Chongqing - The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle — a city group eyeing to build a world-class city cluster in Southwest China — is on track to reach a combined economic output of nearly 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) by 2025. Recent data point to stronger transport links, rapid growth in new energy vehicles and semiconductor industries, and closer cooperation in finance, tourism, and cross-border trade.
The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, proposed in 2020, is a state-level regional development strategy designed to integrate the two major metropolitan areas, Chongqing municipality and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, into a modern city cluster with greater economic competitiveness and connectivity.
The landscape of Chengdu. (Photo/Wu Ke)
The landscape of Chongqing. (Photo/Li Wenke)
Senior leaders from Chongqing and Sichuan met on August 26 for the 11th Session of the Chongqing-Sichuan party and government joint meeting, highlighting progress and unveiling next-stage plans for the fast-growing twin-city region.
One highlight is transport connectivity. In the first seven months of 2025, airports in the Chengdu-Chongqing hub handled 80.93 million passengers, up 3 percent year-on-year, while cargo throughput reached 939,000 tons, a 14.8 percent rise. The China Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) also maintained its leading position in the country, with nearly 3,000 freight trains launched in the first half of the year.
Industrial growth is another bright spot. From January to July, Chongqing reported strong performance in automobiles, motorcycles, equipment, and materials, with new energy vehicle production up 26.8 percent and integrated circuits up 70.4 percent. The region is also advancing large-scale projects such as the Chongqing East Railway Station, the Chongqing-Xiamen high-speed railway, and the expansion of Jiangbei International Airport with its new Terminal 3B.
The Terminal 3B at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)
Beyond infrastructure and industry, cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing is expanding into finance, tourism, and government services. Joint initiatives include the development of a Western Financial Center, shared consumer promotion events, and “cross-provincial administrative services” that allow residents to access public services interchangeably.
By 2025, the combined economic output of the two regions is expected to approach 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion), reflecting the growing role of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle as an emerging city cluster with global competitiveness.