National development area drives Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle towards global connectivity

Liangjiang New Area, the first national-level development and open area in inland China, is witnessing a surge in activity at Guoyuan Port. This bustling port, characterized by long lines of trucks and ceaseless crane operations, is propelling the region's development.

The container wharf at Guoyuan Port in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/Lan Tian]

This multimodal transport hub is a vital component of initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Yangtze River Golden Waterway, and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). In January, it achieved a cargo throughput of 2.11 million tons. Notably, the port handled 11,000 TEUs of water-to-water transshipment and 2,000 TEUs of water-to-rail intermodal transport.

This momentum continued into February with Chongqing hosting a conference on February 18 to expedite the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Emphasizing the necessity of strategic hubs that harmonize key initiatives like the BRI, the Yangtze River Golden Waterway, and ILSTC, the conference highlighted the importance of establishing a high-level comprehensive transportation and logistics hub.

Within Liangjiang New Area, a robust logistic network covering the upstream of the Yangtze River has emerged, showcasing the deepened integration within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.

"Due to navigational constraints on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, bulk logistics in Sichuan often necessitate consolidation at Guoyuan Port before transshipment via the golden waterway to eastern regions," said Fang Liang, vice general manager of Chongqing Guoyuan Container Co., Ltd. Currently, 90 percent of containers from Yibin Port and 100 percent of the containers from Luzhou Port, both located in Sichuan, opt to do business with Guoyuan Port.

The port has witnessed a surge in land-sea intermodal trains, with 702 trains dispatched in 2023 alone, up over 40 percent year-on-year. The introduction of new routes, including the China-Myanmar route (Chongqing-Lincang-Myanmar) and the China-Vietnam freight route (Guyuan Port-Hanoi, Vietnam), further solidifies the port's position as a key transport node.

In addition to Guoyuan Port, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity has also made strides in Liangjiang New Area. Through this initiative, the area has deepened collaboration with Singapore across various sectors, including finance, aviation, transport logistics, and information communication.

Avatr 11 rolls off the production line at Changan Automobile's factory in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/Changan Automobile]

By the end of last year, 61 projects between Liangjiang and Singapore had been signed, representing approximately 21 percent of the municipality's total. The combined investment of these projects reached $10.98 billion, accounting for about 43 percent of the municipal total. This underscores the area's potential for further growth and integration into the global economy.

With a strategic vision to serve the greater good, Liangjiang New Area is emerging as a pivotal gateway for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. It is fostering regional openness and positioning itself to become a landlocked highland for opening-up.

Zhu Huarong, chairman of Changan Automobile, announced that the 30GWh power battery project, jointly invested in by Changan Automobile and a Sichuan-based company under CATL, has commenced in Yibin, Sichuan. Changan aims to enhance cooperation with Sichuan enterprises in new energy vehicles and the battery industry chain, along with the software, and intelligent driving sectors.

Currently, mainstream car models by Changan Automobile have incorporated components from 50 suppliers in Sichuan, driving the development of 683 partners in the Chengdu-Chongqing region and providing employment for 120,000 people.