(Yicai Global) Sept. 18 -- "Shanghai has the foundations to be an outstanding global city," its mayor, Ying Yong, said on Sept. 17 while delivering a themed report at the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, online news outlet The Paper reported.

"It aims to become an outstanding global city by 2040, and an innovative, civilized an ecological city where people want to be," Ying said of the Chinese metropolis.

Shanghai will continuously develop to become a better international center for economy, finance, trade and shipping, and look to become one of the global hubs for the worldwide financial, trade and investment network and shipping resource configuration, he added.

Being open is an important part of being a global city, and is one of Shanghai's strong points. The metropolis will actively serve and participate in construction for the Belt and Road Initiative, link with coastal city and market entity demands, strengthen trade ties, financial services, infrastructure construction, cultural exchanges and cooperation, Ying said.

Shanghai will accelerate its development toward becoming a globally influential technological innovation center and build the Zhangjiang Comprehensive National Science Center to international standards to make it a world-class science town using innovative energy sources.