Chongqing – Consular officials from 17 countries stationed in Chongqing, Chengdu, and other cities gathered during the second session of the sixth Chongqing Municipal People's Congress on January 21. 

They aimed to enhance their knowledge of Chongqing's socio-economic progress and foster closer collaboration and exchanges between Chongqing and their home countries. Bridging News had exclusive interviews with three of them.

Balint Czegel, Hungary's Consul General in Chongqing, praised Chongqing's rapid economic rebound in the last year. Highlighting the significance of green development, environmental protection, and sci-tech innovation, Czegel underscored their crucial impact on global humanity. 

Balint Czegel is Hungary's Consul General in Chongqing. (Photo/Kenny Dong)

Focusing on the burgeoning new energy vehicle and battery industries in Chongqing, he saw the potential for Hungary to collaborate extensively in these sectors. Czegel said, "Hungary is also a base for the new energy vehicle industry. I hope we can make a lot of cooperation on the ground in this area in the future." 

He mentioned plans for a delegation from the Chongqing automotive industry to visit Hungary for the Hungary Auto Expo, aiming to explore avenues in investment, trade, and technology transfer.

Tan Zhien Joel, Consul General of Singapore in Chengdu, emphasized the importance of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. These projects, critical for Singapore, were highlighted in Chongqing's 2023 government report review and 2024 year's outlook. "We hope to work with our friends in Chongqing through this program to make Chongqing more open to the world," Tan added.

Tan Zhien Joel, Consul General of Singapore in Chengdu. (Photo/Kenny Dong)

Dzmitry Yemelyanau, Consul General of Belarus in Chongqing, expressed honor in attending the Chongqing Two Sessions. He lauded the city's ability to maintain stable, high-quality socio-economic development amid global challenges. "We believe that the very stable and high-quality development of Chongqing can also contribute to the continuation of our friendly cooperation between Belarus and Chongqing, as well as between Belarus and China." 

Dzmitry Yemelyanau is the Consul General of Belarus in Chongqing. (Photo/Kenny Dong)

For 2023, Yemelyanau said, "We started, most importantly, our humanistic exchanges and expanded our cooperation in education, technology, and trade." And for this year, he hopes both can continue to take advantage of the China-Europe freight train to boost trade volume and explore new investment opportunities.

(Han Bing, as an intern, also contributed to the report)