对话约翰·卡萨达：郑州航空港已起步迈向 “航空大都市4.0”

Interview with John D. Kasarda: ZAEZ started to stride towards "Aerotropolis 4.0"

河南日报客户端记者 杨凌 河南日报社全媒体记者 陈骏/文图

By Yang Ling, Chen Jun (Henan Daily), June 1, 2023

5月29日起，世界航空经济理论奠基人、美国北卡罗来纳大学教授、郑州航空港经济综合实验区首席顾问、郑州航空大都市研究院院长约翰·卡萨达在郑州航空港进行为期6天的履职。6月1日，在对郑州机场北货运区、高铁郑州航空港站以及郑州航空港内多家企业进行调研后，卡萨达教授结合“航空大都市4.0”理论模型，畅谈郑州航空港未来十年的发展之路。

John D. Kasarda, founder of the aerotropolis concept, professor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chief advisor of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, and president of Aerotropolis Institute China, arrived in Zhengzhou on May 28 and would perform his duties in ZAEZ from May 29 to June 3. After making tours in major areas of ZAEZ, including Zhengzhou Hangkonggang Railway Station, the north cargo area of Zhengzhou Airport and several leading companies based in ZAEZ, professor Kasarda spoke to media on June 1 about the development of ZAEZ in the next ten years.

　　Professor Kasarda speaks to media in ZAEZ on June 1, 2023. 

郑州航空港已起步迈向

 “航空大都市4.0”

　　ZAEZ has started to stride towards “Aerotropolis 4.0”

2012年，受郑州市政府之邀，约翰•卡萨达为郑州航空港制定战略规划，以郑州机场为核心发展航空经济，打造航空大都市。

At the invitation of the government of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, professor John D. Kasarda made a strategy in 2012 for ZAEZ to build it into an aerotropolis, and develop the aviation economy with Zhengzhou Airport as the core.

十年来，约翰·卡萨达以航空大都市理论指导郑州航空港建设实践，全程参与了中国首个国家级航空经济先行区的前期谋划、申报、规划及开发建设，为郑州航空港的发展提供了极大的理论支持和实践指导。

Over the past ten years, professor Kasarda has participated in the whole process of the construction of China's first national aviation economy pilot zone on the basis of the aerotropolis concept, providing great theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of ZAEZ.

对于自己和郑州航空港之间这段跨越十年的缘分，约翰·卡萨达感慨说：10年间，自己已经不记得来过郑州航空港多少次，但每次到来，都有新的惊喜。即便近几年受到疫情阻隔，他也一直通过网络视频会议、越洋电话等形式，关注着这片中原热土的成长。

"It's always new. It's always something that surprised me,"Kasarda said. He has come to ZAEZ for more than 30 times since 2013, and there were always surprises waiting for him. Time and distance never bothered professor Kasarda; even during the pandemic period, he has always been keeping track of the growth of ZAEZ through phone calls and video conferences.

Professor Kasarda makes tours in major areas of ZAEZ from May 29 to June 3, 2023. [Photo by Henan Daily]

在约翰·卡萨达看来，得天独厚的地理区位优势，奠定了郑州航空港前十年得以形成产业集聚、快速发展的基础。如今，交通区位，这一郑州航空港的“优势基因”也正在得到不断强化。“高铁郑州航空港站已经建成，南区还有正在规划中的国际陆港，待多式联运体系完全建成后，这里将拥有全球罕见的交通、区位优势。”对于郑州航空港目前的发展，约翰·卡萨达认为正处在“最好的时代”。

According to Kasarda, the geographic advantage exclusive to ZAEZ has laid a solid foundation for its rapid industrial development in the past ten years. And now, the transportation advantage which is in the DNA of ZAEZ is also playing its role. "The multi modality here is superior," Kasarda said, “You have the inner city rail, subways and taxis coming underneath the airport. That's amazing. And when the high-speed rail station here is completed, it will be one of China's biggest." Clearly, the bright prospect of ZAEZ makes professor Kasarda have great confidence in its future development.

