The 6th WCIFIT Comes to a Successful Conclusion

On the banks of the two rivers, the land of Chongqing is brimming with vitality. On May 26, 2024, the four-day 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (hereinafter referred to as the "WCIFIT"), came to a close in Chongqing Municipality.

With the theme of "New Western China, New Manufacturing, New Services", this year's WCIFIT featured five thematic activities, namely Logistics Services, Innovation Services, Professional Services, Investing in Western China and Global Sourcing, aimed at promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services and sharing the historic opportunities of the western development in the new era with global businesses.

Chongqing provides the platform, the western China offers opportunities, and the world shares in the benefits. As an important window for external exchanges in western China, this WCIFIT attracted nearly 1,800 enterprises and organizations from 27 domestic provinces (regions and municipalities), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and 40 countries and regions, contributing to the development of new quality productive forces in line with local conditions and enhancing the level of opening up both domestically and internationally in the western region.

Since 2018, the WCIFIT has been successfully held for six sessions, with continuous improvements in exhibition scale, organization standards, quality, and effectiveness. It has become an important platform for serving high-quality development and high-level opening up in the western region. The 6th WCIFIT continued the high-quality and high-standard approach of the previous five sessions while closely aligning with the theme of "New Western China, New Manufacturing, New Services", highlighting key areas and creating distinctive features to better promote all-round opening up in the western region.

Full of innovation and highlights

Distinctive and rich exhibition displays

Stepping into the 130,000-square-meter exhibition hall, visitors are greeted with a dazzling array of highlights across 11 pavilions in four thematic exhibition zones: Comprehensive Showcase, Modern Services, Modern Manufacturing, and International and Regional Cooperation. A host of new achievements, business models, technologies, scenarios, and trends were on display, offering visitors a brand-new experience.

In the N6 exhibition hall, at the Beibu Gulf Port Group's exhibition area, neatly arranged golden Musang King durians were on display. These whole durians were transported from Malaysia via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor using cold chain logistics to maximize freshness.

Today, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has become a vital link for facilitating the dual circulation, providing strong support for enhancing the level of opening up both domestically and internationally in the western region. This WCIFIT featured a dedicated exhibition zone for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, showcasing specialty products from western provinces such as Guangxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang.

In addition to displaying the achievements of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, this WCIFIT also showcased new achievements, business models, technologies, scenarios, and trends in various fields such as modern services and modern manufacturing.

In Modern Manufacturing Zone, new energy vehicles such as the AITO M9 and the Deepal G318 made a splendid appearance, underscoring the high-quality development of Chongqing's intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry. On the China Logistics Group's booth, a fixed-wing drone named "Twin-tailed Scorpion A" with a wingspan of 20.20 meters exuded a strong sense of technology, offering visitors a novel tech experience. In the Sichuan Pavilion, cutting-edge products such as drones, as well as specialty products like Sichuan tea and Sichuan liquor, were on display, attracting crowds of visitors. In the Belarus Pavilion, a wide array of specialty products such as milk powder, chocolate, and vodka were available for selection... The exhibits at this WCIFIT were full of innovation and highlights, leaving visitors overwhelming.

Promoting investment and fostering cooperation

196 major projects signed collectively

Investment promotion and cooperation advancement constitute the central theme of the WCIFIT. During this year's event, a total of 196 major projects were signed through centralized signing ceremonies, covering fields including intelligent connected new energy vehicles, intelligent equipment and intelligent manufacturing, as well as modern finance.

Notable projects such as the China Southern Power Grid Comprehensive Energy Project, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Southwest Intelligent Manufacturing Base for Nano New Materials, and the Bornsales Chongqing New-type Computing Power Center Project were among the major initiatives signed and strategically deployed during WCIFIT, collectively contributing to accelerating the formation of a new pattern for the Western Development and promoting high-quality development in western regions.

