Xu Guoyue, deputy director of the Pingtan free trade area, part of the greater Fujian free trade zone, offered opinions on Pingtan's future development at an entrepreneurial seminar on that theme held on Oct 12.

The seminar was part of the 2016 National Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week underway in Pingtan from Oct 12 to 18.

Xu predicts that Pingtan's development path will be similar to Shenzhen’s, a city that grew to be an innovation powerhouse in southern China from a humble beginning.

He described Pingtan in the past as a little known place off the coast of southeastern Fujian province, and enumerated the important roles the city is taking today as an international tourism destination, a free trade zone and a comprehensive pilot zone that enjoys a series of favorable policies.

Xu offered valuable suggestions for advancing and diversifying economic development in the city, including making plans to increase cooperation with nations along the Maritime Silk Road, and with overseas and foreign Chinese; lifting Pingtan's global image by hosting cultural events and forging cultural brands; and building up the tourism sector by developing the cruise industry.

Xu also talked about boosting ties with foreign and overseas Chinese by drawing on their common belief in the Chinese Sea Goddess Mazu.

Pingtan's flower, the daffodil, inspired Xu to suggest hosting flower arrangement activities to increase exchange with enthusiasts from Taiwan, and adding flower areas in tourism attractions to beautify the environment.

As for the development of tourism, Xu suggested that Pingtan can groom its own tourism experts by founding an academic institution to provide top-notch education.

Xu Guoyue, deputy director of the Pingtan free trade area, speaks on Pingtan's future development at a seminar on Oct 12 during the 2016 National Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo/ptnet.cn]