A media tour launched in Nanjing on Wednesday as a warm up to the upcoming World Intelligent Manufacturing Summit, which will take place in the Jiangsu capital from Dec 6-8.

The event allowed media personnel to get a close look at prominent smart manufacturers in the city and was jointly hosted by Yangtse Evening Post and Jiangsu Science and Technology News.

Officials from relevant departments accompanied media personnel and some Internet celebrities at an opening ceremony on the day.

Chen Hui and Hu Xuetong, who work for the Jiangsu Cyberspace Affairs Office and the Jiangsu Economic and Information Technology Commission, outlined the development status of the province’s manufacturing industry. They stressed the importance of shifting focus from the manufacturing-based mindset of “made in Jiangsu,” to an innovation-driven mindset of “created in Jiangsu.”

The province’s plan to integrate digital technology and cutting-edge IT with traditional manufacturing industries during the 13th Five Year Plan (2016-2020) was also explained to reporters.

“Jiangsu boasts a solid foundation for manufacturing, rich hi-technological professionals and an innovative spirit; it is very likely to become a leader in the next industrial revolution,” Liu Yang, a senior researcher, said in his address.

The media group will visit some leading manufacturers in Nanjing, Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou as scheduled, to get a panoramic view of the manufacturing industry in Jiangsu. They will interview senior managers and industry professionals, and visit factories to get hands-on with the new tech products.

Authorities expect the event will draw the public’s attention to the latest high-tech developments of Jiangsu province.

Media personnel from Jiangsu take part in the opening ceremony of a media tour of leading manufacturers in the province on Nov 9. [Photo/yangtse.com]