The 2019 Shanghai SME Development Forum was held on Nov 20 in Jiading Industrial Zone.

The forum, aiming to promote scientific and technological innovation and high-quality development, was jointly organized by the Shanghai Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiading District Committee and Jiading district government.

Hao Mingjin, chairman of the China National Democratic Construction Association, offered his views on scientific and technological innovation in Shanghai.

The 2019 Shanghai SME Development Forum is held on Nov 20 in Jiading Industrial Zone. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

He said that Shanghai should foster leading innovative companies and take advantage of the science and technology innovation board launched of the Shanghai Stock Exchange to cultivate clusters of high-tech companies.

Shanghai should continue to promote the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, improve the environment for business and innovation, and encourage entrepreneurs, Hao continued.

Zhang Xi, Party secretary of Jiading, said that the district attaches great importance to the role of SMEs in promoting innovation, creating jobs and improving people's livelihoods. He regards SME development as an important way to boost economic development.

Zhang Xi, Party secretary of Jiading, delivers a speech at the forum. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

He said that the forum provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on SME development and he also welcomed suggestions on the development of Jiading.

A report on the innovative capability of Shanghai SMEs was released during the forum, which showed that in 2019, the survival and development index of SMEs in Shanghai stood at 65.53, 0.67 points higher than last year, while the innovation index was at 37.2, 0.8 points higher than last year.