Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, highlighted its vigorous industrial development at the 2021 Xi'an Annual Industrial Investment and Cooperation Conference, held there on May 12.

The conference was widely regarded as the blue-ribbon event for Xi'an during the ongoing fifth Silk Road International Exposition, which is taking place on May 11-15 in the city.

The 2021 Xi'an Annual Industrial Investment and Cooperation Conference takes place in Xi'an on May 12. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Mayor Li Mingyuan told the conference that Xi'an is committed to creating a high-quality environment and first-class services for industrial development in terms of its policy support, urban environment, public services, as well as its supply of a top-flight workforce and its premium business environment.

He said that Xi'an has promising prospects and unlimited opportunities and he urged entrepreneurs and representatives of investment institutions to identify suitable projects and to invest more in Xi'an.

Li Mingyuan, mayor of Xi'an, delivers a keynote speech at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xi'an is rich in human resources, with 63 colleges and universities, 1.3 million college students, more than 300,000 college graduates every year and nearly 1 million professional and technical personnel. These are seen as providing abundant human resources for its industrial development.

With strong scientific and technological innovation capabilities, it has established 285 technology business incubators and maker spaces at the municipal level and above.

In 2020, the turnover of technology contracts reached 164.8 billion yuan ($25.61 billion), ranking it third in the country, after Beijing and Guangzhou.

Shen Liping, deputy mayor of Xi'an, gave a briefing on the city's development of its six pillar industries and on its cultural tourism.

Shen Liping, deputy mayor of Xi'an, gives a speech at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2020, the total output value of the six pillar industries -- electronic information, automobiles, aerospace, high-end equipment, new materials and new energy, food and biomedicines -- topped 400 billion yuan.

The deputy mayor also outlined the city's support policies for its industrial development. These include the establishment of industrial development funds and talent development funds, with subsidies given to manufacturing projects and grants provided for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.

 At the conference, the representatives of companies also conducted project roadshows.