Chongqing - A six-member delegation from Chad's ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement Patriotique du Salut, MPS), led by First Deputy Secretary-General Issa Doubragne, visited Chongqing from Oct. 12 to 13 to explore economic cooperation and investment opportunities between the Central African nation and the southwestern Chinese municipality.

A six-member delegation from Chad visited Chongqing from Oct. 12 to 13. (Photo/Deng Nan)

The delegation toured energy, manufacturing and mining enterprises, including Hiten Energy Group, Zonsen Group and Bosai Group, as well as a local community and the Mountain City Alley historical and cultural district, gaining firsthand insight into Chongqing's economic and social development.

The Chadian delegation visited Bosai Group. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Bilateral trade surges as Chongqing and Chad deepen economic ties

Bilateral trade between Chongqing and Chad has surged in 2026. In the first eight months of the year, total imports and exports reached 43.24 million yuan (approximately $6.4 million), up 271.05 percent year on year, according to official data. In 2025, total trade stood at 18.92 million yuan (approximately $2.8 million). Chongqing's major exports include motorcycles, mobile phones, electrical equipment, medical instruments, and home appliances.

At Bosai Group headquarters, the delegation learned about the company's industrial layout and overseas operations, with discussions focused on the energy and mining sector and international market expansion. Bosai Group is one of China's leading mining enterprises, with assets exceeding 35.2 billion yuan (approximately $5.26 billion) and operations spanning Germany, Guyana and other countries.

The Chadian delegation and Bosai Group exchanged gifts as a memento. (Photo/Deng Nan) 

"We are determined to assess and map our mineral potential to ensure that Chad can become an important partner of Bosai in the future, especially in terms of skills and technology transfer," Doubragne said. "We should not only export raw materials, but also process them locally to ensure added value. We will also provide incentives and facilitation policies, and we strongly invite the Chinese private sector to use these facilitative conditions to invest in Chad."

Historic district visit showcases Chongqing's cultural heritage

The delegation also visited Mountain City Alley, a historic hillside alleyway in Chongqing's Yuzhong District that has been revitalized while preserving buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The delegation strolled through the old lanes, tasted traditional tea, watched Sichuan opera face-changing performances and experienced the district's blend of heritage and contemporary commerce.

"We are very pleased to sit beside traditional-style furniture around a traditional table and taste Chinese tea," said Garboa Abdel-Nasser Mahamat Ali, National Secretary for Communications and Spokesperson of the MPS. "It is truly wonderful. We have felt China's respect for traditional culture and are amazed by the preservation of this walkway."

Party-to-party exchanges serve as a bridge for future cooperation

The visit was organized under the framework of inter-party exchanges between China and Chad. The delegation said it would use party-to-party ties as a bridge to deepen economic and trade exchanges and people-to-people interactions between Chad and Chongqing.

Members of the Chadian delegation posed for a group photo with Chongqing citizens. (Photo/Deng Nan)

China has been Chad's largest trading partner and a key source of infrastructure investment. In May 2026, China implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties, including Chad, further opening its market to African goods.