Chongqing - Over the past decade, Southwest China's Chongqing has witnessed a remarkable increase in trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, with a total import and export value amounting to 2.22 trillion yuan (about USD 2,220 billion). 

According to data from the Chongqing Customs District, the trade volume increased from 153.36 billion yuan in 2013 to 333.14 billion yuan in 2022, a 9% average annual growth rate. 

New International Land-sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) international consumption center in Chongqing's Jiefangbei. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

Fresh local eggs sold in the Solomon Islands

At the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) international consumption center, in the heart of Chongqing's Jiefangbei, shoppers can find a diverse range of products from around the globe. 

While over 7,000 kilometers away in the Solomon Islands, fresh eggs sourced from Changshou in Chongqing are prominently displayed in refrigerated sections.

Such international exchanges indicate the positive impact of the BRI. Predominantly internationalized Chongqing-based firms are leveraging logistics corridors to construct cross-border industrial and supply chains.

For instance, Hongjiu Fruit, a leading fruit enterprise headquartered in Chongqing, recently improved its import operations. A representative said they imported 38 TEUs of Thai longan via the China-Laos Railway, reducing transport time by five days and cutting costs by over 30%.

Currently, Hongjiu Fruit runs 16 origin factories across countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Their forthcoming plan involves establishing a fruit distribution hub in Chongqing, capitalizing on the ILSTC's robust logistics infrastructure.

Chongqing becomes the first city in China to surpass 10,000 China Railway Express. (Photo/Yuxinou)

50 stable routes from China Railway Express (Yuxinou)

The surge in trade is largely thanks to Chongqing's expanding transportation network. Historically, Chongqing's challenging geography made open logistics difficult.

But now, Chongqing has robustly built a comprehensive transportation network encompassing land, sea, and air routes. This has positioned Chongqing as the first in China to establish a national logistics hub comprising five distinct types: water port, dry port, airport, production service, and business service.

A shining example of this effort is the China Railway Express (Yuxinou) to Europe. To date, the railway has launched 14,000 trains, the highest number in China, transporting over 10,000 different product categories with a total value of 500 billion yuan.

This rail service offers close to 50 stable routes, linking hundreds of key cities across the Eurasian continent and creating a vital connection between Chengdu-Chongqing and Europe.