Chongqing - On February 6, Chongqing held a press conference to promote a pilot zone that aims to achieve high-quality development in western China by 2025.
A key highlight was the introduction of 30 policy measures designed to boost economic growth. These measures focus on four main areas: expanding domestic demand, strengthening industries, nurturing enterprises, and enhancing services.
The emphasis is on boosting consumption, increasing investment, and stabilizing the real estate sector. These measures are expected to drive over 60 billion yuan (USD 8.46 billion) in key consumer sectors such as automobiles and home appliances.
The focus includes strengthening industrial chains, promoting green transformation, and supporting over 30 key projects and platforms in the productive service industry. Two municipal pilot zones will also be created for future aerospace information and artificial intelligence industries.
The Nanji Gate Bridge in Chongqing is an iconic structure that spans the Yangtze River, enhancing the city's transportation network. (Photo/Chen Zhan)
Another major topic was the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. Data revealed that both Chongqing and Sichuan saw GDP growth rates of 5.7% in 2024, outpacing the national average.
Since the implementation of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle five years ago, the region has experienced significant economic growth.
For instance, the combined GDP of the two regions rose from 6.9 trillion yuan in 2019 to 9.7 trillion yuan in 2024, increasing their national share from 7.09% to 7.18%.
In terms of industrial development, the regions have jointly established four trillion-yuan industrial clusters, including electronic information, equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, and specialty consumer goods. Notably, the output of laptops in the area accounts for one-third of the global total.
The goal is for Sichuan and Chongqing to surpass a combined GDP of 10 trillion yuan in 2025. The two regions also plan to implement 100 key cooperation initiatives and 320 major projects, including the Chengdu-Chongqing central line high-speed railway and a 100 billion cubic meter natural gas production base.