Pan Yiqin, Deputy Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government

(Nov. 14, 2018)

Pan Yiqin, Deputy Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government

Dear guests, friends, ladies, and gentlemen,

Good morning! The late autumn sees a refreshing, colorful and beautiful Chongqing. Today, we meet at Chongqing Global Travel Agents Conference 2018 on the charming bank of the Yangtze River, to discuss the development of Chongqing’s tourism, and to plan the exchange and cooperation in international tourism. Therefore, on behalf of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all the guests! I hereby express my cordial greetings and heartfelt thanks to all the friends for your long-term care and support for Chongqing’s tourism development.

A Tour in Chongqing, A Gain in Vision!

Located in the southwest of inland China and the upper reaches of Yangtze River, Chongqing covers an area of 82,000 square kilometers. With a population of over 33 million, it is both historically and culturally famous and is also the only municipality in Midwest China.

This picturesque city boasts magnificent Three Gorges, stretching Daba Mountain, winding Wuling Mountain, spectacular Yangtze River, pretty Jialing River, and dark green Wu River. There are also world-class natural wonders, such as Wulong Fairy Mountain, Wushan Goddess Peak and Youyang Taohuayuan (Peach Blossom Spring).

The CRT Train runs through high-rise buildings, along with hovering overpasses. Furthermore, the river cable-way, river-crossing bridge, stilted building group, and zigzag stone staircase, all of these earn Chongqing the title of “Three-Dimensional City”.

With the written history going back more than 3,000 years, Chongqing enjoys profound culture. It serves as the cradle of Ba Yu culture (Ba is an ancient kingdom in Chongqing and Yu Shui is the former name of Jialing River). Dazu Rock Carvings, White Emperor City—“the historical site of the Three Kingdoms”, and Baiheliang (White Crane Ridge)—“Underwater Stele Forest”, such incredible world cultural heritages all stand here.

Chongqing is open and inclusive. Supported by Yangtze River—the golden waterway, and China Railway Express (Chongqing), open channels have been completely formed. China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone is carrying out its construction. Chongqing’s use of foreign investment has exceeded USD 10bn for seven consecutive years. In 2017, the total import and export value reached USD 66.6bn. Chongqing is also vigorous.

In recent years, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we focus on the goals of “two positions”, “two lands”, and “two heights” according to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions on Chongqing.

We are implementing the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” and coordinating the “Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy”. To win battles against three issues (preventing and defusing financial risks, targeted poverty alleviation, and pollution control), we are carrying out “Eight Action Plans”. The all-round progress has been made in reform and development.

In 2017, Chongqing realized a GDP of RMB 1.95tn, an increase of 9.3%. The tourism development is getting better. Therefore, Chongqing has won titles such as “World’s Top 10 Tourist Destinations”, “World’s Top 10 Potential Tourism Destinations”, as well as “Global Capital of Hot Springs”.

During the first three quarters of this year, Chongqing received 410 million tourists, with a tourist income of RMB 300.4bn, a year-on-year growth of 10.8% and 28.6% respectively. The inbound tourists reached 2.788 million, generating a foreign currency earning of USD 1.59bn, a year-on-year increase of 9.3% and 12.1% separately. According to the City Travel & Tourism Impact 2018 issued by World Travel & Tourism Council, Chongqing is the fastest growing tourism city around the world.

Dear friends, ladies, and gentlemen,

Only through opening-up and cooperation in this open world nowadays, can we create a brighter future. The Chongqing Global Travel Agents Conference 2018 aims to display an open Chongqing to the world, thus giving the people worldwide an understanding of Chongqing. So Chongqing’s tourism can also go global.

We sincerely welcome all of you to enjoy sightseeing and leisure in Chongqing, which will offer you a journey to new accomplishments. We also hope that travel agents with willingness, capabilities, and good visions can grasp the great opportunity that Chongqing strives to develop the inland open economy and promote the high-quality development of cultural tourism.

We expect you to engage more in Chongqing’s tourism development, and enhance the exchange and cooperation in international tourism, so as to achieve common development!

We solemnly promise that Chongqing will stick to the win-win opening-up strategy, to provide a favorable development environment for foreign investors.

The first is the improvement of the government environment. We will further streamline administration and delegate powers, and optimize services. The negative list will relax or remove restrictions on foreign investment. With reduced steps, optimized procedures, shortened time limit, and improved efficiency, foreign enterprises will rest assured of investment and development.

The second is the optimization of the policy environment. We will implement the 72-hour visa-free transit policy as well as the policy of departure tax refunds for foreign tourists, in order for foreign tourists to enjoy preferential policies.

The last is to optimize the business environment. In strict accordance with international business practices, we will give equal treatment to various enterprises registered in Chongqing.

In addition, we will protect the legal interest of foreign enterprises, and punish the infringement of foreign investors’ lawful rights according to the law.

Finally, I wish this conference a great success, and wish you all good health and smooth work!

Thank you!