China News (2017-06-29)

　　According to the news on Chinanews.com on June 28th of 2017 (reported by Wang Chunyue and Xu Jinbo in Wuhan), after Wuhan City of Design Promotion Center ("the center" for short) successfully submitted the "City of Design ("COD" for short)" application letters and documents to UNESCO, Wuhan's COD application has entered the final stage. On June 28th, the center's first council took the initiative, calling upon 100,000 people to jointly participate in Wuhan's COD application.

　　On the same day, the leaders of the COD application organizations of Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing as well as the leaders of the 100 member organizations of Wuhan City of Design Promotion Center attended the first council of the center. At the council, the progress of Wuhan's COD application was disclosed. The council proposed establishing Wuhan Design Industry Federation and "the Living Room of Wuhan City of Design"-- James Jackson Museum.

　　In Wuhan there are 200,000 people working in the complete chain of design and creative industries. With regard to engineering design and creative design, an industry worth 100 billion yuan has formed. As of 2016, Wuhan's cultural and creative industries had 29,500 enterprises and 28 industrial parks (sites), with over 100 billion yuan worth of total output. These enterprises have undertaken multiple top-ranking engineering design projects and international design projects and won many awards for such projects. They have also participated in the development and establishment of international standards for the design field, such as high-speed rail and water conservancy.

　　According to Mr. Wang Xiangwang, deputy mayor of Wuhan who attended the meeting, the COD application is important to Wuhan. Wuhan Municipal Government hopes that the application can boost the city's engineering design industry and creative industries, so as to drive forward Wuhan's urban development and modernization and build Wuhan into an eco-friendly international city.

　　The goal of building Wuhan into a City of Design was clearly proposed in 2016. Based on the COD application requirements, Wuhan Engineering Design Industry Alliance of China has undertaken the relevant management work and established Wuhan City of Design Promotion Center. The center is responsible for participating in and supporting Wuhan's COD application and development led by Wuhan UNESCO City of Design Application Leading Group Office. It has successfully held the Wuhan Design-South Africa Exhibition, Wuhan Design- Shenzhen Exhibition, and 2016 Wuhan Design Annual Release Ceremony.

　　During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, Wuhan's people have been committed to building "the economic belt along the Yangtze River, "a new city along the Yangtze River", and "Donghu Green Center", with an aim to develop Wuhan into an international city. This aim reflects the Yangtze River culture, ecological characteristics, development achievements, and city civilization. It provides a large number of development opportunities for design institutes. The importance of the COD application will become salient.

　　According to Mr. Jin Zhihong, director of the council of Wuhan City of Design Promotion Center, the center is 100 member organizations with a total of 100,000 employees. These people will become a driving force that pushes forward Wuhan's COD application. In addition, students at 13 colleges in Wuhan will also participate in the COD application. The center is preparing to build an "engineering design research institute", a "trading center for the design industry", and an "innovation fund for the design industry". Moreover, the center has increased its contact and cooperation with other countries by inviting its counterparts in foreign cities to visit Wuhan and sending relevant workers to visit foreign cities, with a view to helping develop Wuhan into a City of Design.