Chongqing-On July 22, elites and experts from all industries gathered to discuss how to improve the supporting role of the regional industrial chain and supply chain. They provided new ideas to deepen international cooperation through the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) at the 2022 CCI-ILSTC International Cooperation Forum in Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. 

During the forum, Ning Jizhe, Member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) / Vice Chairman of the Economic Committee, CPPCC, delivered a video speech. He pointed out that connectivity is the key and the ILSTC is an integral part of the Belt and Road cooperation. He suggested building the ILSTC into a critical platform for high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has been proposed since 2013, and we have made fruitful achievements in the nine years," Ning said. So far, more than 180 countries and international organizations have signed more than 200 cooperation agreements with China to build the Belt and Road jointly. Data shows that China's total import and export trade in goods with countries along the Belt and Road reached 6.31 trillion yuan in the first half of this year, up 17.8% year on year.  

Facing emerging conflicts and challenges of today, Ning addressed that accelerating the building of ILSTC and deepening opening-up and cooperation will inject new energy and add fresh impetus to sustain a stable international industrial chain and supply chain, and enable the recovering global economy to regain prosperity and stability. 

Ning also said that Chongqing has actively played the role of the operation center for developing ILSTC. "We are confident that Chongqing will make new and greater contributions in building ILSTC, promoting the Large-scale Development of Western China and regional coordinated development, participating in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road cooperation, and serving the high-standard opening-up," he said.