Chongqing- Chongqing should aim to build a leading international air logistics hub in western China, allowing it reach to the world more effectively, said Dai Ke, Deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress from the aviation industry.

With a duration of four and a half days, the 5th Session of the 5th Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress opens on January 17, where the city’s National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2022 is discussed and approved.

Opening up greater international trade

In 2019 and 2020, Chongqing has successively been approved as two national logistics hubs, including the harbor-port national logistics hub in Guoyuan Port, which is mainly engaging in import bonded warehousing and bonded logistics business, as well as the land-port national logistics hub in Tuanjie Village, an important part of the Chongqing Free Trade Zone.

In November 2021, Chongqing Airport-type National Logistics Hub was selected among the first group of national logistics hubs for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025),  where a number of major aviation projects were announced to be settled here.

“As we can see that Chongqing has become a logistics hub with harbor-port type, land-port type, and airport type," said Dai. "Specifically, Chongqing Airport-type National Logistics Hub is located in Yubei District with a planned area of 9.8 square kilometers."

“Through 5 to 10 years of hard work, our goal is to make the airport-type logistics hub stronger in carrying capacity, higher in operation quality, and better in development quality,” said Dai. “This is of great benefit for Chongqing to promote industrial development, open up international trade, improve consumption quality, and improve residents' lives.”

At present, Chongqing Airport-type National Logistics Hub has been built up to an area of 6.9 square kilometers. It mainly includes airport C3 plot, airport C4 plot, Chongqing Free Trade Port Zone M plot, International Trade Logistics Park, and Airport Trade Functional Area.

Tell histories of Chongqing aviation

"Aviation in Chongqing has a long history and rich themes," said Dai. "Historical data shows there were nearly 40 large and small airports in Chongqing."

Dai also proposed Suggestions on the Construction of Chongqing Aviation Science and Technology Museum, where he thinks it is important to build an aviation science and technology museum, tell historical stories of Chongqing aviation, build a cultural tourism industry with the help of aviation culture, and cultivate an atmosphere of innovation in aviation science and technology of Chongqing.

He suggested that Chongqing Aviation Science and Technology Museum should be built in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. 

"Through displaying physical aircraft, such as retired fighter jets or simulated aircraft, integrating multiple functions of museums, science and technology museums, and experiencing halls, and introducing a large number of modern technical elements," said Dai. "This is to make the aviation science and technology museum for cultural, display, and dissemination purposes."

Co-building the world-class airport cluster

Creating a world-class airport cluster in Chengdu and Chongqing, whether it is passenger volume or freight volume, stronger guarantee capacity of transportation is required, said Dai.

Chongqing’s new airport, whose construction started last year, is expected to reach an annual throughput of 70 million passengers and 3.5 million-ton freight.

“Chongqing's new airport has a great role in promoting Chongqing's opening to the outside world and building an opening-up highland,” said Dai.

The city’s new airport is positioned as “an important part of Chongqing’s international air hub, a regional hub airport and a freight hub” to promote the development of both the supply and demand of air transport in the Chengdu-Chongqing region and fully tap the potential demand of the air transport market, especially the freight market.