Conference showcases China's transformation and green development in the industry

The 2021 China International Rail Transit and Equipment Manufacturing Industry Exposition, which kicked off in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, from Dec 8 to 11, plays a vital role in promoting the exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries in the rail transit equipment manufacturing industry, local officials said.

He Baoxiang, vice-governor of Hunan, said that the province is the country's largest base for the research and development, production and export of rail transit equipment, with an output value accounting for more than 30 percent of the country's total.

It is home to 126 innovation carriers such as key State-level laboratories and innovation centers.

The province is approved as the only national advanced manufacturing innovation center in the rail transit industry.

"As the host, Hunan aims to make the expo a professional, market-oriented, and international global event and build a pragmatic platform for technological innovation, talent gathering and industrial upgrading."

Feng Yaoxiang, director of the Trade and Investment Promotion Department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the rail transit equipment manufacturing industry is representative of innovation-driven and green development in China.

It represents the core competitive advantage of China's high-end equipment manufacturing in the global rail transit equipment market and is an important driving force for the rapid development of the country's emerging industries.

"Holding the expo is of great significance for implementing the plan of building a strong nation in transport and enhancing the high-quality development of the rail transit industry," Feng said.

Titled "Smart Tracks, Connecting the Future," this year's expo is conducted both online and offline, covering 60,000 square meters and attracting more than 800 domestic and foreign companies.

The expo combines rail transit with cultural and creative design, and explores a new mode of exhibition that is simple, moderate, green, low-carbon, energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

The offline exhibition is located in the Zhuzhou Rail Expo Park with innovative enterprises, domestic and international pavilions and a service platform for international businesses.

The event covers a series of forums such as the China-US Rail Transit International Cooperation Roundtable Forum, Hunan Rail Transit Industry Promotion and Project Consultation Conference, Urban Rail Transit Construction Investment and Financing Forum, China International Rail Transit and Equipment Manufacturing Industry Expo Talent Summit as well as 10 market-oriented supporting events.

The market-oriented supporting events include permanent magnet power equipment technology and market application forums, digital technology promotion conferences for the transformation and development of the rail transit industry, project docking and innovative technology promotion activities.

Six academicians, 19 well-known experts and many influential entrepreneurs discuss the new trend in the rail transit industry and exchange views on industrial innovation and development.

During the expo, 70 investment projects in the rail transit and equipment manufacturing industry in Hunan are launched, with a total investment of 121.63 billion yuan ($19.14 billion).

The expo is the only national-level international professional exhibition in the industry that is cosponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Hunan provincial government.

The first session of the event was held in Changsha in October 2019. It attracted 406 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors with the release of 107 new products and technologies, 28 cooperation projects signed, and a contract value of 2 billion yuan.

After more than 60 years of development, China has established a rail transit equipment manufacturing system with independent research and development, complete supporting facilities, advanced equipment and large-scale operation.

The country's high-speed railway operating mileage, urban rail transit operating mileage, and railway electrification rate rank first in the world. Rail transit has become a symbol of "China's speed" and a business card for "going out".

Zhuzhou is the world's largest rail transit manufacturing base with the strongest supporting facilities and leading technologies.

Zhuzhou rail transit products are exported to more than 70 countries and regions around the world, and its global market share of electric locomotives is 27 percent, ranking first in the world.

The total output value of Zhuzhou's rail transit equipment industry cluster reached 131 billion yuan in 2020. It is the first domestic rail transit equipment industry cluster to exceed 100 billion yuan in output value. The entire life cycle system solutions of complete machine and large systems cover almost all areas of the industry. The local supporting rate of the rail transit industry has surpassed 80 percent, and the industry concentration ranks first in the world.

Feng Zhiwei and Zhu Youfang contributed to this story.

Train models from CRRC are displayed during the 2021 China International Rail Transit and Equipment Manufacturing Industry Exposition in Zhuzhou, Hunan province. CHINA DAILY