The 'Action Plan for Chongqing to Pioneer in Opening-Up in Inland China and Serve the Belt and Road' clarifies expanding channels for opening up to support the inland international logistics hub construction. How will it work? Here are some answers from the relevant government department and some companies.

The rail-sea multimodal special container for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) departed from Chongqing Tuanjie Village Railway Central Station on September 2, 2019. (Photo by Li Chunming)

Coordinated plan of channels for opening-up

Channels for opening up are an indispensable foundation and support to opening up. Nie Hongyan, director of the Port and Logistics Office, the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, took an interview after the issuance of the action plan and said, “ We need to improve the coordinated plan of channels to integrate transport, logistics, trade, and industries.”

Chongqing development the channels from four directions. Specifically, the Golden Waterway of the Yangtze River and the Chongqing-Ningbo rail-sea multimodal trains to the east, China Railway Express (Chongqing) to Europe to the west, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor to the south and “YUMANE” (Chongqing-Manzhouli-Russia) trains to the north.

“Chongqing is the only megacity combining railway, highway, waterway, and airway in western China,” Nie said and added, “multimodal transport is a feature and advantage of the channels for opening up.” In the next, Chongqing will improve the seamless connection of all kinds of hubs.

Four factors-human resources, logistics, capital, and information will be coordinated. Chongqing will build international cooperation parks, logistics bases, and distribution centers. Moreover, an open industrial supply chain system with integrated channels to be established aims to attract all kinds of factors and industries gather in Chongqing.

Accelerated efforts for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor

The National Development and Reform Commission released the Master Plan of Western New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor this August. According to it, ILSTC, which is economical, efficient, convenient, green, and safe, is to be built by 2025.

Wang Yupei, general manager of China-Singapore Southern Transport Corridor (Chongqing) Logistics Development Inc., elaborated on the ways to accelerate the construction of the New Intentional Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC).

As a platform-operating company, Wang said, “First, we will enhance ports cooperation in Chongqing and regional cooperation with neighboring cities.” When it comes to international cooperation, Wang continued, "We will actively set up overseas warehouses, play the role of Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong as international distribution centers, and set up corresponding domestic and international distribution networks."

An integrated system for trade and industries developing well will be established to have more emerging industries and market entities and explore the international market.

In addition, the company will also innovate channel-related services. “We plan to set up eight centers for booking, document, operation, customs affairs, container management, innovation, settlement, and information.”

High-quality development of China Railway Express to Europe

Qi Dan, general manager of Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd., said, “The China-Europe freight trains serve as a direct way and project for other countries to understand the participate in the Belt and Road.” What the company does is all for the goal of promoting high-quality development of China Railway Express (Chongqing) to Europe.

More featured projects will be explored with better sustainable development capabilities. “In the future, we will develop more innovative projects such as customized trains and trains with meat cold chains,  and actively promote Russian postal parcel lines and postal return transportation,” Qi said and added, “We aim to promote Chongqing as an international land mail distribution center.”