Chongqing - The second session of the sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress convened Sunday morning. 

Hu Henghua, mayor of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, delivered the government work report outlining the main goals for economic and social development in 2024 and a review of the achievements in 2023.

The report proposes that, in 2024, Chongqing aims for a regional GDP growth of around 6%, a 7% increase in the value-added of industrial enterprises above the designated size, a 4% growth in fixed asset investment, a 6% rise in general public budget revenue, a CPI growth of around 3%, and achievement of national targets for energy, emission, and carbon reduction.

On the morning of January 21, the second session of the 6th Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress convened. (Photo/Kenny Dong)

Venturing into new markets in ASEAN, South America, Africa

In 2024, Chongqing aims to enhance the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), creating an advanced inland open highland. Following reform leadership, demand-driven development, and policy support, the city will further open up to the world, leveraging the synergies of corridor, trade, and industry.

The focus is on stabilizing foreign trade scale, venturing into new markets in ASEAN, South America, and Africa, and exploring import potential in key sectors like equipment, machinery, biopharmaceuticals, and food ingredients.

Additionally, Chongqing will explore bulk commodity import distribution for energy, minerals, and grains. Efforts will stabilize exports of key products like laptops and mobile phones, implementing the “Chongqing Vehicles Going Abroad” Action Plan.

The plan aims to boost New Three Items (electric vehicles, photovoltaic products, and lithium batteries) exports, along with complete equipment, expanding intermediate, service, and digital trade to achieve a 3% growth in total import and export value for the year.

Greater efforts will also be made to attract foreign investment, accelerate the construction of the international communication center in the central and western regions, and support the establishment of consular offices in Chongqing by Mexico and Vietnam while seeking the settlement of international scientific and technological organizations.

ILSTC connects 490 ports in 120 countries and regions

Hu stated that the year 2023 just concluded, and it was the inaugural year for comprehensively implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It marked the commencement of the comprehensive construction of a new, modern socialist Chongqing. It was also a year of economic recovery and development following a three-year transition period in COVID-19 prevention and control.

The work in 2023 was carried out through nine key areas, including promoting the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, stabilizing growth, boosting confidence, and accelerating new industrialization, coordinating urban-rural integration, comprehensively advancing the construction of a digital Chongqing, promoting the construction of the ILSTC, systematically advancing the construction of a beautiful Chongqing, deeply advancing the people’s welfare and warm service action, and continuously promoting the construction of a safe Chongqing.

Specifically, Chongqing solidly advanced the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, considering it the “No.1 Project” and the overall focus of the city’s work. The 18 cross-regional cooperation practices have been promoted nationwide.

The ILSTC connects 490 ports in 120 countries and regions globally, successfully launching the China-Laos-Thailand Railway test train, with a yearly increase of 21% in container transport volume. The China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) covers 110 cities in Eurasia.

Facilities like the Guoyuan Port large-piece terminal and the Yuzui Railway Freight Station South Station have been completed and put into operation, with an 8.9% increase in the operation of container ships on the direct route between Shanghai and Chongqing. 

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport now hosts 33 international flight routes, achieving a 106% growth in passenger throughput.

Chongqing has become the first city in China to boast a ‘five-type’ national logistics hub, encompassing port-based, land-based, airport-based, production service-oriented, and trade service-oriented facilities.

The foreign trade and investment structure continues to be optimized by implementing the “Hundred Teams, Thousand Enterprises” international market expansion plan. The export of the New Three Items, electric vehicles, photovoltaic products, and lithium batteries, has experienced a 100% growth, and the export value of automobiles has increased by 51.9%.

Breaking new ground, the export market procurement trade method has been realized, with general trade now accounting for 38.9% of the total. The city has established 782 new foreign-funded enterprises, achieving a full import and export volume of 713.74 billion yuan (about 100.29 billion U.S. dollars).