China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone: Creating a model zone for China-EU cooperation

2024 marks the 21st anniversary of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe, China-EU relations are showing good momentum of consolidation and development. China looks forward to the EU becoming a key partner in pursuing Chinese modernization, sharing opportunities in its vast market, institutional opening-up, and deepening international collaboration.

Wuxi, a core city in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, has attracted investments from European companies such as AstraZeneca, Bosch, and Siemens since China’s coastal opening up. The city has opened up China-Europe freight train services and direct cargo routes to Europe, fostering deepening economic and trade cooperation—Wuxi High-tech Zone, located in the hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta with convenient transportation links. Since becoming a national high-tech zone in 1992, it has incubated a robust ecosystem of technological innovation, housing numerous postdoctoral workstations, listed companies, and high-tech enterprises. Ranked 4th among China’s top 100 districts for high-quality development and 18th among 177 national high-tech zones, Wuxi High-tech Zone stands out as a beacon of growth.

In November 2023, the Wuxi China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone was officially launched.

As an open window for China-Europe cooperation, the China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone aims to promote high-level openness, serving as a platform for sharing opportunities globally, a bridge for deepening EU collaboration, and a forefront for innovation in China-Eu partnerships. By the end of 2023, EU countries states had invested in 166 projects in the Wuxi High-tech Zone, with a total investment of €15 billion. In 2023 alone, these projects generated sales revenue of RMB 118.23 billion and contributed RMB 8.18 billion in taxes.

Spanning a total planned area of 24.5 square kilometers, the China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone is situated in the Meicun area of the Wuxi High-tech Zone. The core area covers 7.7 square kilometers, with the initial development area along both sides of Xinhua Road spanning 1.15 square kilometers. Anchored in Meicun Street, the zone aims to become a model for China-Europe cooperation, providing a premium platform for the Wuxi High-tech Zone and the city of Wuxi to strengthen international collaboration. The first phase of construction has already reached the structural topping-off stage and is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Building on Wuxi High-tech Zone’s solid foundation of international industrial cooperation, the China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone adheres to a philosophy of integrated development of science, industry, and urbanization. It is actively developing four international cooperation sub-parks: the China-Germany International Cooperation Industrial Park, the China-France International Cooperation Industrial Park, the China-Switzerland International Cooperation Industrial Park, and the China-Israel International Cooperation Industrial Park.

The China-Europe Industrial Innovation Zone targets an annual output value of RMB 160 billion and tax revenue exceeding RMB 8 billion. It aims to attract at least 30 European “hidden champion” enterprises, including over 10 multinational company headquarters. The zone will construct more than 500,000 square meters of innovation facilities and jointly establish at least three European industrial technology transfer centers. Efforts to attract major China-Europe cooperative projects are being intensified, with key EU-related projects such as Legrand, AML Systems, Schneider Electric, Faurecia, and Siemens accelerating their presence in the zone. The future focus will be on cutting-edge EU technologies and innovations, optimizing industrial structure and layout to position the zone as a leading provincial-level economic development zone, Wuxi High-tech Zone’s preferred industrial destination, and a top-tier international industrial cooperation zone renowned across China and the Yangtze River Delta.