Shenyang needs to make breakthroughs in seven areas to build itself into an advanced manufacturing power and speed up its construction as a trial demonstration city for the Made in China 2025 Strategy.

The "Made in China 2025" initiative is a 10-year national plan designed to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a global high-tech manufacturing power.

Shenyang, lying in Northeast China’s Liaoning province, is an old industrial city that has had many troubles in industrial development as the region has been suffering from a flagging economy, which has revealed the weaknesses of its traditional development model.

To tackle the problems of Shenyang’s lagging industrial development and boost the city’s economic growth, officials from the city laid out seven measures at a press conference held on Dec 1.

The first is to develop an intelligent manufacturing industry to upgrade its industrial structure. Sectors such as automobiles, high-end equipment, aviation and machinery are now Shenyang’s priory industries.

The second is to push the development of service-oriented industries, which will start with the transformation and upgrading of small and medium- sized businesses.

Third, Shenyang is going to establish an innovative demonstration zone that integrates civil and military industries. The Shenyang government will provide support in finance, technology and a risk management mechanism.

Fourth, Shenyang will build a better business environment for innovation and entrepreneurship through the construction of four platforms and three institutes, which will include a professional technology service platform, a startups incubator, an institute for industrial technology research and innovation, and an agency for the commercialization of scientific achievements.

Fifth, the city will develop a skills cultivation model that combines university teaching and business training, which is expected to better prepare workers to meet the needs of businesses.

Sixth, Shenyang intends to push forward the development of the Sino-German High-end Equipment Manufacturing Industrial Park through upgrading and improving its management mechanism, along with seeking more cooperation with Germany.

Finally, Shenyang is going to create a better business environment for domestic and overseas businesses. The city will make efforts to improve government services, infrastructure construction, public security, and the legal environment.