More than 600 new materials companies and research institutes from cities involved in the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Valley in the Yangtze River Delta discussed the latest development trends in new materials at a forum in Dongyang, a county-level city of Jinhua, Zhejiang province, April 3.

The tech valley, designed to be a growth engine for the region's technical and economic advancement, has a population of 49 million people and covers 76,200 square kilometers. It is benchmarking the likes of Route 128 in Boston, which has been dubbed "America's technology highway".

Attendees have face-to-face talks on the sidelines of the forum in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, April 3. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

So far, the tech valley has been joined by nine cities including Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Jinhua in East China's Zhejiang province.

The sector of new materials is an important part of the industrial development of the Yangtze River Delta and leads the integrated and high-quality development of the region. The first industrial alliance in the tech valley is themed on new materials and was initiated by Jinhua.

People from research institutes, government departments and companies give speeches on new materials at the forum in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, April 3. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]