On February 19, the plant of Saic Fiat Powertrain Hongyan Co., LtdF. (SFH) in Chongqing, eyed a steady flow of engine cylinder blocks of heavy-duty trucks through the full-scale operation of four production lines and dozens of machining centers. It's one of the foreign trade-related companies in the city, which makes steady progress in opening-up while attaching equal importance to epidemic prevention & control and economic growth.

“Measures such as taking employees’ temperature, wearing masks, dining separately, and sterilizing have been taken on a daily basis to ensure the safety of production. Since the resumption of work on February 10, we have produced 800 engines, all of which are exported to the European and American markets,” said the person in charge of SFH.

The Chongqing Chuanyi Automation Co., Ltd. (SIC), which is less than 10 kilometers away, has also put the production line of PDS intelligent transmitters in full operation, producing 2,800 transmitters per week, of which 1,800 for export.

In recent years, as Chongqing sped up the construction of an exemplary city of opening-up in inland China, the export-oriented economy has gained more importance. Even during the outbreak of COVID-19, Chongqing has made steady progress in opening-up while attaching equal importance to epidemic prevention & control and economic growth.

Major channels for opening-up remain in stable operation

In the early morning of February 16, a train of China Railway Express (Chongqing) carrying 627.3 tons of imported milk powder departed from Xinglongchang Railway Station in Shapingba District, Chongqing to Changsha, Hunan, after distribution.

This is the “point-to-point” special line transportation service between Europe and Chongqing and other provinces and cities in China, which was innovatively launched by the China Railway Express (Chongqing) after the outbreak.

“To resume work and production, the resumption of logistics is of necessity.” The relevant person in charge of the Ports & Logistics Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government introduced that after the outbreak, Chongqing has earnestly implemented prevention and control measures, and guided relevant platforms and companies to open overseas goods collection warehouses to provide alternative solutions for anti-epidemic materials transportation. Chongqing has also innovatively opened the above-mentioned “point-to-point” special line, while fully guaranteeing the continuous and stable operation of the China Railway Express (Chongqing) and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC).

Since this year, as of February 17, 139 trains of China Railway Express (Chongqing) have been dispatched, with a steady frequency of 2 to 3 trains per day, together with 23 Central Asia trains. There are also 70 rail-sea intermodal trains, five rail-rail intermodal trains, and 123 cross-border shuttle buses of ILSTC.

Moreover, Chongqing’s major ports have maintained non-stop operation during the epidemic to ensure the smooth eastward operation of the Golden Waterway of the Yangtze River. Aiming to strengthen epidemic prevention and control, Chongqing has carried out the “separation of personnel and cargo” control mode on containers, ro-ro ships, and bulk cargo ships arriving at Guoyuan Port and Cuntan Port, which means to segregate crew members without affecting cargo handling.

Continuous efforts made in overseas projects and global trade

“Our company’s global purchase of bulk goods, such as iron ore and coal, is expected to exceed USD 50 million this week,” said the person in charge of Mingde Group, a subsidiary of Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Group (CFTEC) in Hong Kong, on February 19.

After the outbreak, under the premise of ensuring the self-protection of employees, the Mingde Group promptly established multiple procurement channels for medical supplies in Chongqing with Russia, Belgium, and other countries and regions, while stepping up its efforts in the global trade of bulk goods. The Mingde Group’s operating income was about RMB 7 billion last year and is expected to exceed RMB 10 billion this year.

In addition to global trade, CFTEC is also advancing its overseas construction projects.

Currently, CFTEC has set up 33 construction projects in such countries and regions as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Liberia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia.

“For example, the road we are building in the oil-producing area of Uganda is 111 kilometers long, which is of significance to the development of Uganda’s energy industry, so we hammer at tackling varieties of difficulties to ensure the construction progress. At present, the project is 10% ahead of schedule.” A person concerned with CFTEC estimated that from January to February this year, CFTEC would realize an output value of USD 18 million of overseas projects. In addition, CFTEC continues to expand its overseas engineering business, with another ten projects expected to be added this year.

Foreign-funded, foreign trade enterprises accelerating resumption of work and production

On February 19, at the apartment entrance of an intelligent manufacturing factory in Chongqing Lianglu/Cuntan Free Trade Port Area (CFTA), when workers walked through the aisle, cameras took group measurement of their body temperature, and once a temperature anomaly was detected, the computer would automatically record the human face.

In addition to the automatic group temperature measurement system, a smart big data platform has been established to grasp the flow of personnel within the jurisdiction of CFTA in cooperation with China Mobile. “Through this platform, the number of workers on duty, the number of workers in the apartment, and entrance to the construction site are all clear at a glance,” said Shi Zhiyong, Director of the Operation Management Service Department of CFTA.

Enterprises are attaching equal importance to epidemic prevention & control and product development for promising prospects.

As of February 18, the four complete machine companies of Wistron, Pegatron, Yibao, and Compal in CFTA had all resumed work and production.

In Liangjiang New Area, nearly 200 industrial enterprises above designated size resumed production on February 18.

“78 first-tier suppliers of Chang’an Ford have resumed work, including 51 supply chain enterprises in Liangjiang New Area, ensuring the work resumption of Chang’an Ford at this stage,” said Zhao Fei, Executive Vice President of Chang’an Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.

In Xiyong Micro-electronics Industrial Park, 32 electronics companies, including Quanta, Inventec, SK Hynix, CR Micro, and Founder, have resumed production.

In Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, 11 supply support companies, including Vailog and CMAL, have fully resumed work.

The orderly resumption of these leading enterprises in great opening-up suggests Chongqing’s confidence and determination in building an exemplary city of opening-up in inland China.