Chongqing - On April 6, Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee, and Hu Henghua, Deputy Secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, met with diplomatic envoys from 16 countries from Asia, Latin America, and other regions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized this local visit to Chongqing for diplomatic envoys in China to inspect the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) in Chongqing.
Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee, and Hu Henghua, Deputy Secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, met with diplomatic envoys from 16 countries from Asia, Latin America, and other regions. （Photo/Su Si)
Yuan welcomed the diplomats for their visit to Chongqing to promote cooperation and exchange.
Yuan emphasized that this year is significant for implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress. The development of the western region is driven by the reform and opening-up policy. The ILSTC provides ample space for the development and opening-up of the part of the West and its integration into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The significance of this project is crucial.
Chongqing has been continuously promoting the construction of the ILSTC as an essential strategic task, fully utilizing the logistics and operational centers, reducing operating costs, and improving functional quality, to achieve a better development trend.
The ILSTC is a logistics and industrial corridor and an open, cooperative, and development channel.
Chongqing will accelerate the construction of the infrastructure of the ILSTC, expand the logistics hub, actively introduce and cultivate relevant industries, foster and develop market subjects, and strive to achieve resource, industrial, and service aggregation.
At the same time, through digitalization and other reforms and innovations, the influence and competitiveness of the ILSTC will be enhanced.
Yuan expressed his hope that the diplomats would actively promote the ILSTC, establish a regular communication and coordination mechanism, guide their respective countries' enterprises to participate in the construction of the BRI, and participate in the cooperation of the ILSTC.
This cooperation would be achieved through joint discussions, construction, and sharing, benefiting more countries and regions.
The diplomats thanked the warm welcome from Chongqing and the positive contributions made by Chongqing to the construction of the ILSTC.
The Singaporean ambassador to China, Lui Tuck Yew, said that Chongqing is a thriving Western city in China. The ILSTC can better connect China's Western region with Southeast Asian countries and emerging market economies. This connectivity will help to promote more trade and investment, achieve resource complementarity, and promote joint development.
Singapore will actively promote the construction of the ILSTC and work with Southeast Asian countries to strengthen the flow of goods, personnel, and data between the corridor to promote win-win development.
The Thai ambassador to China, Arthayudh Srisamoot, said Thai goods have already arrived in Chongqing through the ILSTC. Thailand will actively support Thai enterprises in strengthening trade with China and other Southeast Asian countries through the ILSTC.
The Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China, Abrao Dos Santos, congratulated the progress in constructing the ILSTC. And he hoped that it would further promote economic and trade exchanges between Timor-Leste, Chongqing, and other western regions of China.
The Ambassador of Mongolia to China, Tuvshin Badral, said that he hoped the ILSTC would become a bridge and link to deepen trade between the two countries further and promote friendly cooperation between Ulaanbaatar and Chongqing.
The Ambassador of Bangladesh to China, Md. Jashim Uddin said they would actively explore trade cooperation modes around the ILSTC and make the most of this opportunity.