The Xi'an Hi-tech Industries Development Zone is poised to grasp the "historic opportunities" on offer as it seeks new breakthroughs in development, said a senior local official.

The zone in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, has been named a national proprietary innovation model area and China Shaanxi Pilot Free Trade Zone. The coordinated development of the two projects has prompted the zone to improve its administrative services, bring in more high-level professionals and sharpen its innovative edge, said Xing Xin, deputy director of the zone's administrative committee.

He made the remarks at a corporate commendation conference held on March 20.

This year, the zone will focus on creating a complete semiconductor industry chain with global influence, strengthening the industrial development of next-generation automotive manufacturing, energy equipment and innovative services, Xing said.

The local government will prioritize support for the life sciences and healthcare, internet security and robotics sectors, he added.

His team also plans to introduce some world-famous incubator management companies and attract scientists, professionals and senior management teams with a global vision to start new businesses in the zone, he said.

This year, the zone plans to achieve a better balance among public services, covering education, medical care and the living environment. It will also continue to promote the construction of a free trade area, streamlining business processes and building an efficient administrative examination and approval system.

The ambitious initiative is backed by the zone's robust growth over the past year.

Last year, companies in the zone generated 1.37 trillion yuan ($198.60 billion) in total business revenue. The GDP growth rate of the zone hit nearly 12 percent, 3.4 percent higher than the city's average level. The zone's budgetary financial revenue exceeded 10.6 billion yuan, accounting for 17 percent of the city's total.

One of last year's highlights was developing the zone into a national independent innovation demonstration locale, in a bid to improve its ability to self-innovate, Xing said.

The zone added more than 24,700 patents in 2016, including 3,000 invention patents. By 2020, the zone's research and development spending is projected to account for 6 percent of its overall investment, according to a development plan for the 2016-20 period.

"We are also looking to strategic emerging industries to enhance their appeal to both Chinese and foreign investors," Xing said.

In addition, construction on 22 new projects started in the zone last year. Local authorities also accelerated infrastructure construction to improve the zone's business environment. To this end, three 110-kilovolt transformer substations, 10.3-kilometers of road and 43.5-km of sewage and electric pipelines were added to the zone.

Another highlight was promoting the integration of civil and military industries, Xing said. By the end of 2016, the zone had 356 high-tech companies engaged in operations in the integrated field, which produced a total output value of 90 billion yuan last year.

"We have planned to build a related online national pilot platform to promote the transfer and commercialization of technologies from civil and military fields," he added.

As one of the shining examples of implementing China's mass innovation and entrepreneurship strategy, the zone now has 25 science and technology incubators, covering a total area of 3 million square meters. Among them, 14 incubators have been granted national-level status.

Nearly 270 companies in the zone were recognized as high-tech innovation businesses last year, bringing the zone's total number of such businesses to 1,382.

Its overall environment was also enhanced. "For many years, we have adhered to a development concept of promoting economic growth and ecological construction simultaneously," Xing said.

Last year, spending on projects closely related to improving locals' quality of life reached 8.56 billion yuan, accounting for 80 percent of the zone's budgetary expenditure.

The money was used to build a service center and 13 aid stations for the elderly, and construct and expand nine kindergartens, primary schools and junior high schools.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn