Chongqing vows to become a major hub of high-level opening up in the southwestern region of China, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's inspection of the city from Monday to Tuesday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited an international logistics hub in Chongqing on Monday to learn the local efforts to accelerate the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in west China.
The logistics hub in Chongqing plays a vital role in building the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone and the corridor, and establishing a leading hinterland opening-up area. It also serves as a significant gateway for China's high-level opening to the south and west.
In recent years, Chongqing has has focused on building a comprehensive transportation network, including major corridors, hubs, ports, logistics facilities, and platforms. These efforts have resulted in an upgrade of the corridor's capacity and level of openness, while accelerating the establishment of a highly open economic system.
During Xi's inspection, local officials and staff at the logistics hub briefed him on the city's achievements in constructing the corridor.
"I reported to the general secretary today about Chongqing's leading role as a logistics hub and operation center of the corridor, and some of our achievements. We've achieved a large-scale transportation and a substantial improvement in quality," said Yang Lin, director of the Port and Logistics Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government.
"I reported to the general secretary that this is the place where China-Europe freight trains and rail-sea inter-modal trains of the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor in west China started. The first China-Europe train departed here here in 2011, and the China-Europe freight train that the general secretary witnessed at Duisburg Station in Germany in 2014 set off from here as well. The first rail-sea inter-model train of the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor in 2017 also set off from here. This is a place that serves the west China and connects the world," said Wang Haixiang, deputy manager of Chongqing central station under China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd.
Chongqing has also benefited from the development of the logistics hub.
"I still member the days when the China-Europe freight train started operation on March 19, 2011. Back then, we had only a dozen people on the staff. Now our team has increased by 70 to 80 people. There are also changes in routes, cargo varieties and quantity," said Jiang Tong, a train driver of China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. Chongqing Section.
"It used to be a piece of farmland here before our central station was built. It was merely a fourth-class station, where no more than two carriages were loaded and unloaded everyday. Now we handle 1,000 carriages a day. It is second only to Xi 'an among the country's land ports, and is also the only first-class logistics base and railway port in Chongqing. I reported to the general secretary that we have truly enjoyed the dividends brought by the Belt and Road Initiative," said Wang.
"Chongqing is the only inland city with a three-dimensional transportation network of railways, highways, water and air. Chongqing is the one in the inland region that is most closely connected with China-Europe railway express service and the new western land-sea corridor. It is the most competitive comprehensive hub," said Yang.
Xi's visit has inspired local officials and workers to redouble their efforts and dedication to their work.
"A dozen of us are front-line workers, and he cares about us and came to learn about our work in the front line," said Jiang.
"We must work harder in the future. The general secretary also stressed the safety in workplace. As our workload gets increasing, we must pay attention to our safety. We are still young and we must work hard," said Lei Bailin, dispatch chief of Xinglongchang Station under China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd.
Looking ahead, Yang outlined the plans to accelerate the construction of the industrial park of Chongqing Port.
"We should speed up the construction of industrial park of Chongqing Port and make it a demonstration project for the deep integration of the logistics corridor and trade. It is also a major demonstration project of the new western land-sea corridor. We will also build a digital land-sea corridor. The improved quality of the corridor construction will be a booster for the whole western region, not just Chongqing alone," said Yang.
Chongqing accelerates efforts to become southwest China's key opening-up hub
