Visitors viewed a model illustrating the rail-sea intermodal transport system of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor from Chongqing to Europe. (Photo/Chinanews)

Chongqing - From July 18 to 19, over 100 delegates attending the first Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development took part in an extensive site visit across central Chongqing. 

The delegation, which included business and commerce representatives from overseas Chinese communities around the world, toured the Jiulongpo, Shapingba, Dadukou, and Jiangbei districts to explore the city's expanding opportunities in logistics, inland ports, and R&D-driven local industries.

A key stop on the tour was the Chongqing Dry Port, a vital part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). Located in the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, it features semi-automated gantry cranes efficiently loading containers for Southeast Asia and Europe. This direct rail-sea connection bypasses the slower Yangtze River route to the east coast, enhancing trade efficiency.

According to the site guide, this intermodal system reduces shipping times by up to 10 days, offering streamlined customs clearance for businesses trading to and from many delegates' home countries.

The tour also highlighted the YUMAOTONG Digital Platform in Jiangbei, a key node in the ILSTC. As a commerce terminal and national e-commerce hub, it supports both import and export businesses. Partnering with 328 top brands and serving over 33,000 enterprises, the platform has facilitated the export of over 3,600 specialty agricultural products. 

During the visit, delegates from Hong Kong and Japan engaged in on-the-spot discussions with platform representatives about potential collaborations.

"Impressive and reassuring," said Joe Zhou, Vice President of the China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs. Drawing from his experience in South Africa's mining sector, Zhou highlighted how Chongqing's infrastructure and efficiency strengthened his confidence in the region's industrial prospects. What was once seen as a remote and underdeveloped area is now viewed as a viable strategic base for both intermediate and final product flows.

Gan Tian Loo, Vice President of the Malaysia-China Interaction Association, echoed this sentiment. “We are developing a digital platform to help overseas Chinese in ASEAN better understand the business synergy opportunities with Chongqing industries—and vice versa,” he said. Gan emphasized the potential of bridging ASEAN markets with Chongqing’s growing industrial and logistical strengths.

Across all stops, innovation, practical application, and dedication to research and development emerged as common threads among Chongqing enterprises. Leaders in fields such as smart optics, green waste management, metallurgical chemicals, and biotech shared ambitions for global expansion.

Zybio, for instance, now operates in over 100 countries and regions, with its products used in more than 20,000 medical institutions worldwide. Sanfeng Covanta's environmental technologies have been adopted in 260 waste-to-energy projects across eight countries. Meanwhile, Runji Far East Alloy has broken the Western monopoly on low-temperature melting technology for high-melting-point metals, doubling their export over the past five years and winning praise from international suppliers.

"Chongqing is a dynamic city that is steadily advancing in logistics and technology, every single year," said Gan. "I believe it will play an increasingly influential role in the region."

From logistics hubs and smart manufacturing to policy briefings and project matchmaking, participants are committed to promoting Chongqing's development globally, bringing in more resources, partnerships, and energy to accelerate the Belt and Road Initiative.