On April 21, the first Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Integration Development Summit was held at the Suzhou International Finance Square (IFS). Leaders of the three cities and their relevant departments gathered at the“No.1 Skyscraper in Jiangsu� to look into the future and seek cooperation.

Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the participants studied Xi’s important instructions on the integration of the Yangtze River Delta and coordinated regional development. They discussed the matters of implementing Jiangsu Province’s decision on promoting the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area and integration development plans.

Lan Shaomin, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Party Secretary of Suzhou, Huang Qin, Party Secretary of Wuxi, and Qi Jiabin, Party Secretary of Changzhou, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Li Yaping, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Suzhou, presided over the conference and summarized the main points and decisions made at the meeting. Du Xiaogang, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Wuxi, and Chen Jinhu, Deputy Party Secretary and Acting Mayor of Changzhou, gave their remarks at the meeting.

A broad consensus has been reached among the three cities about sharing scientific and technological innovation resources, providing industrial development opportunities on a regional basis, discussing major regional policies together and planning infrastructure construction in a coordinated manner. With a Memorandum of Understanding on Integration and Cooperation among Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou signed officially at the summit, the three cities unanimously agreed on taking turns to hold regular summits and irregular joint meetings to maintain the strategic partnership.