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    “To succeed depends mostly on the quality of human capital and accelerating the speed of technological development,” Dessewffy said.

    Dessewffy suggested that Shenzhen use incentives such as cash prizes to draw talented innovators who will generate breakthrough ideas. Branding is also important for becoming a world city, he said, adding that hosting film, jazz or anime festivals could boost Shenzhen’s name recognition.

    Richard Herd, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s chief economist for China and India, encouraged Shenzhen to become a world financial center by grasping the chance to develop Qianhai, a 15-square-kilometer area that Shenzhen and Hong Kong are developing into a hub of modern service industries.

    Herd suggested that a free flow of digital information, easily accessible human resources and markets, and rules formed on the basis of international practices should be made available in Qianhai.

    “Shenzhen’s investment in people is still too low,” Herd said.

    Ma Weihua, chairman of the board of Wing Lung Bank and former CEO of China Merchants Bank, said a law-based and internationalized business environment is both a hard and soft power. “Shenzhen could innovate cross-border financial services and support financing services for small and medium-sized enterprises, low-carbon industries and residential communities,” Ma said.

    Ma added that carbon financing will see robust development in the future and Shenzhen should grasp the chance to become a carbon-trading center.

    Shenzhen has established a consultative committee for internationalization, which is led by former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and has 44 members, Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin said.