Chongqing - The Chongqing Development Zone Regulations were approved at the third session of the sixth Chongqing Municipal People's Congress and will take effect on March 1, 2025. They will contribute to the city's economic and social development.

The regulations address key areas such as development zone planning, land use, ecological protection, and safety risk prevention.

Notably, the regulations aim to innovate the industrial land supply model, promote the standardized transfer of industrial land, and encourage the revitalization and efficient use of idle land.

A picture of the Chongqing development zone. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

The regulations focus on the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system, prioritizing the development of intelligent connected new energy vehicles, next-generation electronic information manufacturing, advanced materials, intelligent equipment and manufacturing, biomedicine, and other key industries.

They also emphasize green development, enabling low-carbon cycles and promoting carbon and pollution reduction efforts in development zones. The goal is to advance energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and resource-recycling industries, driving the green transformation of industrial sectors.

Development zones have played a vital role in the city's economic and social growth. Chongqing has developed a multi-level platform system that includes one national new zone, four national high-tech industrial development zones, four national economic and technological development zones, seven comprehensive bonded zones, and 34 municipal development zones.

By the end of 2024, nearly 200,000 enterprises had settled in the development zones, which accounted for 85% of the city's large-scale industries, over 90% of strategic emerging industries, more than 50% of new research and development institutions, over 80% of key laboratories, about 90% of foreign trade imports and exports, and around 70% of foreign investment. This has become the main engine of Chongqing's high-quality economic development.

Looking ahead, the regulations will strengthen the open leadership, industrial competitiveness, and development momentum of national-level economic and technological development zones.

Focusing on foreign capital and trade, the regulations will guide national economic zones to enhance strategic links with the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and cities in the eastern coastal developed areas.

This approach seeks to strengthen the integration of national-level economic zones with international consumption centers, expand the opening of the service sector, and merge domestic and foreign trade. Leveraging complementary strengths will drive the integration of industrial, supply, and innovation chains.