Chongqing - In a concerted effort to bolster collaboration between Chongqing and the European Union (EU) across various sectors, including smart city development, healthcare, smart manufacturing, the gaming industry, and agriculture, a delegation facilitated by the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) embarked on a three-day study visit to Chongqing Liangjiang New Area from September 18.
European delegates visited Chongqing Liangjiang New Area starting on September 18. (Photo/Liangjiang New Area)
The IURC, dedicated to fostering international urban and regional cooperation in sustainable urban development and innovation, has maintained enduring partnerships with Chinese regions and cities since the inception of the EU-China Regional Policy Dialogue in 2006.
Juergen Paulussen, Project Director of IURC China, who played a pivotal role in organizing the European participants’ visit to China, said: “Our mission in Chongqing is to facilitate collaborations between representatives from seven participating cities and local companies.”
Paulussen was impressed by the warm reception and cooperative atmosphere in Chongqing. He visited Chongqing 13 years ago and was impressed by the city’s speedy development. Ivana Rae Almora, Senior Expert for the IURC Central Service Coordination Team, also expressed admiration for the city’s high-rise buildings and the dedication of its people to implement projects.
The delegation comprised members of the IURC and representatives from several European countries, including Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
During their three-day stay in Chongqing, they explored different facets of the Liangjiang New Area, where they displayed significant interest in potential collaborations and reached initial intents of cooperation on virtual reality, exhibitions, smart city development, and animation design.
The coordination meeting provides potential collaboration opportunities between IURC and Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Dai Yuan)
Fan Jiajie, Sales Manager of the European Project at Changan Automobile, reported fruitful discussions during the coordination meeting, with five delegates expressing keen interest in partnering with the company.
Among them, Jan Sienkiewicz, Director of Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego S.A. (ARRSA) in Poland, is one of these individuals. He was particularly impressed by the design of electric cars. “There is some potential for collaboration in car manufacturing, and I see possibilities for cooperation in interior car design due to our renowned companies in Poland,” said Sienkiewicz.
Changan has already entered the European market by establishing research and design centers in the UK and Italy. The company is poised to officially enter the European market in 2024 with its new energy vehicles.
In 2021, China’s National Development and Reform Commission selected the Liangjiang New Area as a successful candidate for the third round of China-EU regional policy cooperation cases. The region’s exemplary experiences and practices were chosen as one of two typical cases for nationwide promotion.
This underscores the robust collaboration between the Liangjiang New Area and the EU, with a notable focus on intelligent connected new energy vehicles, the digital economy, and transportation logistics.
Recent data reveals that over 100 European-funded enterprises have settled in the Liangjiang New Area, contributing to a total import and export volume of 46.5 billion yuan (about 6.37 billion US dollars) in 2022.