196 Projects, a New High in All Previous Sessions! Signed Projects at WCIFIT Outline New Visions for Western China

196 major projects were signed on-site, reaching a new high in previous sessions!

The 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) opened in Chongqing on May 23. With the theme of "New Western China, New Manufacturing, New Services", it focuses on the word "new" and serves the western region in integrating into the new development paradigm, cultivating new quality productive forces, and shaping new momentum and new advantages.

This is the first international exhibition themed on the western regions after the Symposium on Boosting Development of China's Western Region in New Era. At the WCIFIT, these major projects were signed in a single ceremony, outlining a new vision for the development of western China.

Focus on one "harmony": open cooperation

The WCIFIT is a window for Western China provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities to connect with the world and explore opportunities. Fortune Global 500 enterprises such as Walmart and Continental AG, more than 1,700 enterprises from 40 countries and regions as well as 27 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities directly in China participated in the exhibition and conference. The participants also included heads and experts of domestic and foreign business associations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

The signed projects involve 12 foreign-funded projects with a formal contract value of RMB26.724 billion yuan, covering fields such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, intelligent equipment and intelligent manufacturing, and modern finance, and involving 12 countries and regions including Russia, Spain, and Japan.

Projects include Spain-based Applus+ Testing Service Laboratory Project, Japan-based AFC China Headquarters Production Project, and Huate Power Greater China Methanol-reformed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack R&D and Production Project... A number of foreign-invested projects have been launched in Western China.

This WCIFIT is also a major platform for the cooperative development of western China provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities. All 12 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities in Western China have sent representatives to participate in various activities. Sichuan has served as the Guest Province of Honor of the WCIFIT for five consecutive years. It will not only build a themed exhibition booth to showcase advanced technologies and products, but also hold a series of economic and trade exchange activities and conduct on-site inspections and negotiations in Chongqing.

Visitors tour the 6th WCIFIT, May 23. Photograph courtesy of reporter Wang Quanchao, Xinhua News Agency

Focus on one "new": innovative development

Including "new manufacturing" in the theme of this WCIFIT aims to use the fair as a platform to boost the industrial transformation and upgrading in Western China.

The contracted projects fully demonstrate the characteristics of "new quality productive forces": projects such as the wind and solar power generation and portable energy storage battery project for new charging piles, the construction project of a new alloy material production base, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Southwest Intelligent Manufacturing Base for Nano New Materials... Strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, and new-generation electronic information are accelerating their layout in western China.

Entering the exhibition area, innovative elements come rushing towards you. At this WCIFIT, Changan Automobile globally launched the Changan Deepal G318; Formoive (Chongqing) Innovative Technology launched the Xiaoming V1 Ultra smart projector; SevnceRobotics launched the explosion-proof quadruped robot... Innovative products such as various intelligent connected new energy vehicles, industrial robots, gene detection instruments, and Braille e-readers are dazzling.

Staff introduce exhibits to visitors at the 6th WCIFIT, May 23. Photograph courtesy of Zhang Ziyu, Xinhua News Agency

Create a "connection": efficient circulation

From the energy and transportation sectors to the technology field, infrastructure projects are one of the focuses of the signed projects at this WCIFIT, which will help Western China fill the gaps in infrastructure.

The second-phase project of Haijing Oil (Guang'an) refined oil storage and wholesale, China Resources' 200,000-kilowatt wind power project, the China Southern Power Grid Comprehensive Energy Project, the China Unicom (Western) Digital Eco-Industrial Park project... A number of infrastructure projects are targeting the bottlenecks that hinder the smooth flow of factors, and are intensively being launched in western provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities such as Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou.

This year's WCIFIT also specially sets up an exhibition area for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in Western China, presenting to visitors the achievements made by the "13 + 2" provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities in the high-level co-construction of this new corridor.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has transformed from "a single line" to "a network". When it was launched in 2017, there was only one logistics route. Now, it has expanded to 514 ports in 123 countries around the world, and the circulation of factors in Western China is becoming increasingly smooth.

Through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the whole Musang King durians imported from Malaysia made their debut at the WCIFIT for the first time. More and more new products are entering the western region along this new corridor, empowering the opening up and development of Western China.

Openness, innovation, and connectivity. Each project reflects the surging trends in advancing the Western Development in the new era, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of China's economy.

Source: workercn.cn