Diplomats and Business Leaders Explore New Opportunities at ‘Where Land Meets Sea’ Banquet

The "Where Land Meets Sea" business banquet was held on the evening of May 18, when the 2024 Land-Sea Economic Forum took place. Diplomats from eight countries, including Argentina, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Nicaragua, along with nearly a hundred experts, scholars, and business representatives from home and abroad, gathered to discuss new land and sea trade opportunities.

As the mashup performance of "Csárdás Meets Horse Racing" began, Western instruments like the violin, cello, and accordion, conversed with Chinese instruments such as the erhu, pipa, bamboo flute, and yangqin. This musical interaction mirrored the lively discussions among the international and domestic business representatives in attendance.

As one of Chongqing's most iconic culinary specialties, Chongqing xiao mian, or Chongqing spicy noodles,  was served as the first course at the banquet.

"I had heard great things about Chongqing xiao mian, and today, tasting them for the first time, I found them incredibly chewy and spicy—absolutely delightful!" said Michael Rene Campbell Hooker, ambassador of Nicaragua to China, giving a thumbs up to Chongqing xiao mian. Business representatives from both China and abroad tasted the freshly made xiao mian, praising this distinctive Chongqing delicacy.

Chongqing has approximately 84,000 xiao mian shops, with a daily on-site consumption of around 13 million bowls. This means about one-third of Chongqing's population eats at least one bowl of xiao mian daily. The annual output value of Chongqing xiao mian has exceeded 40 billion yuan, with over 500,000 people employed across the entire industry chain.

Liu Zhen, vice mayor of Dadukou district, said that Chongqing xiao mian represents the pride and love of the people of Chongqing for this city. They also symbolize the hospitality of Chongqing towards guests from afar. Today, Chongqing xiao mian has been exported to many countries and regions, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy. He added that it aims to target a market worth hundreds of billions of yuan, continues to enhance supply chain construction and digital upgrades, and spreads the taste of Chongqing across the globe.

Like Chongqing xiao mian, more and more "Made in Chongqing" products are attracting international market attention.

Recently, diplomats from different countries visited Chongqing to explore the city's Planning Exhibition Gallery and the International Logistics Hub in the Inland China Exhibition Center, gaining insights into Chongqing's strategic development position. They also visited Changan Automobile, China Liangping Pomelo Sea, Taiji Group Chongqing Fuling Pharmaceutical Factory, and Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology to explore the development of industries such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, food, and materials in Chongqing. They were impressed by Chongqing's comprehensive industrial chain and its extensive influence, seeking opportunities for cooperation.

"In Chongqing, opportunities abound, and innovative enterprises are everywhere. The future development prospects are immeasurable." Wong Choo Sin, economic counselor of the Singapore Embassy in China, shared his observations with entrepreneurs during the banquet, emphasizing the need to strengthen industrial exchanges and continuous cooperation between China and Singapore.

Minister of the German Embassy in China, Stephan Grabherr, said that Chongqing is the preferred destination for German companies. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Ur Rahman Hashmi, noted that constructing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has strengthened ties between the two countries. He expressed a willingness to engage in active exchanges and cooperation concerning land and sea economic and trade relations.