By Rui Hu, EDITOR
From 9 to 10 in July, A new 2+16 agreements released by Chongqing and Sichuan government unveils a series of strategy to drive the two major provinces to become an engine in West China. So, what is included in the “2+16” series? On July 10, the directors of the Development and Reform Commissions of Chongqing and Sichuan gave detailed explanations on the plan.
County along the Yangtze River
Chongqing Development and Reform Commission:
Assigned by the Party Central Committee, Implemented by Chongqing
Having been signed in around one year, the series of cooperation agreements featuring rich, down-to-earth, and efficient contents mark the two sides’ stride onto a new horizon. This achievement is an embodiment of the guiding principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s major speeches in his inspection to Chongqing and Sichuan.
With Chengdu and Chongqing as the cores, Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster, boasting over 100 million population and RMB 6 trillion economic aggregate and locating at the junction point of the Belt and Road and the Yangtze River Economic Zone, is shouldering the mission to expand China’s economic space and transform its regional commercial pattern.
In the 2019 Key Tasks for the Construction of New Type of Urbanization, issued on this April 8, the National Development and Reform Commission specifies that “we should work out the policies and measures to support the quality development of Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster and develop it into a new growth pole.” It means that Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster will be the fourth one of its kind after Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster, the Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Besides, the Key Tasks also mark a state-level arrangement in fostering Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster into another new and important growth pole.
The last year has witnessed one Five-Year Plan and twelve special cooperation agreements directly reached by the two sides. Thanks to the down-to-earth and practical contents, Chongqing-Sichuan cooperation has been empowered onto a fast track for advancing.
Over a year, the two parties have stuck to intense coordination and practical cooperation and thus achieved 42 significant outcomes in four types (including 18 cooperation documents, 15 cooperation programs, five cooperation events, and four joint-construction parks), with the total investment of about RMB 253.3 billion.
The following four aspects can conclude the “2+16” series cooperation agreements:
First, jointly plan and carry forward the integrated development of the Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster. The cooperation will be enhanced from 36 key issues covering strategic collaboration and planning convergence, to include the integrated development of the Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster into China’s national strategy.
Second, jointly push forward the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI-ILSTC). The CCI-ILSTC construction will be promoted through the seven measures like jointly building the comprehensive operation platform and improving customs clearance facilitation.
Third, jointly stimulate cooperation in critical fields. Exclusive cooperation agreements centering on the nine aspects of increasing planning complementarity, concurrently boosting industrial cooperation, connectivity of transportation infrastructure, coordinating inter-regional eco-environment prevention and control, together building and sharing opening platforms, accessible tourism cooperation, integrating market supervision, coordinating development in construction industry, and creating beautiful villages in Bashu region will be signed to promote the interactive development of the two areas.
Four, stimulate the development of the surrounding areas. Chongqing has founded the cooperation alliance with its neighboring prefecture-level cities of Luzhou, Suining, Neijiang, Guang’an, Dazhou, and Ziyang which are under the jurisdiction of Sichuan. The two sides will promote the construction of Guang’an and Tongnan areas of Sichuan-Chongqing cooperation demonstration zone, deepen the cooperation of such economic coordination regions as Dazhou-Wanzhou, Luzhou-Neijiang-Rongchang-Yongchuan, regions/cities/counties along Chengdu-Chongqing axis line, etc., and stimulate the joint construction of industrial cluster demonstration zone, with Tongnan, Dazu, Rongchang, and Ziyang involved, in central Chongqing.
Next, the two sides will analyze and comb the critical programs and events in the “2+16” series, thus implementing the tasks based on specific programs and activities and in due course.
Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission:
Promote Integrated Development of Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster, Foster a State-Level City Cluster
The primary member of the “2+16” package agreements is Major Working Plan on Deepening Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation and Advancing Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster Integrated Development (the Plan for short), signed by the governments of Sichuan and Chongqing.
It stands in the forefront of the series, and the 12 pages make it the most extended text among all agreements (plans).
According to Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster Development Planning, the Cluster, headquartered in Southwest China, aims to influence Northwestern China, while cooperating with European and Asian countries (regions). It plans to establish top-notched modern industrial systems, high-quality living environment, and high-level internal/external opening up. With such efforts, Sichuan and Chongqing can foster a state-level city cluster leading development and opening up in the western region.
The 2019 Key Tasks for the Construction of New Type of Urbanization, issued in April, clarifies that Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster should “be developed into a new growth pole,” and then step onto the world arena.
How to realize this goal? The priority and the only way is to accelerate integrated development of Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster.
Changes in mechanisms:
Sichuan and Chongqing are going to set up the Development and Reform Commission Joint Office, responsible for processing regular affairs and comprehensive coordination.
That statement in the Plan catches the eye.
Why will the two parties set up the Joint Office? It is because that this is a significant measure to stimulate integrated development of Chengdu-Chongqing City Cluster. The Joint Office is expected to have cooperative working groups in planning, transportation, industries, tourism, market, opening up, ecological environment, public services, and other fields. They will help the two parties plan and develop relevant cooperative items and projects. As a result, the collaborative mechanism will see further growth, facilitating the ultimate goal.
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