Chongqing—According to Saturday's press conference, the sixth plenary session of the sixth Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee focused on the general program and principles of "striving to write a chapter of Chongqing's modernization with Chinese characteristics."

The core message of the plenary session is conveyed through speeches by Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, on behalf of the Municipal Standing Committee, as well as the "Implementation Opinions."

The roadmap calls for focusing on landmark reforms in 12 areas to ensure the goal of building a modernized New Chongqing. Key initiatives include deepening state-owned enterprise reforms, advancing the inland opening-up hub driven by the "Nine Key Hubs," enhancing city governance through digital management, revitalizing mountainous and reservoir areas, improving urban safety, strengthening the ecological barrier in the Yangtze River, addressing livelihood needs, and driving high-quality economic and social development as guided by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Deepening economic system reform is key to advancing comprehensive reform and driving progress in other areas. For example, in state-owned enterprise reform, efforts will focus on strategic restructuring, market-oriented transformation of operating companies, innovating regulatory mechanisms, improving the investment negative list system, and establishing evaluation systems for innovation and strategic missions. A modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics will be fully implemented, along with mechanisms to revitalize state-owned assets.

Chongqing's plan for building a modern industrial system and developing the Western Financial Center in 2027 (Graphic/Zheng Ran)

Reforms will also focus on enhancing mechanisms for building a modern industrial system and developing the Western Financial Center. By 2027, the city's total industrial output is set to reach 4 trillion yuan, with manufacturing contributing 28% to GDP. Strategic emerging industries will comprise 36% of industrial output, producer services over 60% of the service sector, and the digital economy 50% of GDP.

Chongqing's urbanization rate of the permanent resident population by 2029. (Graphic/Zheng Ran)

Chongqing, China's largest city by area and population, faces the global challenge of megacity governance. The city is focused on innovating governance models, restructuring methods, and reshaping systems to address this. Key efforts include establishing a three-tier digital city management center, creating an integrated governance system, and enhancing resilience-building mechanisms. This includes improving a grassroots early warning and response system for timely disaster detection, accurate alerts, swift evacuations, and effective rescues.

Furthermore, Chongqing aims to enhance its inland opening-up hub to boost high-level domestic and international openness. Key efforts include accelerating the development of a modern multimodal transport system, promoting institutional transparency for land and sea routes, and establishing a center for international trade cooperation supporting "dual circulation."

Specifically, the city will improve its transport network, integrating rail, road, water, air, and digital systems and optimizing intermodal transport routes around the Pacific and Atlantic hub ports. High-tech zones, economic development zones, and hub port industrial parks will pursue high-level openness. The "Three Countries, Three Parks" initiative with China, Laos, and Thailand will create a cooperation demonstration zone of the international industrial chain and supply chain.

In June 2024, the official launch of the two-way China-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia Cross-Border Railway Express along the ILSTC took place. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Chongqing will also develop an industrial map for foreign investment, expand its presence in the "Catalogue of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment," and enhance its investment promotion network. The city plans to upgrade its foreign investment services, support the overseas expansion of local businesses, and establish a diversified international investment service platform.

Chongqing’s Jiangbeizui Central Business District, a key hub for international businesses, is a vibrant core area for foreign companies seeking to establish a presence in the city. (Photo/Jiangbei District)