Chongqing-  Fourteen journalists from eleven foreign media organizations concluded their media tour on May 22.  Journalists from Nikkei (Japan), JoongAng Ilbo, World Ilbo, Kookmin Ilbo, Newspim Agency, Kyunghang News (South Korea), Central News Agency, Rodong Sinmun (North Korea), VTV (Vietnam) participated in the media tour, which was guided by the  Information Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, sponsored by the All-China Journalists' Association and the Chongqing International Communication Center ( iChongqing).

The tour started from May 19, and it brings the journalists to Chongqing’s international logistic sites and opening-up platforms, including Liangjiang New Area, Jiulongpo District, Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Jiangjin District, Yubei District, and Yuzhong District; the journalists also attended the third Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) and Asia-Enterprise of Tomorrow (AEOT) on May 21. In the short four days, the journalists understood Chongqing's development strength and cultural heritage and produced the latest Chongqing reports in their own languages. 

First Glance, Port of Opening-Up 

Chongqing Guoyuan Port National Logistics Hub is the largest railway, expressway, and waterway multi-modal international transport hub port on inland rivers in China, and it is an important node in the national construction of the Belt and Road and Yangtze River Economic Belt.

“They focused on the import and export of the Port, the role and the position on the national level, and the achievements under the pandemic,” said  Tang Weidong. As the Port's general manager, he is pleased to see that intelligent construction is also one of the others' interests.

Tang added the intelligent transformation of the Port began in 2016. After four years, the gantry crane in the container operation area of the Port has all realized remote control operation, and the remote control operation room and remote control system software have also been upgraded to make the remote control more safe and efficient.  

Chau Thai Binh from VTV had a detailed report here. As a Vietnamese, he is particularly aware of the Port's role in ASEAN trade, where expressways, railways, waterways, airways, and rail transit are complete, the seamless connection is the greatest location advantage. “This port is also one of the logistics hubs with the highest cost-efficiency ratio (cost and time efficiency ratio) between Chongqing and ASEAN region,” Chau explained to his audience.  

Further Observation,  Scientific and Technological Innovation

The Xiyong  Comprehensive Bonded Zone of the China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone promotes development and innovation through opening up and reform. In 2020, the total industrial output value was 222.7 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 17.9%, and the import and export value is 288.9 billion yuan, accounting for 44.3% of the city. However, its economic aggregate ranks 6th among the special customs supervision areas of the country and ranks 4th among the national comprehensive bonded areas.

Among the companies in Xiyong, 32 of them are among the world's top 500. In addition, the journalists found Intel, Bosch, SK Hynix, and other world-renowned enterprises established their business here; even more surprising to them is that 25 percent of the world's notebook computers are made here.  

In Yubei District, the journalists visited OPPO (Chongqing) Intelligent Ecological Science Park, which integrates R&D and production of intelligent terminals, intelligent hardware, software, cloud services, and value-added services. Up to now, 52 production lines have been installed, including 19 SMT production lines and 33 final assembly lines. There are about 8,000 project managers and general workers, and the daily shipment volume is 150,000 units. In 2020, the output value was 18.46 billion yuan, and the tax revenue is 995 million yuan. From January to April 2021, the output value is 13.7 billion yuan, and the tax revenue is 628 million yuan. 

“OPPO (Chongqing) Intelligent Ecological Science Park is driving the production growth, the brand is Huawei's competitor, and is catching up with Samsung,” Choi Heonkuy from South Korea Newspim Agency reported in his article.

Common Concerns, Sustainable Development of the City

Sanfeng Baiguoyuan Environmental Energy Co., Ltd. operates a waste incineration power factory project in Chongqing. The Environmental emission indicators of this project are better than current national standards. It could process 1.64 million tons of municipal solid waste, generate 567 million kWh of electricity and 450 million kWh of online power, and reduce CO2 emissions by about 800,000 tons after put into full operation. 

It’s also an environmental protection and education demonstration base, which welcomes visitors from all over the world, and spreads the knowledge of waste incineration, environmental protection, and power generation.

Ogawa Naoki from The Nikkei particularly appreciated the plant's environment, saying, “The wastes reception hall is treated with negative pressure, there is no smell of garbage in the factory. The visit was very vivid. The power plant made the abstract process easy to understand by means of animation and physical visits. As a result, we can not only understand the relevant knowledge of waste incineration power generation industry but also personally experience the efficient and environmentally friendly production process of modern waste incineration power plant.”  

In-Depth Experience, Intriguing Entrepreneurship

From the producing workshop to the wine cellar and the packaging workshop, and finally, to the exhibition center of finished products, foreign media journalists had a very productive day in the "Jiangxiaobai" winery. They were interested in traditional workshop wine-making techniques and tasted fresh wines and wines that had been in the cellar for five years.

“When it's fresh, it's very strong, and it feels more mellow than our local wines.”  Kwon Jihye from Kookmin Ilbo, South Korea, said, after tasting, she inquired about the process of making wine; staff of Jiangji Distillery Co., Ltd. shared the business story of tradition and innovation in detail.

Jiangxiaobai is one of the Baijiu (sorghum spirits) brands from Chongqing, China, and located in the golden triangle region of Chinese Baijiu. Jiangji Chateau is a distillery of sorghum spirits with 760 acres under Jiangxiaobai and had become the leading enterprise in Chongqing distilleries. Moreover, Jiangxiaobai inherits the distilling tradition and attracts more young people to know, accept, and fall in love with baijiu.

“The packaging of this wine is very creative,” said Kwon. “Apart from the wine itself, there are also many cultural and creative products derived from it. The whole winery has its own system from production to sales, which is worth learning from.”

Exciting Consensus, Creating Impossible Realities

The 2021 AEOT was held on May 21 as an important event of WCIFIT. Invitations were extended to Asian politicians, World Fortune 500 company executives, famous Chinese and Asian entrepreneurs, academics, and guests from China and abroad who met for discussion and exchange. Foreign media journalists are also included.

Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yeon, Vanke Group Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors Wang Shi, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Vice President Li Lei, Chongqing Sokon Group Founder Zhang Xinghai, and 22 other high profile guests conducted keynote speeches and round-table discussions on and offline, centered around the theme of Creating Impossible Realities.

A global and Chinese CEO survey was released at the conference. The questionnaire survey of 1,800 CEOs in 100 countries and regions has shown that optimism about the global economic outlook has reached a record level, as 76% of respondents believe the economy will improve in 2021.

“People in Asian countries are very concerned about the summit, which is closely related to the Asian economy,” Lee Gwijun from World Ilbo, South Korea, said. But, apart from that, he was deeply impressed by the development and culture of Chongqing. “It’s a welcoming and open city with great passion, and we will also tell the stories of Chongqing and spread the sound of Chongqing to the outside world, enhance the cognition and understanding of Chongqing by our media, and improve Chongqing's influence.”