The second Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue of the Boao Forum for Asia is being held in Chongqing. People from all walks of life are paying close attention to the development of Chongqing. Chongqing has been deeply involved in international cooperation in the effort to build a highland for inland opening up, and has been constantly improving its opening-up and driving force. What has been achieved? What kind of influence? What's next?

What has been achieved?

In Chongqing, there are 287 world top 500 enterprises

Data from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce show that in the first 10 months of this year, 11,045 new enterprises (including branches) were registered in the pilot free trade zone, accounting for 10.3 percent of the city's total. The total registered capital was 190.178 billion yuan, accounting for 30.5 percent of the city's total.

A total of 765 projects were introduced to the region, with a total investment of 215.722 billion yuan. Also Chongqing successfully introduced Germany EMAG machine tool assembly and integration base, Tencent southwest headquarters, Germany Bosch industrial big data center and other major projects, which contributes to Chongqing’s intelligent manufacturing.

A large number of key projects, such as Guoyuan port railway line and bulk cargo terminal, China-Singapore (Chongqing) airport business management project, Fosun Pharma southwest pharmaceutical temperature control hub, Suning Chongqing smart industrial park, have been successively settled, providing guarantees for the high-quality life of Chongqing citizens.

In terms of foreign trade, in the first three quarters of this year, the export advantages of Chongqing's traditional industries such as automobile and motorcycle, mechanical and electrical machinery, and general motors have been continuously enhanced, and the export of mobile phones has become a new growth point.

Trade in services has grown rapidly, and the five lessons learned from the innovative development of trade in services have been extended to the whole country."Bonded + aircraft leasing" has entered the phase of normalization, and a total of 9 bonded leasing aircraft have been introduced.

By the end of October, the city has various foreign investment market entities accounted for more than 6000. There are 287 world top 500 enterprises and 390 registered foreign invested enterprises in Chongqing.

What kind of influence?

The China-Europe Express (Chongqing) has operated more than 4500 trains

Through the construction of open channels, open platforms, open ports, open subjects and open environment, Chongqing is speeding up the construction of inland open highland, so as to enhance the radiation and influence of Chongqing. 

At present, Chongqing's open channel connectivity pattern has taken shape in an all-round way. Relying on Chongqing's unique geographical advantages, Chongqing has built a comprehensive network of open channels with connectivity in the four directions of east, west, north, south and water, railway, railway and air.

To the east, relying on the golden waterway of the Yangtze river, Chongqing will consolidate and optimize the mechanism of "Wuding" express liner passing through the gate 3 times per day in priority, and the Chongqing-Ningbo express train will run 70 times. To the west, the China-Europe Express (Chongqing) has operated more than 4,500 trains. To the south, Chongqing will accelerate the construction of new land and sea corridors in the western region. From January to August this year, the number of rail and sea combined transport trains, cross-border road buses and international rail combined transport trains has reached 612, 626 and 42 respectively. To the north, the "Chongqing-Manchuria-Russia" train has developed rapidly, with 332 trains operating from January to August this year.

Concerning the air transportation, relying on Jiangbei International Airport, Chongqing has accelerated its efforts to build an international aviation hub, opening 88 international and regional routes with a passenger throughput of 29.965 million.

What is attractive?

144 Hours of Visa-Free Transit Building An International Consumption Centre

By creating an international, law-based and convenient business environment, Chongqing is attracting more and more foreigners to work and live in Chongqing. Together with the Urban Improvement Action Plan, Chongqing started to build an international consumption center city at the beginning of this year. Chongqing will improve living facilities such as international communities, international shopping centers, cultural and sports facilities, and public transportation systems, and deepen cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries. 

From December 1, 2019, the visa-free stay period for eligible foreigners at Chongqing airport has been extended from 72 hours to 144 hours. The airport has set up a special 144-hour transit visa-free passenger channel to handle formalities for foreign nationals in need, improve the quality of inbound tourism and build a comprehensive advantage of international competitiveness. At present, Chongqing has granted 144 hours of visa-free transit to 53 countries, and a total of 20 visa centers have been set up in Chongqing, making it easier for all parties to travel.

In terms of living environment, high-quality educational institutions from abroad are introduced to Chongqing to set up schools for children of foreign nationals, and overseas capital is encouraged to invest in setting up international hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and other health care institutions. Up to now, Chongqing has 2 schools for the children of foreign nationals and 4 sino-foreign joint venture hospitals. The mileage of rail transit in operation exceeded 300 kilometers, ranking first in the central and western regions and fifth in China.

What is next?

Promoting the Development of Inland International Logistics Distribution Centers

According to Chongqing commission of commerce related personage, next, Chongqing will closely focus on building inland international logistics hub, steadily promote the construction of inland international logistics distribution center and build "1+3" international logistics distribution center operation base. 

-Chongqing will further expand the functions of the China-Europe express (Chongqing), launch the construction of a gathering and purchasing platform in key regions at home and abroad, expand cold-chain container transport for meat, pharmaceuticals and other products, and expand the number of shipments for export from other provinces.

-Chongqing will accelerate the construction of new land and sea corridors in the west, explore the construction of a logistics and organizational operation center for the corridor in Chongqing, and promote cooperation between China and Singapore and third parties.

-Chongqing will speed up the construction of international aviation hubs, expand international passenger and cargo routes based on industrial demand, introduce competent aviation enterprises to set up base companies in Chongqing, improve the efficiency of Jiangbei airport's international cargo transfer and distribution, and enhance the core competitiveness of international cargo.

-Chongqing will promote the development of international multimodal transport centers and implement the "one and only" bill of lading for multimodal transport. Chongqing will carry out trials to innovate in logistics and finance, and build a comprehensive financial services market system that integrates cross-border goods, multimodal transport, and investment and financing.

-Chongqing will further promote high-quality development of open platforms, achieving closed operation of Fuling comprehensive bonded area and orchard bonded logistics center (type B), starting the application of Wanzhou comprehensive bonded area.

By 2022, Chongqing will form modern finance, aviation manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, modern logistics and other emerging industrial clusters, with 450,000 newly registered market entities, more than 300 world top 500 enterprises in the Chongqing, the utilization of foreign direct investment (FDI) will account for 60% of the city, and 30 overseas listed companies in Chongqing.

Source:Chongqing Morning News