Chongqing - Chongqing-based members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said they are focusing on making the Chengdu-Chongqing region a national hub for artificial intelligence applications and called for stronger national-level support to boost competitiveness. They spoke as the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC opened on March 4 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The city view of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)

According to the meeting agenda, more than 2,000 CPPCC members will deliberate around central policy priorities, with a focus on the drafting and implementation of China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Artificial intelligence has been framed by China’s leadership as a strategic technology. Against this backdrop, the Chengdu-Chongqing region has advanced the national “AI+” approach. Data show its AI core and related industries now exceed 330 billion yuan (about 47.8 billion U.S. dollars), with more than 1,500 companies and a talent pool of over 50,000.

The region is also part of China’s national integrated computing power network, including the Chengdu-Chongqing national hub node, a government-designated cluster designed to pool computing resources for digital and AI development.

The city view of Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. (Photo/Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone)

This region has built 29 large and super-large data centers, with total computing capacity exceeding 20,000P. Officials say these foundations support efforts to develop national pilot zones, including a New-Generation AI Innovation and Development Pilot Zone and an AI Innovation and Application Pilot Zone.

At the same time, Chongqing-based CPPCC members said research and consultations show constraints, citing gaps in top-level coordination and cross-provincial mechanisms and noting the region has yet to form a unified approach.

They also compared the region with China's leading AI clusters- Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta- saying those areas concentrate more than 70% of the country's AI resources, while the Chengdu-Chongqing region has yet to achieve a "zero breakthrough" in establishing national-level flagship platforms such as national laboratories, national technology innovation centers, or national industrial innovation centers in the AI field.

The CPPCC members said AI integration with the real economy remains limited, often focused on localized process improvements rather than scaled, industry-wide deployment. They also pointed to needs in data and talent: accelerating development of high-quality datasets and "trusted data spaces" and improving alignment between local training and industry demand while attracting more leading talent.

To address these issues, CPPCC members proposed measures requiring national support, including a National Development and Reform Commission  (NDRC)-led cross-department coordination mechanism and integrating a Chengdu-Chongqing AI application hub into China’s overall AI policy layout. They also called for national-level innovation platforms in the region, such as a key laboratory for intelligent computing in advanced manufacturing and technology innovation centers in areas including intelligent driving and satellite internet.

Additional suggestions included expanding "AI+" application scenarios in sectors such as materials research, medical insurance systems, and urban governance, while strengthening foundational support through national data infrastructure pilots, trusted data spaces, and high-quality datasets.

They also suggested launching computing subsidy policies to encourage enterprises to use domestic computing infrastructure, and supporting universities in the region to expand artificial intelligence programs and attract leading global talent.