Chongqing - On January 13, three special press conferences were held in conjunction with the Chongqing Two Sessions. The first press conference detailed ways for Chongqing to act as a major drive in boosting the development of China’s western region in the new era. The second one detailed ways for Chongqing to play a leading role in promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road, which is one of Chongqing’s major roles in 2020. The last press conference looked at ways for Chongqing to become a model in advancing green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

There were nine questions raised during the three press conferences on subjects such as the economy, development, the environment, and more. Among them, iChongqing raised two questions:

As the first national new area in inland China, how will the Liangjiang New Area play an important role in driving the construction of the Belt and Road? Moreover, how will the Liangjiang New Area play an exemplary role in building Two Centers and Two Highlands (the important economic center, science, and technology center, new highland for reform and opening-up, and the highland for a high-quality living), as CPC Central Committee proposed the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle?

The related department head had answered questions raised above, respectively.

Liangjiang New Area is the leading platform for opening-up in Western China, with the necessity of being an important engine for Western China and Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle

As the Deputy Secretary of Party Affairs Committee and the Deputy Director of Management Committee Office in Liangjiang New Area, the Deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, Wang Zhijie said that the Liangjiang New Area is China's third but the inland's first national new area for development and opening-up. The Liangjiang New Area is an important strategic platform for Chongqing to lead and drive the opening-up in the western region.

Meanwhile, the Liangjiang New Area will promote the construction of the China (Chongqing) Free Trade Zone and the core area of the China-Singapore project. Also, Liangjiang will create four open platforms, which are Guoyuan Port, Chongqing Lianglu/Cuntan Free Trade Port Area, Jiangbeizui CBD, and Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition Center, as well as several multi-dimensional open platforms for international cooperation.

In 2019, Liangjiang New Area’s investment invitation contracts reached RMB 167.3 billion, 23 of which were over 1 billion mega projects. At the same time, foreign-invested projects amounted to USD 6.07 billion. There were 35 foreign-funded enterprises added last year. A total of 157 Fortune 500 companies have been introduced, accounting for 54% of the whole city.

Besides, there are 54 cooperation projects with a contract value of US $ 12 billion between Liangjiang New Area and Singapore. Liangjiang had established some international cooperation industrial parks, including China-Sweden, China-Germany, China-Italy, China-Japan, China-Korea, China-Israel, and more. Additionally, the total import and export volume of Chongqing Lianglu/Cuntan Free Trade Port Area exceeded RMB 120 billion, with a growth rate of 15%, ranking among the top three bonded ports in China. Moreover, the total value of imports and exports currently ranks first in 14 Chinese bonded port areas.

In addition, Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition Center held 24 international exhibitions last year. The Belt and Road International Skills Competition attracted nearly 700 participants from 44 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, with more than 40,000 spectators during the competition.

Furthermore, Chongqing must strengthen synergy and interaction with the Tianfu New Area and some surrounding cities in terms of large passages, large projects, large industries, and significant policies. Also, Chongqing needs to expand in-depth cooperation with Tianfu New Area, Chengdu High-tech Zone and other places in high-tech industries, high-end equipment manufacturing, and high-end service industries, therefore, promoting the sharing of innovation platform resources between the Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone, Chongqing Science City, and Chengdu Science City, and jointly build a western science and technology innovation center.

Chengdu and Chongqing need to jointly develop the Belt and Road market

Li Jing, the president of Economy College of Chongqing Technology and Business University and the member of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said, “The two cities should deepen the cooperation to promote the opening-up.” For example, coordinating the construction of open channels and ports between Chongqing and Chongqing and optimizing port functions in order to strengthen cooperation in opening markets between the two cities.

The two cities should cooperate in developing the Belt and Road market jointly. Simultaneously, Chengdu and Chongqing need to deepen the investment and trade cooperation between the Chengdu-Chongqing Cluster and the countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

Chongqing should build an operation center for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in Western China and give play to Chongqing's leading role in the opening up.

It's necessary to both build the transportation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor while also promote and convince people of the idea behind the Belt and Road

According to Wang Jiguang, Deputy Secretary-General of CPPCC Chongqing Committee and the member of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, it is necessary for Chongqing to expand the radiation range of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in Western China and innovate the channel cooperation mechanism between China's east, central, and western regions, along the coast and inland, and between inland and border ports. Therefore, it will form a series of railway, highway, and maritime construction projects.

Meanwhile, Chongqing should utilize financial investment institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund to support the construction of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and hub nodes in the western region within the prescribed scope of business. That means, it is necessary to both build the transportation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor while also promote and convince people of the idea behind the Belt and Road, focusing on building a community of interest between western China and ASEAN countries.

Chongqing's business environment is further optimized

Zhang Zhikui, the Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, said, “Chongqing’s business environment is further improved through the development of China (Chongqing) Free Trade Zone.”

There are 34,000 newly added registered enterprises in China (Chongqing) Free Trade Zone, with a total registered capital of RMB 430 billion, introducing more than 2,500 projects. Moreover, some municipal-level administrative authorities have been delegated to implement the reform of some policies.

For example, a company only needs to apply for one license instead of three, five, or more licenses in the past. In this way, after applying for a business license, the company no longer has so many subsequent approvals. It quickly reaches the state that it is ready for production and operation. Achieve one-by-one business for the world, make a one-for-one business license like an ID card, become the only ID card for the company, and make the unified national credit code the only ID card code for the company.

The construction of Zero-Waste City helps green development and high-quality development

Chen Wei, the Deputy Director of Chongqing Ecology and Environment Bureau, said, “The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China listed us (Chongqing) in the pilot scope last April. The urban areas are trying to achieve the goal of zero landfills of household refuse by the end of this year.”

Zero-Waste City is an essential mode of future urban development - minimizing the amount of solid waste landfilled and minimizing the impact of fixed waste on the environment.

It is necessary to focus on promoting green production, building a cyclic industrial chain for the automobile and laptop industries, and creating cyclic parks and green factories.

Chongqing is going to comprehensively promote the classification of domestic waste, reduce and limit the use of disposable supplies, and promote the reduction and recycling of express packaging waste. The establishment of zero-waste schools, zero-waste shopping malls, and zero-waste scenic spots will be implemented in the city.