Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored efforts to advance the construction of logistics hubs to promote the high-level opening up of China's western and inland regions during his inspection tour to Chongqing on Monday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Chongqing in the southwest from Monday to Wednesday.
On Monday afternoon, Xi first inspected Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park to learn about the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Calling the logistics sector the arteries and veins of real economy, Xi underscored that constructing the corridor will help promote the high-level opening up of China's western and inland regions.
He stressed that the logistics hub should actively utilize advanced technology, continuously improve transport models, and enhance scientific management practices so as to make more contributions in the construction of modern logistics system.
Xi then visited a railway container station in Chongqing, and had cordial exchange with truck drivers, train drivers, stevedores, and station managers. He highlighted the importance of logistics, saying that the logistics sector drives forward the development of China’s western region.
Xi also heard a report on the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and visited an exhibition on science and technology innovation and industrial development achievements of Chongqing.
Xi urged Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province to work closely to upgrade the development level. He also emphasized that Chongqing should give full play to its own advantages, focus on sci-tech innovation and vigorously promote the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector.
Xi underscores logistics sector in promoting high-level opening up
Border inspection agencies across China handled 8.466 million entry and exit trips during the five-day May Day holiday that ended Sunday, an increase of 35.1 percent from the same period last year, the National Immigration Administration said on Monday.
The daily flow of travelers at border ports across the country peaked on May 3 to reach 1.801 million, according to the administration.
During the holiday, entry and exit trips made by mainland residents rose by 38 percent year on year, with trips by people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan going up 20.8 percent year on year, and those by foreigners rocketing 98.7 percent year on year.
In China's financial hub Shanghai, the city's two airports handled a total of 458,700 entry and exit trips in the five days, including 235,800 entry trips, up 125 percent and 96.8 percent year on year, respectively.
During the period, Shanghai customs also logged 25,000 inbound and outbound travelers via international cruise ships.
On Sunday alone, the figure reached 17,000. To ensure the smooth clearance of the cruise passengers at ports, relevant authorities in Shanghai unveiled measures to increase their handling capacity.
"We made customs clearance plans in advance through optimization of resource allocation during the holiday to ensure that we would have the capacity to handle the sudden inflow of nearly 10,000 travelers and provide services for them," said Gu Liqian, a customs officer in Baoshan District of Shanghai.
South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where many border ports stand, also saw a holiday travel boom.
In the five days, more than 145,600 travelers passed through Dongxing, Youyiguan and Nanning ports, up 129 percent year on year, according to Guangxi General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
As of Sunday night, the border port in Dongxing City had handled 11,000 entry and exit trips during the holiday. The city welcomed 210 tour groups on Sunday alone.
"This is my first trip to China. It's very easy to go through the immigration formalities in China. During this trip to Dongxing, I plan to visit scenic spots and taste various kinds of Chinese food," said a Vietnamese tourist.
China sees over 8.46 mln entry-exit trips during May Day holiday
