Logo

On April 27, 2026, a government and business delegation from Putuo District, Shanghai, visited the Palazzo Borghese, where the Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center (SIDEC) office is located. The delegation members included Qian Xiaoli, Director of the Information Office of the Shanghai Putuo District Government; Zhu Xiaolin, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Putuo District Committee; Lu Hai, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Putuo District Development and Reform Commission; Wu Chao, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Shanghai Changfeng Investment (Group) Co., Ltd., and other representatives from government and business sectors.

During the visit, Ms. Qian Xiaoli highlighted Putuo District’s commitment to developing the "Half Marathon Suzhou Creek" into a world-class waterfront. By enhancing the quality of the 21-kilometer Suzhou Creek shoreline, the district aims to showcase Shanghai’s "People-Centered City" philosophy to the world. She noted that this visit represents more than just a convergence of culture and design; it is a strategic effort to leverage SIDEC’s international platform to elevate the global profile of the "Half Marathon Suzhou Creek" brand, thereby strengthening Putuo’s international influence in design innovation and urban soft power.

Mr. Wu Chao, Chairman of Shanghai Changfeng Investment (Group) Co., Ltd., shared recent progress regarding industrial synergy within Putuo District and the Changfeng Group. He emphasized that Putuo, serving as a strategic bridgehead of the "Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt," is dedicated to building a collaborative innovation ecosystem centered on the digital economy and intelligent manufacturing. As a pivotal node along this belt, the Changfeng Ecological Business District is transitioning from traditional trade to a hub for technological innovation and comprehensive services. Mr. Wu extended a warm welcome to Italian design agencies and innovative enterprises with global visions to establish a presence in Putuo, participate in the development of the "Suzhou Creek Waterfront Economy," and engage with industrial clusters along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor for optimized resource allocation and mutual benefit.

Mr. Corrado Galli, CEO of SIDEC, reviewed the Centre’s significant achievements in fostering multi-level cooperation between China and Italy in creative design, digital commerce, and urban renewal. He expressed SIDEC’s commitment to further utilizing its international resource network to provide precision matching between top-tier Italian research institutions, design teams, and Putuo District—particularly the Changfeng area. These pragmatic measures aim to bolster the high-quality development of both the "Half Marathon Suzhou Creek" and the "Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt."

The visit has not only deepened the consensus on urban renewal and industrial innovation but has also opened new avenues for cross-border collaboration. By integrating the international creative DNA of Florence with the industrial heritage of Putuo’s Suzhou Creek waterfront, both parties aim to explore new models for cross-border resource allocation. This partnership seeks to empower the Changfeng area to play a leading international role within the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt. Moving forward, both sides will maintain a long-term exchange mechanism to create a benchmark for China-Italy cooperation in regional high-quality development, striving for a future of mutual prosperity.