International guests attend the launch ceremony of the Yongchuan District Global Partnership Program at the Chongqing Global Lounge. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

Chongqing - At the launch ceremony of the Yongchuan District Global Partnership Program yesterday, a German manufacturing executive hailed Yongchuan as the “Pearl of Western Chongqing,” underscoring its rising global appeal.

Over 200 participants, including foreign consulates and Fortune Global 500 companies, gathered at the Chongqing Global Lounge, where Yongchuan unveiled plans to draw international investment across strategic sectors from manufacturing to film, with projects collectively valued at billions in annual output.

The launch ceremony featured Yongchuan delicacies, including Tianmian sauce, douchi, and beef condiment, among others. (Photo/Xudong Yang)

Located between China's megacities of Chongqing and Chengdu, Yongchuan has built substantial industrial capacity over the past decade. The district operates China's largest pickup truck manufacturing base, and controls 25% of the global computer mouse market through local electronics manufacturers. Great Wall Motors' base in Yongchuan produces 216,000 vehicles annually.

German precision machinery company Schwäbische Werkzeugmaschinen (SW) Chongqing has operated here for seven years. "So far, we have everything localized, but we try to make things by ourselves, so all technology is in-house," said Hans-Peter Hadeler, Technical Director of SW Chongqing Co., Ltd. The district's 200,000 vocational students across 19 institutions provide workforce advantages that companies cite as crucial.

Businesses based in Yongchuan had a roundtable sharing success stories at the launch ceremony. (Photo/Xudong Yang)

The Chongqing Yongchuan Comprehensive Bonded Zone's expansion offers concrete opportunities for manufacturers seeking both Chinese market access and international shipping capabilities. The district plans a 10-square-kilometer automotive city with testing facilities and supplier parks.

Yongchuan's film technology sector shows how targeted investment creates new industries. Dawa Imaging Technology built an advanced virtual production studio, featuring 50,000 square meters of filming space with Hollywood-standard equipment. The facility has attracted over 50 major productions and spawned 150 related businesses. 

In July, the district successfully hosted the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival. Yongchuan's film studio complex is also expanding to include animation and gaming.

A district official introduced Yongchuan's growing film and television industry, backed by science and technology. (Photo/Xudong Yang)

"It is very rapid, and in good terms, a development in the cinema industry," said Aliaksandr Shalimau, Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus in Chongqing. "I'm sure that Yongchuan will attract more and more interesting and promising cinema, where not only Belarus, but all the countries in the world can teach, learn, and exchange."

The evening showcased Yongchuan's local products, ranging from tea to delicacies, while local manufacturers, including electric bike maker Yadea and auto brand Great Wall Motors, displayed for international guests. As the program concluded, attendees watched a spectacular drone show illuminate Chongqing's night skyline.

Attendees of the launch ceremony enjoyed a drone show as the event concluded. (Photo/Xudong Yang)