Shanghai Hongqiao Central Business District hosts 2016 Shanghai Innovation Forum on Dec 19. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Experts gathered at the 2016 Shanghai Innovation Forum: Hongqiao CBD's Functional Development and Yangtze River Delta Cities Joint Development to give suggestions on Shanghai Hongqiao Central Business District's (CBD) development during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period on Dec 19.

More than 200 guests including government officials, business leaders and economists participated in the forum.

Renowned economist Zhou Qiren， president of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; Wang Zhan, professor of Antai College of Economics and Management; Bai Daping, general manager of Jungheinrich AG (Shanghai); and Chen Xian; all delivered keynote speeches at the forum. Participants shared opinions on how Hongqiao CBD can grow into a world-class business zone and an engine for growth that can support the development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Located in the western part of Shanghai, the Hongqiao CBD serves as a gateway between Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region. It is home to many important functional projects of Shanghai including the Hongqiao transportation hub and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

The zone occupies an area of 86.6 square kilometers and its core area covers 4.7 sq km.