Chongqing - Chongqing is stepping up efforts to attract global professionals and strengthen its role as a talent hub in western China, as the city prepares to host its upcoming annual international talent exchange conference, where more than 3,500 skilled workers and 250 innovation projects are expected to be matched with local industries.
Students learn about employment opportunities at a job fair on March 26, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua)
The two-day event, known as the Chongqing International Talent Exchange Conference (CQITEC), will bring together over 50 international guests, including scientists, entrepreneurs, and policy advisers, at the Chongqing International Expo Center from November 15 to 16.
Officials said the conference will emphasize practical matchmaking among overseas talent, local enterprises, and research institutions. Over 500 collaborative projects are set to be released, spanning smart manufacturing, new materials, life sciences, and green technologies.
"The goal is not just to recruit, but to connect," said Hu Jing, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. "We hope to build long-term partnerships that translate research into real industrial value."
Chongqing, a city of over 30 million people located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, has been positioning itself as a regional innovation hub within China's rapidly developing western region. It hosts several national research labs and serves as home to major automakers, AI startups, and firms in new energy fields.
The conference will include seven thematic forums, three recruitment events, innovation competitions, and dedicated sessions for young scientists and engineers. International collaboration will be a key highlight, with several European universities—such as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam—and Asian research institutions set to announce new joint initiatives.
As the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period nears its end, local officials view the gathering as an opportunity to test new approaches in talent policy—ranging from flexible recruitment to collaborative research funding. Whether these initiatives translate into tangible breakthroughs, however, will depend on how effectively the city turns talk into sustained cooperation.