With the strong support of the country and Northeast China's Jilin province, Changchun -- capital city of the province -- is working closely with auto giant FAW Group and is confident of a far brighter future in the automobile sector.

The metropolis will further boost innovation and the development of the Changchun International Auto City -- a resident of the Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone (hereinafter referred as "Qikai Zone").

In 2005, Changchun and the FAW Group jointly established the Qikai Zone.

Last year, the Changchun International Auto City development plan -- with FAW as the lead company there -- was approved. On July 28, Changchun and the company signed an agreement to promote the development of the auto city.

Subsequently, cooperation between the two sides expanded into six areas: production scheduling, production capacity, facilities, settlement, talent and innovation.

Output continues at a brisk pace at an automated and intelligent production line operated by the FAW Group in International Auto City in Changchun. [Photo/cnjiwang.com]

Over the past two months, both sides have seen the ramping up of local investment in the Hongqi new energy vehicle production facility with an investment of 7.8 billion yuan ($1.16 billion).

In addition, a smart network demonstration zone project has been launched, and Changchun would develop into a leading smart network automobile test site in the country within the current year.

A number of projects will also be settled in the auto city, with precise matchmaking of global partners by the investment promotions team jointly set up by FAW and the Qikai Zone.

From January to August, Changchun produced 1.61 million vehicles and sold 1.59 million vehicles, increasing by 4.9 percent and 5.5 percent year-on-year respectively, that were 14.5 and 15.2 percentage points higher than production and sales levels of the country.

From January to August, the industrial output value of enterprises above a designated scale resident in the Qikai Zone -- those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan or more -- reached 294.08 billion yuan, for a year-on-year increase of 14.3 percent.

Of these, FAW's production and sales data in September showed that the group produced 375,519 vehicles in the month, up 38.9 percent year-on-year and sold 388,896 vehicles, up 18.2 percent year-on-year.

FAW reported that of seven vehicle production projects with a total investment of over 19.13 billion yuan, six have started construction.

Many of another 18 key parts and components projects, with a total investment of 24.44 billion yuan, had started construction.

A panoramic view of the new NBD headquarters of the FAW Group in Changchun. [Photo/cnjiwang.com]

Meanwhile, among eight R&D and creative projects -- with a total investment of about 5.9 billion yuan -- construction of an FAW new energy intelligent network connection innovation test base, a FAW Volkswagen New Technology Development Center (NDC) and an intelligent network connection demonstration area have begun.

In addition, construction of the EGO digital economy industrial park, a services industry project with a total investment of 7 billion yuan, has also started construction. It will be built as a benchmark "industry + digital economy" facility for the province.

They were watching substantial progress being made against the backdrop of the introduction, settlement, construction and production of more projects.

As a result, Changchun, the Changchun Qikai Zone and Changchun International Auto City -- with FAW as the lead company -- will usher in a period of greater development and innovation throughout the city and even the entire Jilin province.