emphasizing regional integrated development and innovation. Looking ahead to 2035, Kunshan aspires to become the first county-level city in China to surpass a trillion yuan in GDP, warmly inviting more entrepreneurs and scientists to join this journey of shared opportunities and innovation.