Tencent gives impetus to Zhuhai as 'Smart City'

The Zhuhai government will surge ahead in building a "Smart City" by leveraging China's tech titan Tencent's technology, platform, and resource advantages under a strategic partnership agreement signed in Shenzhen on Dec 13.

The partner, Shenzhen Tencent Computer System Co Ltd, has become a leading provider of internet value-added services since being established in 1998.

Under the all-round program, the company will utilize its extensive experience in social networking, mobile payments, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance Zhuhai in the fields of constructing a "Sponge City," industrial innovation, and entrepreneurship.

A "Sponge City" adapts land to collect and reuse runoff and flood waters without waste, whereas a "Smart City" uses technology to collect information and reuse it to manage public services more efficiently.

Signing ceremony [Photo by Zhao Zi / Zhuhai Daily]

Zhuhai Mayor Yao Yisheng expressed hope that the cooperation would be expanded in transportation, education, medical treatment, environmental protection, and urban management as part of individual livelihoods.

Yao pledged high-quality and efficient government services to create an international market-oriented business environment. This, he indicated, would make Zhuhai ideal for trials of more advanced internet technologies and new development modes.

Tencent Chairman and CEO Pony Ma called it a pleasure to strike the strategic partnership. He expected to roll out frontier technologies to help Zhuhai residents better experience public services. Included are AI-applied medical imaging and a QR code scanning payment system for buses via the Little Program on the WeChat mobile app.

Hengqin New Area will also partner with Tencent to push forward an internet-based innovative economy. A cooperation agreement was signed to focus on big health, e-sports, financial science and technologies, Smart City, data-based construction of tourist islands, and makerspace.

Vice Mayor Lu Xiaofeng and Niu Jing, Party secretary of the CPC Hengqin New Area Committee, were also at the signing ceremony.