Leading enterprises including Huawei, ZTE, and the internet giant Tencent have become the standard-bearers for Shenzhen, alongside emerging innovative small and medium sized enterprises. Shenzhen, China’s first and one of the most successful Special Economic Zones is heading in the direction of an international innovative city.

More than 30 high-tech, high-value-added and high growth enterprises will settle in a high-tech park in Shenzhen.

Songgang District, the location of the high-tech park in northwestern Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, used to be filled with traditional manufacturing industry, surrounded by polluted water and unpleasant discharges.

According to Xu Qin, Mayor of Shenzhen, innovation contributes to the stable economic growth and sustainable development of Songgang District. Shenzhen has maintained an average growth rate of 10.3 per cent for many years. GDP in 2014 in Shenzhen was more than 1.6 trillion yuan, 9 per cent higher than 2013. Shenzhen's GDP has doubled in five years.

Six strategic emerging industries, including biotechnology, internet, new energy, new materials, creative culture and new generation information technology, have witnessed a growth of 20 per cent. Shenzhen's air quality ranks fourth of 74 major cities in China, following Haikou, Zhoushan and Lhasa.

Innovation expenditure in 2014 was more than 64 billion yuan, accounting for over 4 per cent of GDP. Applications for international patents surpass those of France.

Shenzhen municipal government focuses on future industries including life and health, maritime economy, aviation, smart devices, robots and wearable devices.

"Shenzhen has a high capacity for self-innovation after 35 years of reform and development, and we will never rest on our laurels," says Ma Xingrui, Deputy Secretary-General of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary-General of CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee. Ma aims to transform Shenzhen into an international modern innovative city.