约翰·卡萨达告诉记者，与传统“航空大都市”的理论模型相比，“航空大都市4.0”的基石是创新和创业，关键词包含数字化应用，城市发展，人才聚集，绿色、可持续发展。“通过这几天的考察，我观察到这里的很多变化、产业引入都与数字化、绿色环保相关，更有令人为之向往的人才政策推出，可以说郑州航空港向‘航空大都市4.0’迈进已经起步。”

Compared to the traditional aerotropolis theory, the "Aerotropolis 4.0" is mainly about entrepreneurship and innovation, whose keywords include digitalization, talent, green, urban development and sustainability. And in the past few days of observations, Kasarda has seen many good changes happened in ZAEZ that involve these aspects. "There's a start already," Kasarda said, “It is beginning to attract universities and research institutes that will be taking it to the next level.”

　　十年再启航，郑州航空港发力方向

　　要从产业转向城市

　　A shift from attracting factories to talents

交流中，约翰·卡萨达反复强调“航空大都市4.0”理论模型中，如何引入人才、留住人才，如何让航空大都市的居民感受更好的居住环境，是最为重要的环节。此次来郑履职的所见所闻，让约翰·卡萨达感到这里正在发生着“令人惊喜”的变化——在前十年稳步发展的基础上，郑州航空港不仅形成了以电子信息、生物制药等为代表的产业集聚，由此带来的人才集聚、迸发出的城市活力，更让他为之兴奋。

In the concept of "Aerotropolis 4.0", creating a high-quality urban environment and providing incentives to attract talents becomes the priority. Over the past ten years, an industrial cluster has been formed in ZAEZ, consisting of a number of innovative types of industries. And the urban vitality as well as talented people it has brought makes Kasarda rather happy and excited.

约翰·卡萨达说，数字化、AI、大数据等新兴技术在深刻改变着当今世界的同时，也正在赋予我们每个人一种全新的生活方式。而这一切，都需要人把它们带到航空港，并在此产生产业集聚。“在前十年的发展中，我们可以把吸引制造业作为最重要的任务，而未来十年，这里要把主要精力从产业转向城市，要思考如何让这里更富温情，如何打造一座绿色、生态、宜居的城市。”

"AI is gonna change everything," professor Kasarda said. "Instead of recruiting factories which was done in the past ten years, you have to focus more on the talent in the next ten years. If you don't, then the new business industries that are based on knowledge and new technology won't come because they don't have the skilled labor." This explains why top firms worldwide are now becoming more and more serious about locations; they will locate where the knowledge workers and the young professionals want to live. The same should be done in ZAEZ as well. In order to attract more talents, a vibrant and talent-friendly social environment must be built.

Professor Kasarda makes tours in major areas of ZAEZ from May 29 to June 3, 2023. [Photo by Henan Daily]

“正在释放的人才政策，高端、刚需相结合的住宅布局，不断引入的新兴产业，甚至我听说这里要打造一个可以举办音乐节的小广场，这些都是郑州航空港在努力打造宜居新城中付出的努力。”

"The ZAEZ is working on it," Kasarda said, "One day I was out at the area in the south and what they're gonna do in between the new exhibition complex is build nightlife places with music, lights, entertainment and all other types of social stimuli."

采访临近结束，约翰·卡萨达强调说，“航空大都市4.0”归根结底是一个理论模型，如何让理论变为现实，才是最为重要的工作。“十年来，我有幸能够和中国、郑州、港区那些明白未来‘是什么’，且知道‘怎样做’的指挥官、建设者携手共建这片热土。他们，是这座航空大都市最为宝贵的财富！”约翰·卡萨达说。

Having the theory and strategy is just a start. Executing the strategy is the most important thing to do. The reason why ZAEZ has grown so rapidly is that the leaders here knew the significance of execution and they executed fairly well, professor Kasarda said, and he felt very lucky to work with these people.

Web editor: Zhang Rui, Tong Lin