Chongqing - On October 22, Zhou Jianchi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangjin District Party Committee and Deputy District Mayor, announced that Jiangjin will capitalize on national strategies and the Chongqing Hub Port Industrial Park to improve transport infrastructure and strengthen its role in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC).

In recent years, Jiangjin has significantly improved its transportation network, fully leveraging the Yangtze River Golden Waterway. The district has become a key hub for multimodal transport, integrating water, road, and rail links.

This development has solidified Jiangjin's role as the main ILSTC hub in Chongqing. The district now operates over ten international and domestic routes linking the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, connecting 523 ports across 124 countries and regions.

Exhibition of Imported Goods at the International Logistics Hub Exhibition Center. (Photo/Feng Wenmei)

Key projects such as the Chongqing Hub Port Industrial Park, Jiangjin Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and Xiaonanya Railway Logistic Center form the core pillars of Jiangjin’s open development strategy. 

These projects are connected by a unique multimodal transport system, including over ten freight services like the China-Europe Railway Express, China-Laos, and Chengdu-Chongqing trains. This infrastructure shortens shipping times, enabling goods to exit China in two days, reach ASEAN countries in five days, and arrive in Europe within 12 days.

The ILSTC Jiangjin freight trains have doubled cargo volume and value for three consecutive years. The increasing frequency of train services and enhanced logistics have bolstered trade activity. 

For instance, Jiangjin-produced Weima Agricultural Machinery, like micro tillers and rotary cultivators, is now leading the country’s exports, especially to ASEAN markets. Additionally, thanks to the China-Laos-Thailand cold chain train service, popular Thai durians can reach Chongqing in just four days, making imported products more accessible and affordable to local consumers.

According to official data, the Jiangjin trains running along the ILSTC launched 1,305 services in the first three quarters of this year, a 65.6% year-on-year increase. Jiangjin accounts for 40% of the total freight volume in Chongqing, ranking first citywide. 

In 2023, the district’s ports handled 16.3 million tons of cargo, up 25% year-on-year, while rail cargo shipments reached 2.13 million tons, a 25.4% increase. Notably, Xiaonanya railway logistic center, the largest multimodal transport hub in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, saw nearly 50% of the district’s freight moved through its combined transport systems.

Railway logistics hub. (Photo/Su Shengyu)

Looking ahead, Jiangjin plans to enhance its transport network further. Zhou revealed that the district aims to leverage the construction of Chongqing’s new airport by creating a fast transit link, positioning Jiangjin at the heart of the growing airport economy.

Additionally, projects such as the Chongqing-Guiyang high-speed railway and new highways connecting Jiangjin to Qijiang and Wansheng will continue strengthening the district’s role as a major transport hub.

On the business front, Jiangjin is committed to improving services for both enterprises and residents. This includes streamlining customs clearance to facilitate cross-border trade, expanding the use of multimodal transport for bulk goods to reduce costs, and enhancing efficiency. 

The district also plans to launch pilot programs for postal services, ensuring that agricultural products can be transported from farms to markets while e-commerce deliveries reach consumers’ doorsteps.