Futian district, an urban area within Shenzhen city, in South China's Guangdong province, held a promotional event on Thursday in London to promote investment opportunities to businesses based in the United Kingdom.

The gathering, which was hosted by the government of Futian district, attracted attendees from various sectors of the Chinese and British business and academic communities.

A cooperation agreement was signed at the event between the Gensol (Shenzhen) Tech Innovation Center Co Ltd, a Futian-based company focusing on cross-border industry services between China and Europe, and the Oxford International Biomedical Enabling Centre, a UK biomedical company that plans to establish a site in Futian.

Huang Wei, secretary of the Communist Party of China Futian District Committee of Shenzhen, told delegates about the investment environment and development priorities of the district.

Huang said Futian enjoys a superior geographical location and is the administrative, financial, commercial, cultural, and international communication center for the city of Shenzhen.

Futian is home to the city's central business district. The district is also considered to be the world's gateway into Shenzhen, Huang said, because the two major ports of Futian and Huanggang there connect it internationally, facilitating travel for entrepreneurs and tourists alike.

"This is why we are taking full advantage of Futian's solid foundation and convenient location, and building Futian into a central innovation zone, a central business district, and a central vitality zone," Huang said.

He also highlighted the fact that Futian is stepping up its efforts to offer supportive policies for international research organizations, foreign financial institutions, and world-renowned fashion brands that are considering setting up sites in the district.

For example, newly established or relocated foreign financial institutions in Futian will receive up to 3.3 million pounds ($4.17 million) toward purchasing office space.

Graham Russell, co-founder and chairman of the OIBEC and emeritus professor of musculoskeletal pharmacology at the University of Oxford, said the opportunities Futian offers are very attractive.

He also emphasized that science has no borders and needs to overcome political barriers.

"As scientists and doctors, we all appreciate not having political boundaries in our work because we try to benefit the whole of mankind. So, I see this collaboration (with Shenzhen) as a good example of how work in different territories and countries can benefit everyone. That is what we need," he said.