Opening an isolated corner of China

Business community leaders and public officials in Silicon Valley extended a warm welcome on Thursday to the establishment of an innovation center that represents one of China's most geographically isolated prefecture-level cities — Ankang in Shaanxi province.

The Ankang-Silicon Valley Ecosystem Innovation Center, a high-tech industry platform initiated by the Ankang National High-tech Industries Development Zone and California-based Acadya Capital Group (ACG), officially opened its doors for business after two years of preparation.

What distinguishes the Ankang center from other similar organizations is its repeated pledge of poverty alleviation for its fellow citizens, through collaborating with Silicon Valley innovators and entrepreneurs, as well as investors.

"This will be our first overseas office of its kind," said deputy director of the zone's administrative committee Qian Minqiang, who added that projects with the US side will focus on clean energy and environmental protection technology.

Nestled in the Qin Ba mountain range, Ankang has historically been poverty-stricken with 52 percent of its 3 million residents living below the national poverty line. Over the decades, governments at different levels have dedicated efforts to improving infrastructure and helping Ankang get connected with the outside.

In 2016, the Chinese central government decided to set up a national-level high-tech zone there, the 7th zone of its kind in Shaanxi province, in order to better allocate its rich natural and mineral resources, and ultimately achieve the goals of poverty alleviation, sustained growth and natural preservation.

"The innovation center is a window for Ankang to reach out to the world, in this case, Silicon Valley," said Cady Yu, president of ACG, who has led her team several times to visit Ankang to evaluate the potential of the area and try to connect Ankang with technology and resources available in the US.

Johnny Khamis, a San Jose City Council member who over the past six and half years has been advocating for the city's business and trade development worldwide, applauded the center's launch. In recent years, he has noticed many Chinese companies choose San Jose to start their business, and gradually expand their foothold in the US.

"Chinese tourists rank number three in our San Jose area," Khamis said, adding the first and second are from Mexico and Japan, respectively.

At a moment when division and friction seem to reign, "we need to build bridges, more bridges," he said.

"I'm very disappointed that (the trade problems between China and the US) could not be solved so far diplomatically," he continued, emphasizing the ongoing trade disputes need to be worked out through joint efforts.

Jeff Wang, member on the board of education from the New Haven Unified School District, echoed Khamis' concern. He believed the problems were temporary.

"No country should be isolated, everybody should be working together," he said. "No matter that it's technology, education or culture."