Chongqing – On the morning of September 16th, the 2020 Smart China Expo Online held a press conference for the Western (Chongqing) Science City to unveil their plans.

Tang Liangzhi, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of China Chongqing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chongqing attended the press conference, which aimed to outline the planning and construction of the Western (Chongqing) Science City: the home of scientists and a city of entrepreneurs.

The Western (Chongqing) Science City is a future city facing future technologies and industries, as well as future life. It is a dream city that encourages innovation, openness, tolerance, and the pursuit of dreams. It is a home for scientists and entrepreneurs. Moreover, the science city started construction on September 11. 

The Western (Chongqing) Science City spans across five districts

Tang Liangzhi explained, the project is a fusion of science and city. It is a modern new city that integrates production, learning, research, business, and housing. It is guided by comprehensive scientific research, focuses on technological innovation, puts emphasis on industry generation, purposefully drives development, and is supported by a beautiful environment. The Western (Chongqing) Science City is committed to creating a smart core for urban innovation and development, and create a space where people aspire to live, to call home.

The Western (Chongqing) Science City spans the 5 central districts of Beibei, Shapingba, Bishan, Jiulongpo, and Jiangjin. This area was selected because it is the largest and flattest terrain, a location most suitable for such a large-scale project.

This area is also home to the national independent innovation demonstration zone, the China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the national high-tech zone, and the Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone. It brings together 28 colleges and universities, including Chongqing University, and research institutions. There are 169 platforms and 14 industrial parks such as the Xiyong Microelectronics Park. Zhongliang Mountain and Jinyun Mountain run side by side, and the Yangtze River and Jialing River surrounds the area to the north and south. A land surrounded by mountains and rivers, livable, and suitable for business, fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Building the City of the Future, The City of Dreams

Regarding the future of the Western (Chongqing) Science City, Tang Liangzhi said that the project is a “Golden Basket”, and a golden basket must contain golden eggs.

The Western (Chongqing) Science City will adhere to the overall positioning of the Science city as an innovation highland and build a nationally influential science and technology innovation center core area, to lead a comprehensive national science center for regional innovation and development. This will also further promote the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, a pioneering area of reform and opening-up linking the global innovation network, and a high-quality livable area where man and nature can coexist harmoniously.

At the press conference, Tang Liangzhi issued an “invitation letter” to all sectors of society: warmly welcoming more scientists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers daring to innovate to join the Science City, to settle, and together build a home for scientists and a city for entrepreneurs.

An urban transportation system featuring all-directional connections

The transportation system aims to connect Chengdu and Chongqing to the West, form a dual-channel high-speed rail network and expressway network, and further improve connections with Asia and Europe. It also aims to further enhance connections to the Yangtze River delta to the East, linking the Asia-Pacific regions, connecting to Guangdong and Hong Kong and Macao to the South via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), and connecting to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the North, reaching Mongolia and Russia.

The goal is also to build a major Railway, water, and air-transport hub to give full play to the role of starting points of the ILSTC and China-Europe freight trains.

The urban transportation plan also aims to realize a rail network through the center of Chongqing, that links the North and South in just 30 minutes, for buses to reach 100% coverage of the city and implementing regulations and building an all-age friendly, four seasons friendly traffic system.

43 projects signed for Western (Chongqing) Science City during the expo

During the Smart China Expo 2020 Online, a total of 43 projects and a total investment of 101.24 billion RMB (about USD 14.9 billion), were signed with partners from the world’s top 500 and China’s top 500 enterprises, such as internet technology leaders, and scientific research institutions. A number of blockbuster projects covering leading industries of the Science City such as Health, next-generation information technology, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech service industry all present an eye-catching heavyweight gift package for the construction of the new Science City.