After the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council proposed to promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, establish pilot free trade zones and comprehensive bonded zones in the central and western regions and more in the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Formation of a New Pattern for the Western Development Strategy in the New Era, the government work report has once again put forward a series of measures to promote the openness and development of the western region. Revolving around how to further promote the high-quality development in the western region, NPC deputies and CPPCC members actively made suggestions.
High-quality development cannot be achieved without the powerful engine of new growth drivers
In recent years, Chongqing has been pursuing innovation-driven development led by big data intelligence to build itself into a powerhouse of intelligent manufacturing and an important city of smart manufacturing. In 2019, the added value of Chongqing's high-tech manufacturing industry and strategic emerging industries increased by 12.6% and 11.6%, respectively, contributing to an about 15% rise in the added value of the digital economy.
In recent years, Chongqing has been pursuing innovation-driven development led by big data intelligence to build itself into a powerhouse of intelligent manufacturing and an important city of smart manufacturing.
"Doing business in Chongqing, I have witnessed first-hand how replacing traditional driving forces has optimized Chongqing's industry structure, talent structure and more, and these positive changes will lay a solid foundation for more sustainable and higher-quality development in the future," remarked Gao Yu, NPC Deputy and Executive Director of Chongqing Puyuwei S&T Innovation Center Co., Ltd.
"The accelerated construction of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle is expected to create a new economic growth pole," believed Gao Yu, adding that while continuing to promote high-quality development, Chongqing should further strengthen the construction of open channels, continuously optimize the business environment, and better play its role as an important strategic fulcrum for the development of the western region and the junction of the Belt and Road (B&R) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
High-quality development needs the strong support of more convenient open channels
"The construction of the western New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) will open up a southward sea route in the western region, which will provide a new path for its opening and development and effectively improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs," noted Wei Tao, NPC Deputy and Chairman of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co., Ltd.
High-quality development needs the strong support of more convenient open channels.
As an international gateway port for western ILSTC, Beibu Gulf Port has opened sea-rail intermodal transport trains in cooperation with six western provinces and cities of Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Last year, the port opened 2,243 trains, and plans to open about 4,000 this year, briefed Wei Tao.
"Channels will facilitate logistics, facilitated logistics will promote trade, promoted trade will help establish industries and established industries will ultimately boost the economic growth of local places and even the entire western region at large," noted Wei Tao, adding that Beibu Gulf Port is continuing to increase its efforts in opening up and cooperation, expanding its "circle of friends" and introducing more western provinces to participate in the construction of sea-rail intermodal trains.
A sound ecological environment is a prerequisite for high-quality development
"The sky is bluer, the mountains are greener, and the rivers are cleaner in Qinghai," said Sha Feng, NPC Deputy, and Spokesman of Qinghai Delegation. In recent years, Qinghai aims to improve the ecological environment and pursue coordinated progress in economic growth and ecological conservation and has seen a better and better ecological environment by changing the development model and lifestyle.
In the future, Qinghai should continue to highlight green development and make sustained efforts in the areas of ecological environment protection and governance, infrastructure connectivity, the industrial division of labor and cooperation and innovation-driven development, and internal and external opening and cooperation, to realize the modernization characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature and make people live happier with more comfortable living conditions and more convenient means of travel, indicated Li Qing, CPPCC Member and Full-time Vice-chairman of Qinghai Federation of Industry and Commerce.