An opening ceremony of the 2019 Ningbo Talent, Science and Technology Week kicks off at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Ningbo on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ningbo -- the major manufacturing center in Zhejiang province -- is picking up the pace of its development by attracting young talents and overseas professionals to relocate in the city, officials said.

A major part of the recruitment drive is the 2019 Ningbo Talent, Science and Technology Week, which kicked off on Sept 20.

This year's event features more than 40 themed activities, including innovation exhibitions, recruitment fairs, industry forums, academic panels and startup contests.

Some 1,300 companies will be looking to fill more than 16,000 job vacancies with over 20,000 young prospects hoping to live in the youth-friendly city.

Prospective staff attending the job fairs will receive transport subsidies and week-long free accommodation, according to the organizers.

Other highlights to expect include the release of the 2019 City Index on Talent Ecology, the debut of the Zhejiang Innovation Center and an announcement by the authorities of 10 youth-friendly talent policies. 

First held in 2006, the annual Ningbo Talents, Science and Technology Week is part and parcel of the city's recruitment strategy.

Ningbo's decision makers see talented individuals as the most valuable resource to boost the city's quality development -- and have committed themselves to offering the best deals to attract the right people, officials said.

In the first half of the current year, the city attracted 68,200 university graduates and 29,200 high-tech professionals, up on the same period last year by 42.5 percent and 29.9 percent, respectively.