Chongqing- In 2021, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle achieved a regional GDP of 7,391.92 billion yuan (about 1164.52 billion U.S. dollars), with a year-on-year increase of 8.5%, according to a report released by the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Statistics on March 31.
Its economic volume accounted for 6.5% of the national proportion and 30.8% of the western region, which is 1.1 percentage points higher than the west's average level, leading western China in economic development growth.
Stable growth is the primary trend of economic development in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle last year, reflecting six characteristics of steady economic recovery, enhancement of leading role, strong support for industrial development, powerful demand, remarkable effectiveness of collaborative innovation, and deeper multi-disciplinary cooperation, according to an official of the municipal bureau of statistics.
A train of China Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) departs from Chongqing Tuanjie Village Railway Central Station in Shapingba District. (iChongqing file photo)
Industrial growth
From the municipal bureau of statistics, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle performed well in the industry with outstanding figures.
The industrial added value of the two places reached 2,127.24 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 10%, and the growth rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the national level.
The industrialization rate in both places was 28.8%, with 0.8% percentage points higher than the previous year.
The service industry also sees accelerated growth. Its added value of the two places reached 3,946.55 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 9.3%, and the growth rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the national rate.
In particular, the modern service industry stands out, ranging from information transmission, software information technology, leasing, and business services.
Key indicators
The data shows good performance in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle's investment, consumption, and exports.
By the end of last year, Sichuan-Chongqing enjoyed access to 13 inter-provincial expressways, and six were under construction.
The cumulative construction of 5G base stations exceeded 112,000, and private investment in the two places increased by 9.9% year on year.
The staff of Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area explained the service for tax-related business. (iChongqing file photo)
Last year, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle achieved 3,455.36 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 17%, and the growth rate was 4.5 percentage points higher than the national rate.
Foreign trade also saw a significant advance, mainly led by the China Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing). The trains operated more than 4,800, accounting for more than 30% of the national total.
The two places' total import and export volume achieved 1,737.45 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 19.7%.
Collaborative innovation
Collaborative innovation and multi-disciplinary cooperation are considered the other two highlights of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.
Last year, the two places jointly held an opening ceremony for the science and technology innovation center, starting 40 significant projects with a total investment of 105.45 billion yuan.
Some examples are the construction for the integrated development of Wanzhou-Dazhou-Kaizhou and the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area.
Last year the two places cooperated in many sectors, from the ecological environment to public services.
For instance, a series of convenient life actions have been implemented in Chengdu-Chongqing in the same way, such as transportation and communication, household registration, employment, and social security, education and culture, medical and health care, housing security, etc.