Chongqing - The fifth plenary session of the sixth Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee emphasized establishing Chongqing as a key strategic fulcrum for the development of China's western region in the new era and a comprehensive hub for inland opening up, according to the press conference on May 25.

Chongqing's landscape. (Photo/Zhang Kunkun)

Jiang Hui, Member of the Standing Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, and Spokesperson for the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, briefed the press conference.

This strategic positioning aims to transform the city into a major economic hub, a center for tech innovation, a reform and opening-up highland, and a high-quality livable area, propelling Chongqing's economic and social development.

The plenary session focuses on creating "six areas" with goals for 2027 and 2035 in Chongqing: a pilot for high-quality western development, a leading inland opening-up and international cooperation zone, a pilot for comprehensive reforms, a megacity governance model, a demonstration for urban-rural integration and rural revitalization, and a pioneer for building a beautiful China.

Specifically, establishing a leading inland opening-up and international cooperation zone means leveraging Chongqing's role as a hub connecting the East and West. This includes creating new mechanisms for high-quality development by integrating corridors, logistics, and industries and exploring new land trade rules. It contributes to China's high-level opening-up to the west and south.

Gao Jian, Director of Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, outlined plans to advance 100 cooperation projects with Sichuan, including building the Western Financial Center and the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor.

Gao added that Chongqing plans to enhance international logistics efficiency, develop a multimodal transportation base, and build a world-class airport cluster. The city will also advance the "Three Countries and Three Parks" initiative with industrial parks in China, Laos, and Thailand to boost international trade and cooperation.

The city will accelerate growth in areas like space information and integrated circuits, hosting the 2024 International Aerospace Information Industry Ecology Conference. It will also focus on modern service industries to create billion-dollar industry clusters.

Zhang Yongwu, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, emphasized that Chongqing will focus on corridors, platforms, the economy, the environment, and institutions to create an inland opening-up international cooperation-leading area.

Zhang added that Chongqing aims to leverage its strategic location as a national logistics hub by enhancing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing), and Yangtze River Golden Waterway. These efforts will strengthen its role as a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) import-export distribution center and international multimodal transport base.

Hu Junguo, Deputy Director of Chongqing Big Data Application Development Management Bureau, highlighted plans to create a modern megacity governance demonstration area. The focus will be developing an integrated intelligent public data platform to enhance digital resource management, including cloud networks, perception, data, and components.

Efforts will streamline data channels and support scenario integration, aiming to apply AI for smarter urban management and governance model upgrades.