The general aviation session of the 2018 Conference on Overseas Chinese Pioneering and Developing in China & the ninth Tian Changlin Forum was held at Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, on Nov 23.
Guided by the work group for the country's recruitment program of global experts, and hosted by Hubei Provincial People's Government, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and Wuhan municipal people's government, the conference was initiated in Wuhan in 2001 and has been held for 18 consecutive sessions in the city.
Initiated in 2010, the Tian Changlin Forum is held in honor of Tian, a man who was born in Wuhan but spent much of his life living overseas. He made outstanding contributions to the development of the city in education and science and technology.
This year's event took place from Nov 21 to 23.
The aviation session in WHDZ was themed around the high-quality development of the aviation industry in the new era, with the aim of introducing the zone's aviation sector to investors, attracting professionals, and promoting cooperation opportunities.
During the event, WHDZ signed cooperation agreements worth a total of 3.53 billion yuan ($508.67 million) with four companies, covering such areas as drone manufacturing, the R&D of small aircraft, and satellite R&D and operations.
According to a director of WHDZ, the zone is currently transforming and upgrading its economic and industrial development, with a focus on innovation.
It is making efforts to become an industrial hub of automobiles, robotics, smart homes, and aviation, said the director.
WHDZ has a relatively solid industrial foundation in the aviation sector, successfully hosting the World Fly-in Expo in November 2017 and the RENO International Championship Air Races in November 2018.
In 2015, the zone established the General Aviation and Satellite Industrial Park, which covers an area measuring 24.75 square kilometers. The Hannan General Aviation Airport was also built, with a 1,600-meter-long and 30-meter-wide runway and a 40,000-square-meter FBO (fixed-base operation) area –– the largest among the country's general aviation airports.
This year, the park has established cooperation with a number of companies in the aviation sector, such as XOAR Aerotech and Wenfa Aerospace, to accelerate the growth of the aviation industry in WHDZ.
The general aviation session of the 2018 Conference on Overseas Chinese Pioneering and Developing in China is held at Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, on Nov 23. [Photo provided to wedz.gov.cn]
Representatives from Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone and companies sign cooperation agreements during the event on Nov 23. [Photo provided to wedz.gov.cn]
Attendees at the forum in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nov 23 [Photo provided to wedz.gov.cn]
