Major progress was made in the cooperation between Chengdu and Germany during the 16th Western China International Fair held in the city earlier this month.

A Sino-German innovative industrial cooperation zone, covering a total area of 22 square kilometers, was inaugurated in Chengdu Science City, a hub of new technology, industry and business in the Tianfu New Area.

Liu Yutong, director of the investment services bureau at the Chengdu administrative committee of Tianfu New Area, said the zone will be the main platform for Sichuan to conduct innovative cooperation with Germany.

It has planned 10 industrial areas, covering fields such as scientific research, medical health, intelligent manufacturing and international trade and business.

Other Sino-German cooperation areas in Chengdu include a 7-square-kilometer industrial demonstration park in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, a 58.5-square-kilometer auto industry park in Longquanyi district, as well as a 30-square-kilometer small and medium-sized enterprises cooperation park in Pujiang county.

Six companies signed cooperation agreements with the Chengdu administrative committee of Tianfu New Area and Chengdu Tianfu New Area Investment Group Co Ltd at the inauguration ceremony, with investment totaling 4 billion yuan ($590 million).

The cooperation projects are mainly in high-end manufacturing, environmental protection, research and development and high-end services.

BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd will cooperate with Global Car Sharing & Rental Co Ltd to offer time-share leasing services of electric cars to citizens in Tianfu New Area.

BMW China will provide 100 BMW i3 vehicles to the project. Customers will be able to rent the cars by simply using an app on their smart phones.

Germany-based ALBA Group, the world's leading recycling and environmental services company, will cooperate with local companies to offer services in Tianfu New Area, including water treatment, solid waste disposal and river improvement.

Axel Schweitzer, chairman of ALBA Group, said the group has together with Chengdu Techcent Environment Industry Co Ltd established the largest-scale cooperation agreement between a German and Chinese company in the field of environmental protection.

Deng Qinhua, chairman of Chengdu Techcent Environment Industry, said the company has set up an innovation center and an engineering technology center in Chengdu Science City.

An industrial fund with a total investment of 5 billion yuan was also established to provide financial support to German companies that invest in Chengdu.

(China Daily USA 11/23/2016 page1)