Finance-driven integration of technology and industry can unlock new quality productive forces and fuel high‑quality real economy growth, experts said, citing Tianjin's practical progress in revitalizing stock assets and developing green finance.

The observations were shared at the 2026 Tianjin Wudadao Forum, which opened in Tianjin on Friday. Hosted by Nankai University, the forum drew around 800 representatives from government bodies, financial institutions, enterprises, universities and think tanks. Participants discussed sci-tech finance, the use of real estate investment trusts and the low-carbon transition, supporting the construction of Tianjin's financial innovation and operation demonstration zone and Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei coordinated innovation.

Li Quan, director of the Institute of Finance, School of Finance, Nankai University, noted Tianjin's massive stock assets, including old factories, industrial parks and historic buildings, lay a solid foundation for REITs instruments.

Hexi district has delivered replicable practices by renovating former industrial sites to foster industrial design, commercial aerospace, intelligent manufacturing and biomedicine. Such upgraded sci‑tech parks can serve as high‑quality underlying assets for REITs, offering local experience for asset revitalization.

Li Yong, assistant to the president of Tianjin Rural Commercial Bank, talked about the Tianjin Green Finance Research Institute initiated by the Hexi district government. The government‑bank‑research‑enterprise think‑tank platform removes barriers between policy, industry and capital to advance regional low‑carbon shift. The local bank will join the joint construction of the institute, develop transitional‑finance products and steer capital toward green sectors to deliver Tianjin's dual‑carbon goals.

Key outputs, including the Sci‑Tech Finance Development Report (2026), were unveiled. Multiple cooperation deals were inked to pool capital for sci‑tech innovation. This year's forum has been upgraded into a series of academic events to boost Tianjin's profile as an international financial‑innovation hub.

(Source: China Daily)