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C2 Jing’an Tuesday 27 October 2020 Shanghai Daily

Summit seeks to drum up new business

Li Qian
he Global Asset Management
Forum Shanghai Summit Suh-
ewan recently took place in
TJing’an, aiming to build a com-
munication platform between asset
managers and market-supervision
departments.
The summit — the first partnership
between Jing’an and the Global Asset
Management Forum — was held at the
former location of China’s first modern
chamber of commerce on the northern
bank of Suzhou Creek.
A century ago, the area was the cra-
dle of commerce and finance in the
city. Founded in 1912, the chamber
assisted in drafting China’s first busi-
ness laws and opened the nation’s first
arbitration office, commodity exhibi-
tion center, business library and retail
mall.
Today, the chamber is trying to restore
its former glory.
According to the district government,
the summit will help promote the name
and influence of Jing’an while attracting
more financial service and industrial
companies to the area.
“The financial service sector has
become a major economic driver for The Global Asset Management Forum Shanghai Summit Suhewan was recently held in Jing’an. — TI Gong
Jing’an,” said Yu Yong, Party chief of
the district. to attract more professional service stand along Nanjing Road W., in addi- AllianceBernstein’s China branch, said
He added that Jing’an is primed to agencies and regional headquarters for tion to an emerging financial hub along many overseas companies choose to
become a hotbed for service providers multinational companies. Suzhou Creek. Under the plan, the area enter the Chinese market via Jing’an.
from around the globe and turbocharge Jing’an District Deputy Director Zhang will add nearly 1 million square meters “We locate our Chinese headquarters
the city’s plan to become a global asset- Jun said Jing’an has natural advantages of office space — including five office in Jing’an because of its convenient
management center. that appeal to asset-management com- buildings of more than 200 meters tall transportation and supporting facili-
Wang Hua, the district director, said panies. It has created a well-developed, — within five years. ties,” Qian said. “It’s a good place for
he welcomes people from across the high-end service sector with domestic By the end of 2019, close to 350 li- working and living. More importantly,
world to experience Jing’an’s world- giants Guotai Junan Securities and SAIC censed financial institutions had set up Jing’an provides a good development
class, business-friendly environment. Capital, multinationals Pfizer Investment shops in Jing’an, including 56 banks and ecosystem for asset-management busi-
As such, Jing’an officials will continue and L’Oreal China, and the local XNode 66 financial securities firms. nesses. Many professional service
to seek out financial and innovation Innovation Accelerator, among others. Qian Feng, executive chief officer agencies and companies in our industry
companies while promoting its program Nearly 20 high-end office buildings of asset-management heavyweight have also landed in Jing’an.”

Old Pengyi complex gets long-overdue facelift

Xiao Li was flooded. Water came from
everywhere, and there were so
ONCe again, Zhao Qiming feels many things piled up in public
proud to be living in the Pengyi areas.”
residential complex. Their dreams of living some-
When it was built in 1958, where better will soon come
Pengyi, part of the city’s re- true. This month, more than
nowned workers’ community 99 percent of the 2,110 families
of Pengpu Xincun, initially signed an agreement to reno-
housed model workers who were vate Pengyi.
thought to make great contribu- In the next four to five years,
tions to the country’s national 40 old buildings will be de-
industries. molished and replaced by 17
“At that time, it was a great high-rises. Shared toilets and
honor to live in Pengyi,” said kitchens will be a thing of the
the 68-year-old resident, who foreign guests, and more than past. Residents will no longer
moved to Pengyi at the age of 600 foreign groups from over have to climb stairs, and living
6. 40 countries visited the neigh- spaces will be larger.
It was a model neighbor- borhood, which decades ago What’s more, there will be an
hood with a design based on served as Shanghai’s window underground parking lot with
the architectural styles of the to the world. more than 1,700 spaces, and
former Soviet Union; most were “Back then, the environment Pengyi residents celebrate as an renovation deal is agreed on almost 30,000 square meters
three-bedroom units. To adapt here was so good,” Zhao said. their community. — Ti Gong of cultural, sports and service
to local conditions, one unit “Here I went to kindergarten, pri- facilities — including badmin-
was occupied by two or three mary school and middle school. I “Over the years, the neigh- umbrella above our heads.” ton courts, a fitness club, music
families, resulting in shared could find everything here.” borhood fell into a state of His neighbor Wang Liyuan theater, community canteen,
toilets and kitchens. In subsequent years, howev- disrepair,” he said. “Walls concurs. even after living in medical facility and childcare
However, Pengyi’s living con- er, the original Pengyi complex cracked and turned black. Pengyi for nearly 20 years, she center.
ditions were considered better expanded with shoddy con- Sometimes more than 10 people could never get used to the “I’m so looking forward to
than those where people lived struction and buildings riddled lined up to use the toilet, just shared toilet and kitchen. moving back in four years,”
in cramped shikumen (stone- with safety hazards. Also, as its like public toilets at tourist “I had to walk through the Wang said.
gate) buildings. Moreover, population swelled, the model attractions. On rainy days, we corridor and line up to use the “We’ve witnessed Pengyi’s
Pengyi had beautiful gardens. neighborhood began to deterio- had to use umbrellas because toilet, so I kept a chamber pot past and present, and we will
The residential complex had rate, at which point Zhao felt a of leaky ceilings. even when we at home,” she said. “On rainy experience its future,” Zhao
a reception room to receive sense of loss and grief. took a shower, we had to put an days, I felt like the building said. “I’m so glad.”