Chongqing's skyline featuring Raffles City and the Grand Theatre at night. (Photo/ Vivian Yan)

Chongqing - Chongqing on March 28 hosted an investment promotion event at the Chongqing Global Lounge, where it also launched its “Meet the World” initiative, bringing together government, industry and business leaders to advance greater openness and cross-sector cooperation.

Guan Hong, President of the Chongqing International Cultural Association, said cultural exchange hinges on culture as the vehicle, exchange as the pathway, and platforms as the foundation. The Chongqing Global Lounge, he said, serves as a comprehensive platform for international people-to-people engagement built to support the city’s broader opening-up agenda.

Guan added, since opening in June 2025, Chongqing Global Lounge has hosted more than 40 high-level international events and received over 6,000 visitors, while supporting major diplomatic engagements, including high-level China-Singapore meetings.

Visits such as that of NBA player Stephen Curry generated more than 200 million online views, helping boost Chongqing’s global profile. The association’s “Chongqing Night” symphony concerts have been staged 17 times, attracting more than 40 million views online. A drone light show project, “New Charm Chongqing,” won a 2025 municipal reform and innovation award and was included in the city’s 2026 government work report.

Sang Jian, Deputy General Manager of the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO), introduced the “Meet the World” series, which will combine global communication resources to roll out projects, including city image exhibitions, international dialogues, and overseas media tours, aimed at strengthening Chongqing’s global narrative.

At the event, Chongqing International Cultural Association signed strategic cooperation agreements with the WCICO and the Chongqing Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, among others, to deepen collaboration on platform development, joint events and resource sharing.

The event concluded with a “Chongqing Night” symphony performance and a drone light show along the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, showcasing the city’s nighttime skyline and underscoring its push to build an internationally oriented exchange platform.

A drone light show illuminates Chongqing's night sky. (Photo/ Vivian Yan)