Chongqing - On December 26, a press conference was held by Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce to introduce Chongqing's plan to construct an international consumption center. Chongqing has a high degree of development (opening-up), strong global characteristics, an active business environment, and a high degree of integration of business, tourism, and sports, according to the local officials. In five years, Chongqing has strong confidence in building up an international consumption center like New York, Paris, or Tokyo. The related officials of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, and Chongqing Administration of Sport attended the conference.

By 2025, Chongqing's consumption contributes to economic growth will exceed 60%, the total retail sales of consumer goods will exceed 1.3 trillion yuan, and the average annual growth of tourism exchange income will grow by more than 12% annually, official data shows.

On December 23, “Opinions of General Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government on Accelerating the Construction of International Consumption Center” was issued on the official website of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. According to this document, Chongqing will quicken the pace of becoming an international city of shopping, gourmet food, exhibitions, culture, and tourism.

There are three common characteristics among world-famous consumption centers. First, it is the commanding elevation of the global consumer market, which attracts the customers most, complete consumer service industry systems, and landmark business circles of global influence. Second, it is the cluster for global consumer resources, which becomes a region where famous global consumer brands and their headquarters gather, driving the growth of global consumer goods supply and service capabilities. Third, it is the wind vane that leads the global consumption service trend, which has outstanding consumption innovation and leading function, which can continuously lead the global consumption service trend.

Why does Chongqing have the confidence to build the international consumption center? And what are the foundations of development?

The daily average flow of people in Chongqing's business circles ranks first in China

Chongqing has cultivated 12 tens of billions of business circles and established ten smart business circles. The daily average flow of people in the Jiefangbei business circle and Guanyinqiao business circle reaches 490000, ranking first in national business circles. As the top commercial streets in China, It is undoubted that Jiefangbei and Guanyinqiao are important supports for Chongqing to build the international consumption center. The first task is to create a global consumption cluster based on the Jiefangbei business circle and Guanyinqiao business circle.

Chongqing ranks first in the “China Top Ten Cities of The Influence of the Nighttime Economy.”  This year, Chongqing received 38.59 million tourists during the seven days of National Day, ranking first in China. It is estimated that 667 million tourists will be received throughout the year, including 4.11 million inbound tourists. Coming to Chongqing to visit the Three Gorges, watch the night view, eat hot pot, watch stone carvings, and enjoy natural hot springs has become an excellent choice for tourists at home and abroad.

In recent years, Jiefangbei Business Circle has about 15 large-scale commercial entities, shopping centers, and department stores. More than 100 international famous brands have opened exclusive stores there, such as LV and Gucci. In November this year, Ritz Carlton, a world-renowned luxury hotel, officially settled in Jiangbeizui. Up to now, the number of international five-star hotels in Chongqing has exceeded 18.

Mr. Peng Heliang, deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, said that in the future, Chongqing would accelerate the construction of many aspects, such as food, culture, shopping, exhibitions, and tourism and build an "International Consumption Demonstration Zone," promote the creation of smart business circles and create a number of quality business circles.

Distinct location advantage as an international logistics hub

Currently, Chongqing has 19 various platforms of opening-up. The New Western Land-sea Corridor starting from Chongqing has been promoted as a national strategy, driving 13 domestic provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to build and share. The implementation rate of the tasks of the Pilot Free Trade Zone has reached 98%, and over 240 innovation achievements have been formed, and nearly 2400 projects have been introduced.

Chongqing is constructing a central international logistics hub, coordinating four directions of east, west, south and north, railway, highway, water transport, and air transport. East: to play the role of the Yangtze River's golden waterway, stabilize the "Chongqing-Shanghai Direct Express," and improve the quality of the "Chongqing-Ningbo" Train. West: to expand the function of China Europe Train (Chongqing) and optimize the route of China Europe Train (Chongqing). It is estimated that more than 1500 trains will be operated throughout the year. South: to promote the expansion of The New Western Land-sea Corridor. It is estimated that the annual rail-sea intermodal trains, cross-border highway shuttle buses, and international intermodal trains will reach approximately 900, 1100, and 70, respectively. North: to promote the "Chongqing- Manchuria-Russia" Train. It is estimated that there will be about 800 departures for the whole year. In the air— to build an international aviation hub, develop aviation base, and increase business and direct routes.

The total number of routes at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is 342, of which 95 are international (regional) routes. Among the opened international (regional) passenger routes, there are 28 intercontinental routes, with destinations covering New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Doha, and other cities, of which 65 have nonstop flights to Chongqing. According to Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, starting from December 1, Chongqing has implemented the 144-hour visa free transit policy. Chongqing will formulate stronger inbound tourism incentives to attract more overseas tourists to come to Chongqing.

An increasing number of international connections and activities

Now, Chongqing is building an international exchange center in the central and western regions to promote exchanges and cooperation with 21 countries and regions. In 2019, Chongqing hosted 16 large-scale international conferences, including the Smart China Expo, the WICIF (The Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade ), the 2019 SCO Heads of Region Meeting, and the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development. There exist more than 6500 foreign investment market entities in Chongqing, including 290 of the world's top 500 enterprises and 12 embassies and consulates in Chongqing. At present, our city (district and county) has established formal sister-city relations with 48 provinces and cities, such as Toulouse, France, and Seattle, and developed friendly exchange relations with 104 regions and cities, including Cologne, Germany.

Ms. Wang Wen, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, introduced that during the Second Smart China Expo, ten consulate generals organized national enterprises to open national pavilions. Chongqing will strive to host more high-end international conferences and forums and enhance the global influence of Chongqing continuously.