An ARJ21 jetliner passes a water gate at the Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 10, 2020. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Chongqing government have committed to accelerating Chongqing’s evolution into a major regional composite international aviation hub and a leading international air cargo center in the western region. This partnership aims to advance the high-quality development of Chongqing's civil aviation sector.

On Tuesday, the two parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement following Chongqing’s recent designation as a regional composite international aviation hub in late August.

According to a representative from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Transport, cited by Chongqing Daily, the agreement will expedite the construction of Chongqing’s international aviation hub and play a pivotal role in establishing the city as an inland open comprehensive hub.

The agreement will enhance connectivity between the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It will also support the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the creation of a world-class airport cluster in the area.

Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate in six key areas: accelerating the development of the regional composite international aviation hub, enhancing airport support capabilities, strengthening air traffic control, advancing Chongqing's aviation industry, encouraging civil aviation companies to establish a presence in Chongqing, and setting up a cooperative coordination mechanism.

With this agreement, Chongqing plans several measures to advance its regional composite international aviation hub. These include planning major projects, expediting ongoing ones, and fast-tracking the construction of the T3B terminal and the fourth runway at Jiangbei International Airport, with a goal of completion by the first half of 2025.

The city will also coordinate with relevant national departments to speed up preliminary work on major civil aviation projects. Additionally, efforts will be made to extend the runway at Qianjiang Airport and enhance the support capabilities of regional airports.

Chongqing will progressively establish an airspace structure that aligns with the development of the world-class airport cluster in the Chengdu-Chongqing area. In the low-altitude economy sector, the two parties will collaborate on building a low-altitude navigation service system, improving low-altitude airspace services, creating a general aviation infrastructure network, and expanding low-altitude economic applications.

In 2023, Jiangbei International Airport ranked second in the western region and sixth nationwide in passenger throughput, with 116 international and regional routes.

With this strategic agreement, Chongqing is poised to make significant strides in its civil aviation development, solidifying its position as a key player in regional and international air transport.