Sichuan, Chongqing to partner on key projects

Sichuan province and Chongqing in Southwest China are set to collaborate on 320 key projects this year, as part of efforts to enhance the region's economic growth.

According to the recently released list of key projects for the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle in 2025, over 70 percent of these projects will concentrate on modern infrastructure and an industrial system, the Chongqing Development and Reform Commission said.

These projects span seven key sectors such as the cooperative construction of a modern infrastructure network, the collaborative development of a modern industrial system, and the joint establishment of a nationally influential science and technology innovation center.

In 2021, a master plan was issued to turn the Chengdu-Chongqing region into an economic center with national impact, a key hub for scientific and technological innovation, a new area for reform and opening-up, and a place with high living standards. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan.

The plan was designed to make national growth more balanced, and to help the southwestern region tap into talent, improve its business environment and develop new business models.

Over the past five years, the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle has achieved remarkable results, Chen Yajun, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a recent conference.

These accomplishments include significant advancements in constructing vital economic hubs with national influence, the emergence of a new trend in establishing nationally influential science and technology innovation centers, breakthroughs in creating new frontiers for reform and opening-up, and progress in enhancing the quality of life and livable environments.

The collaborative development of a modern industrial system is a key focus of Sichuan and Chongqing's joint construction efforts. According to the list, the two regions will be engaged in 131 significant joint construction projects by the end of 2025.

For instance, in their pursuit of establishing advanced manufacturing industry clusters, Sichuan and Chongqing will organize 94 projects, including semiconductor and chip projects in the Chongqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, nine projects to accelerate the growth of core industries in the digital economy, seven projects to drive the advancement of modern service industries, and six projects to promote high-quality and efficient specialty agriculture.

Notably, as a cornerstone for regional economic growth, modern infrastructure development has been significantly prioritized in the joint construction projects of Sichuan and Chongqing this year, with the number of projects reaching 107, representing over 30 percent of the total initiatives, for example, improved transportation, energy and water infrastructure.

Rapid strides have been made in establishing nationally influential science and technology innovation centers, leading to the swift development of 24 scientific infrastructure and innovation platforms. Additionally, the two regions have laid out plans to cultivate an internationally renowned consumer destination infused with the unique cultural essence of the local area.

In 2023, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle produced 8.19 trillion yuan ($1.13 trillion) in revenue, contributing 6.5 percent to the national economy with only 2 percent of the country's land area.