Chongqing - The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) concluded on November 10 in Shanghai, where Chongqing promoted its investment and trade prospects.
During the expo, Zhang Yongwu, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, highlighted the city's competitive investment advantages. Chongqing boasts a comprehensive industrial system that covers nearly every industrial sector. It is home to Asia’s largest electronic information industry cluster and one of China’s largest automotive and motorcycle industry clusters. High-end Chinese new energy brands such as Seres were also born here.
Chongqing's strategic location boosts its investment appeal, with a robust transportation network linking it to various markets. The Yangtze River offers a 10-day shipping route to Shanghai, while the China-Europe Railway Express connects to Northwest China and over 120 cities across Europe and Asia. The city also reaches southern China and 127 countries and 571 ports globally. To the north, the railway line takes 15 days to reach Moscow.
Openness is another major advantage of Chongqing. The city is home to 15 consulates from various countries and has established friendly city partnerships with 56 cities worldwide. Additionally, Chongqing offers a competitive business environment, with investment costs 60-70% lower than those in coastal regions.
The expo led Chongqing enterprises to sign 14 cooperation agreements worth a total of 7.92 billion yuan (about 1.11 billion U.S. dollars). The deals span major sectors such as aviation, manufacturing, and vehicle imports, and include several foreign investment projects.
Among them, Chongqing Sino French Water increased its investment by 284 million yuan. As the largest foreign-invested water company in Chongqing, it focuses on urban water supply, drainage, and related projects. This enterprise is a joint venture between Suez Group, the world's largest water company, and Chongqing Water Group.
Loncin, a motorcycle brand from Chongqing, signed a 120 million U.S. dollars export order with a Colombian client at the event. Li Yao, Chairman of Loncin, shared that through the CIIE platform, Loncin can further strengthen its partnerships with international clients and help accelerate the global expansion of Chongqing's motorcycle industry.
Foreign companies also shared their experiences of doing business in Chongqing. Adient, a global leader in automotive seating based in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, has emphasized its increasing investment in the city. "Chongqing is not only a key production base for Adient in China but also our technology center," said Zhu Xiaobin, Vice President of Finance for Adient in the Asia Pacific region.
He highlighted the city's strong industrial foundation, particularly in the automotive sector, and announced plans to expand its presence by enhancing research and development, promoting smart manufacturing, and optimizing the supply chain.