A lively hub

The area has become increasingly attractive for global business, and it will continue to be a lively hub for businesses to capitalize on opportunities, the local government said.

Swiss industrial giant ABB will open a robotics manufacturing and research facility in the Kangqiao area of Pudong in 2021. The factory, which started construction in 2019 with a total investment of 1 billion yuan, is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 100,000 robots.

"It will be the most advanced, automated robotics factory across the world where robots make robots, utilizing the latest manufacturing processes including machine learning and digital solutions," Liang said.

He noted the choice of the facility's location－Pudong New Area－is rooted in the company's anticipation in terms of where the Chinese market is going and the robotics industry.

"We are optimistic about the manufacturing industry and export market in China, and Shanghai, including Pudong, is a talent pool where the local government is supportive," Liang added.

Since it entered the local market in 1994, the company has cooperated with the Shanghai government in fields such as energy, transportation and infrastructure, helping drive the city to become a global science and innovation center.

"We are also exploring not merely ways to develop in areas, covering big data and 5G, but scenarios where robots will be deployed in the future, such as in garbage sorting and medical services," he said.

Shanghai Disney Resort, operating in Pudong for more than four years, has made great success in its partnership with the local government and enterprises, according to Murray King, vice-president of public affairs and communications for the Shanghai Disney Resort.

He said Shanghai Disneyland became a top 10 global theme park destination in its first year since opening. It broke Disney's worldwide record for the highest first-year attendance of a new resort. The success has been continued in the following years. It opened the Disney-Pixar Toy Story Land in 2018, marking the first new themed land since 2016. It is also the fastest expansion in the company's history.

"Shanghai is the obvious choice for us to choose to expand our presence in China. Pudong of Shanghai is also the obvious choice," said King.

He said the last 30 years of Pudong's opening-up and development mirrored the development of China. The most iconic examples are from the skyline of Lujiazui to the incredible infrastructure of the maglev train, high-speed rail, subway network and highway network.

"Pudong's future is about the service industry from financial to cultural, and Disney is a global leader in culture and tourism, so it is a perfect partnership for us to be here," King said.

He said the Shanghai Disney Resort will launch a second expansion with Zootopia-themed land in the near future.

During the past year, Volvo Construction Equipment and Dassault Systemes moved their Asia Pacific headquarters from Singapore and Japan respectively to Pudong. Alibaba's supermarket Fresh Hippo has also set up its global headquarters in Pudong.