Innovation vital to solve urbanization challenges

He said the seamless integration of Internet-based services with vehicles will be crucial in "smart mobility solutions to improve traffic flow, provide access to areas with inadequate public transport and provide individual on-demand services."

Other guests with Krueger at the panel session themed "Innovation-Driven Urbanization" were Counselor of the State Council Qiu Baoxing, Volvo Group CEO Olof Persson, Greenland Holding Group's Chairman and President Zhang Yuliang and ABB Group's CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.

Persson agreed that many challenges arising from the urbanization process in China and other countries alike are directly or indirectly related with infrastructure and transport. He said his company is conducting a pilot program of running fully electric buses in a Swedish city to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

China's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli made impromptu remarks about environmental protection as he addressed the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum, which is a sign of the government's resolve to tackle pollution.

"We know it is a long-term, difficult and complicated task...but we will be responsible to our country and our people and will fight against pollution with greater determination and greater efforts," he said, "We won't let the people down."

Another signal of the government's effort to encourage environmentally friendly solutions is that the forum chose Infiniti's hybrid vehicles as its official cars this year.

Infiniti is regarded as a forerunner in the use of hybrid technology on production cars with an emphasis on the balance between high performance and high efficiency.

It currently provides hybrid versions of its Q50, QX60 and Q70L models in China. "Our goal is to impact mobility now and towards the year 2025, in ways that improve quality of life and that are sustainable," Krueger said.