CHONGQING - Discussion from experts and entrepreneurs on Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle described a future vision for regional development at the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle is a policy-oriented guide that refers to the comprehensive development of a region in the middle of the Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. This area, next to the Tibetan Plateau, is far from the east and north plain area. But it stood as one of the most populated regions in China from ancient times due to its developed agriculture. The basin geography has created a unique social culture in the area.

For international companies, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle means a lot: a large potential consumer market, abundant spaces to invest at relatively cheaper costs and the greatest extent of opening up among West China.

Chengdu and Chongqing jointly departed over 4,800 China-Europe Railway Express in 2021, accounting for 30% of that of China. The region reported 1737.45 billion yuan of total import and export volume.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor based in the Chengdu-Chongqing region has extended to 106 countries with 304 ports worldwide, according to the data released in 2020. The significant status of the logistics hub and trade center makes the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle a non-negligible region in terms of international trade.

Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle holds nearly 100 million population, with a 7.4 trillion yuan GDP that accounts for 6.5% of the national GDP (data in 2021), making it a significant area for the country's economy.

Emerging industries proliferate in Chengdu and Chongqing 

At the 5th CIIE, the "New Opportunities, New Momentum, New Consumption" Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Linkage Development Forum hosted by Cushman & Wakefield was held with many enterprises and institutions in Sichuan and Chongqing joined.

The panel discussion gathered experts and entrepreneurs in the Chengdu-Chongqing region at CIIE. (Photo by Cushman & Wakefield)

Xiao Yingguang, Deputy Chief Planner of the west branch of the China Academy of Urban planning and Design, analyzed the general conditions of the Chengdu-Chongqing region and gave four points for the area's development: Fitting into the new pattern to build an inland gateway; Converting new momentum for economic growth to build industrial highland; Creating new homes to meet talents' expectation; digging new value to cultivate dynamic economy.

Xiao said that Chengdu and Chongqing are in leading positions in the country in the light industry, electronics, salt chemical industry, and equipment manufacturing. Emerging industries such as electronic information, automobiles, medicine, and high-end equipment proliferate.

"Driven by the transformation of green development, the value of resources in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle will be further upgraded, providing a good hotbed for the derivation and development of the new economy," he said.

Zhang Yupeng, Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield West China, said that Chengdu's tertiary industry is booming and marching towards high-end, whereas Chongqing is building a world-class manufacturing base with intelligent connected and new energy vehicle industry clusters.

"As a multinational professional service and consulting company, Cushman & Wakefield values the important platform and window of CIIE in actively promoting the market connection, industrial integration, and mutual promotion of innovation between China and the world," said Zhang.

By its large scale, strong economy, and historical accumulation, Chengdu has become the center of the west Sichuan Basin. (Photo/Canva)

TOD Cooperation to make transit become a lifestyle

Transit-oriented-development (TOD) is an urban planning mode that builds complete services centering around public transportation stops.

At the 5th CIIE, Cushman & Wakefield, Nikken Sekkei, China Railway Second Institute, and Chengdu Rail Transit Group signed a cooperation framework agreement to carry out in-depth research cooperation in transportation, planning, construction, development, and operation in the future and accelerate the implementation and application of TOD research results in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

The subject shouldering those missions is the TOD Station City Development Center, which was initiated and established by the four parties mentioned above and Southwest Jiaotong University, aiming to combine TOD development theory with the concept of "rail camp city" to build an industry-university-research ecosystem around the development of rail TOD.

Liu Xiaobo, Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics of Southwest Jiaotong University, said that the TOD Station City Development Center would focus on pre-research, project development, and product operation.

Liu Xiaobo, Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics of Southwest Jiaotong University delivered a speech at the forum. ( Photo by Cushman & Wakefield )

"The pre-research plays an outlining and guiding role in the direction and content of TOD work," said Liu. "Project development is the core link of project implementation, using relevant technologies to tap the big data resources of the area, and deepen the guidance of planning, design, development and construction stages."

Liu continued the product operation is mainly concentrated in the late stage of TOD project completion, including format implantation, scene design, investment lending, commercial operation, and regional management, so that rail transit has truly become a lifestyle from a simple mode of transportation.

Chongqing was Sichuan's gateway to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the old times. After a series of the industrial construction in the modern period, Chongqing becomes the center of the eastern Sichuan Basin./(iChongqing file photo)