Shanghai People’s Congress deputies discussed further integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta yesterday.

After President XiJinpinggave Shanghai the task at the first China International Import Expo inNovember2018, the city has gone all out to promote integrated development of the region with a demonstration zone being built.

The city’s development and reform commission said there had been notable progress.

For instance, a new pattern of coordinated regional development had gradually taken shape. The level of infrastructure had also been continuously raised, with the delta’shigh-speed rail network covering more than 90 percent of the region’s cities.

The commission also noted the establishment of the Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science, accelerated construction of a collaborative innovation network system, and the launch of the Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Resources Sharing Service Platform.

By the end of last year, 33 of the 70 firms listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai bourse were from the delta region.

For the next step, the city pledged further efforts to promote integrated development, and is seeking suggestions from people’s congress deputies.

Cooperation office

LiuMingang, a lawmaker fromXuhuiDistrict, called for developing Shanghai as an attractive hub for high caliber talent. “Shanghai should attach great importance to the training of talent as well as the introduction of talent,”Liusaid.

QianJuying fromQingpuDistrict highlighted healthcare and medical services.

Qiansuggested the setting up of a cooperation office responsible for making plans for integrated development of the medical industry in the region. Interconnections and mutual recognition of health information and data in the region should also be enhanced.

SunHui, a lawmaker fromYangpuDistrict, suggested all areas in the region should share educationresources, and the validity of credits and certificates granted should also be recognized in the same manner by all its cities.

Currently, to implement the requirements of long-term education reform and development plan for the launch of a “credit bank” system and building a lifelong learning “overpass,” the Shanghai Academic Credit Transfer and Accumulation Bank for Lifelong Education has been set up, which is open to all learners in Shanghai.

Many other cities in the delta also have similar “credit banks,” but the data have not been well interlinked among systems in various cities or provinces, Sun said.