Chongqing- In an attempt to play the leading role in the expansion and opening-up of China's comprehensive service industry, Chongqing issued a construction program for its pilot demonstration zones, parks, and projects, informed the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce on March 29.

The program states that Chongqing will take a series of initiatives to create a batch of demonstration zones and parks with a high degree of openness and a good business environment. 

Chongqing will further promote the service industry's reform and opening-up to shape new advantages in international cooperation and competition, boosting the new system construction of a high-level open economy.

Current progress 

Since Chongqing was approved to implement a comprehensive pilot program to expand and open up the service industry, the key areas have been further promoted around the goal of creating a pioneer area of the inland modern service industry's development. 

For example, Chongqing was approved to be the only air-port type national logistics hub city in southwest China, taking the lead in becoming the only city in the country to have port-types, land-port, and airport national logistics hub. 

Chongqing Airport-type National Logistics Hub. (iChongqing file photo)

Chongqing has successfully been approved as the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Service Export Base and the National Human Resources Service Export Base, making more international exchange opportunities possible for the city. 

In 2021, the added value of the city's tertiary sector (generally known as the service sector) grew by 9% year on year, contributing 57.1% to the city's economic growth. 

351 new foreign-invested enterprises were added with a year-on-year increase of 22.3%. 

Next, a coordination mechanism will be built to support comprehensive pilot demonstration zones, parks, and projects in the city. With the beneficial policies implemented, Chongqing's broader and deeper opening to the outside world will be realized in the near future. 

Service industry base

According to the municipal commission of commerce, the service industry base and open development environment are reckoned as essential conditions of a comprehensive pilot demonstration area. 

The hardcore conditions include the distinct features of leading industries, a relatively complete supporting system, and advantages in gathering service industries. 

A picture of Chongqing. (iChongqing file photo)

The added value of the service industry should exceed 60% of GDP, and the modern service industry should account for more than 50% of the whole service industry. 

A group of crucial service industry and foreign-funded projects are required, while the high-level innovative enterprises and talents could be crucial facilitators to the industry.

Reform and innovation efficiency

The remarkable achievements in reform, innovation, and economic development share the same importance with the service industry base from the municipal commission of commerce.

The program proposes benchmarking international high-standard economic and trade rules to form innovative and specialized cases in critical areas such as finance, data, technology, talents, medical care, and customs clearance services. 

On the other hand, the comprehensive pilot development is responsible for the quality and efficiency of the service industry, with its open development indicators' significant rise.