Reform and Opening-Up: Tianjin seeks structural reform to technology-driven industry

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China's northern port city of Tianjin finds itself amid an identity crisis. This city well known for its charm, character, and beautiful architecture also used to be the nation's industrial mecca. But as times have changed, and Tianjin's industries have lost their luster. CGTN's Zhao Yunfei shows us what the city is doing to get it back.

This is the birth place of China's first domestically-made watch. Generations of workers have committed their entire careers to the Tianjin Seagull, a brand with more than 60 years of history. Senior Technician Qi Zhili has worked here nearly five decades.

QI ZHILI SENIOR TECHNICIAN, TIANJIN SEAGULL WATCH GROUP "We have to have a kind of spirit to make perfection more perfect. Otherwise, we cannot ensure the quality of our watches. We have to devote our full hearts into what we are doing."

Seagull's rise can be traced back to the 1950s when Tianjin was the hub of "Made in China" products. Besides watches, Tianjin is home to China's first camera, first TV, and first bicycle. But as time went on, the city's industrial advantage dwindled.

WANG GANG GENERAL MANAGER, TIANJIN SEAGULL WATCH GROUP "Now Seagull is enduring a lot of pressure. We have put a lot of efforts into finding solutions."

As the market widens, standards have stepped up, and many Tianjin companies face competition at home and abroad. Experts say a structural reform is just around the corner. It may start with Tianhe, one of the world's fastest computers, offering Tianjin super computing support.

MENG XIANGFEI HEAD OF APPLICATION RESEARCH CENTER NATIONAL SUPER COMPUTER CENTER IN TIANJIN "China's development has two perspectives, one is innovation-driven development, and the other is industry transformation. These two perspectives are our goals, too. Profits in industrial manufacturing are low. Many companies can hardly afford to build their own research platforms. We are here to help."

Tianjin's 2017 GDP growth rate was the lowest in a decade. The government is actively seeking ways to recover.

ZHOU SHENGXI, CHIEF ECONOMIST TIANJIN MUNICIPAL INDUSTRY & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUREAU "I would say that the industrial transformation of the city is a tedious, even painstaking process. Industry upgrading forces the city to eliminate a big amount of outdated production capacity. That's why we've seen a drop statistically, and the public need to understand that."

ZHAO YUNFEI TIANJIN "Experts say the key to Tianjin's reform is attracting the right talent and fostering the best technology. As industries try to find their way, the Tianjin municipal government is gradually improving its policies to encourage innovation. Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, Tianjin."