Chongqing - Southwest China's Chongqing municipality will host the 18th Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council (CMIA) from September 26 to 27, as announced at a press conference on September 19.

The 18th Meeting of the CMIA. (Graphic/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)

Ye Lina, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce and deputy secretary-general of the Secretariat of the CMIA, highlighted key activities, including leadership meetings, thematic discussions, and visits to central business districts.

Ye highlighted the focus on personalized activities this year, including visits to local districts and industrial parks for collaboration. For example, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) will visit Western (Chongqing) Science City to explore new opportunities.

This year, 38 executives from Fortune 500 companies and major multinationals will participate, including new advisors Bertrand Stoltz of STMicroelectronics and KAM Hing Lam of CK Asset Holdings Limited.

Sabrina Soussan, Chairman and CEO of SUEZ, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony of the 17th Annual Meeting of the CMIA. (Photo/Chen Yuting)

STMicroelectronics, a top semiconductor company, has partnered with China's Sanan Optoelectronics in Chongqing with a joint venture investment of 23 billion yuan (about USD 3.3 billion). The company aims to produce 10,000 silicon carbide wafers weekly by 2028. CK Asset Holdings Limited has invested over 26.4 billion yuan in Chongqing since 1993.

Companies such as Corning, SUEZ, and Wilmar International have shown strong interest in investing in Chongqing, focusing on display technology, environmental protection, and the food sector.

The meeting will focus on "Strategies and Initiatives for Building a Modern Manufacturing Cluster System" and "High-Quality Development of the Modern Productive Service Industry." These themes align with Chongqing's focus on expanding its industrial base, which is supported by its complete manufacturing infrastructure covering 31 categories. The city is actively promoting the construction of the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system.

Chongqing's automotive sector continues to thrive. In 2023, the city produced over 2.3 million vehicles, including more than 500,000 new energy vehicles. By the first half of 2024, Chongqing had reclaimed its title as "China's first automobile city." Additionally, one in three laptops globally is made in Chongqing.

In August, Chongqing launched an action plan to boost its modern productive service industry, focusing on finance, logistics, software, industrial design, and tech R&D. The Advisory Group members will bring their global perspectives and technological expertise to the discussion, helping Chongqing navigate its path to becoming a modern industrial hub.

The advisory group has offered over 1,200 recommendations in the past 17 years, significantly influencing Chongqing's development. Companies like Hewlett-Packard and Ford have helped establish the city as a key player in the notebook and automobile industries, driving its industrial and economic growth.