The investment coverage was extensive and the signed projects carried significant impact. Focusing on Chongqing's "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system construction, WCIFIT facilitated the signing of 62 projects in three trillion-yuan-level leading industries - intelligent connected new energy vehicles, next-generation electronic information manufacturing, and advanced materials - with a total investment reaching RMB110.6 billion, thereby further serving the accelerated development of a modern industrial system in western China. Meanwhile, five software and information service projects worth RMB12.3 billion were signed, driving forward the digital Chongqing initiative.

Furthermore, to deepen central-local enterprise cooperation and vigorously advance the Chongqing chapter of Chinese path to modernization, WCIFIT witnessed the signing of 15 central-local cooperation projects totaling RMB34.9 billion in contract value, including 13 projects each exceeding RMB1 billion across multiple sectors such as finance, advanced materials, and new energy. These projects support China South Industries Group Corporation in establishing its national headquarters for ordnance equipment financial leasing in Chongqing, as well as the capacity expansion of Sinopec's special polyolefin project in Changshou District, Chongqing.

Internationalization and professionalism

First-time collaboration with the Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference

As an important platform for trade cooperation, investment promotion, and external exchanges in the western region, the WCIFIT serves as a vital window for showcasing the region's image and expanding external opening up and cooperation. It is also an important carrier for promoting international cooperation.

To further deepen international cooperation and promote common development, this WCIFIT collaborated with the Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference (hereinafter referred to as the "CIFCCC") for the first time, sharing resources and promoting exchanges. With the assistance of the CIFCCC, this WCIFIT attracted exhibitors from 40 countries and regions to showcase their products in the International & Regional Cooperation Exhibition Zone, fully demonstrating Belt and Road cooperation projects and achievements.

Thanks to the effective collaboration with the CIFCCC, this WCIFIT promoted the expansion and quality improvement of foreign investment. The signing of major projects involved 12 foreign-invested projects with a total contract value of RMB26.724 billion. Foreign-invested projects such as the Spain-based Applus+ testing service laboratory project, the Japan-based AFC China headquarters production project, and the Huate Power Greater China methanol-reformed hydrogen fuel cell stack R&D and production project were established in the western region.

During this WCIFIT, the China (Chongqing) Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair was held, gathering nearly 30 well-known cross-border e-commerce platforms and service providers from home and abroad and showcasing tens of thousands of high-quality cross-border e-commerce products.

With a series of projects signed collectively and activities yielding tangible results... the WCIFIT resonated with the CIFCCC, helping the fair achieve professionalism, marketization, and internationalization, and injecting strong momentum into Chongqing's efforts to build itself into an important strategic pivot for the new era of the western development and a comprehensive hub for inland opening-up.

Diversity and multi-scenario experiences

12 special events focused on services with remarkable results

This year's WCIFIT centered around five major themes: Logistics Services, Innovation Services, Professional Services, Investing in Western China, and Global Sourcing. A total of 12 specialized events were held, alongside the "WCIFIT Benefits the Entire City" consumer promotion campaign.

Driving industrial development, cultivating new momentum. To foster new quality productive forces in western China, eight specialized events will be held, with the "Starry Sky" facilitating the launch of key projects in Chongqing. The China Chongqing Investment Promotion Conference of Biopharmaceutical Industry established a RMB 2 billion biopharmaceutical sub-fund.

Enhancing trade cooperation efficiency. The "Invest in Western China" key project roadshow yielded 26 cooperation agreements. The 2nd Global Purchasing Matchmaking Conference secured nearly RMB50 million in intended contracts. The Chongqing-Hong Kong Innovation Cooperation attracted over 10,000 professional attendees.

Boosting consumer market vitality. The "WCIFIT Benefits the Entire City" promotion campaign held during this WCIFIT allowed citizens to experience global premium goods and sample Chongqing specialties like Jiangjin Meijian plum wine, Wuxi Eagle Tea, and Yongchuan Xiuya tea, with over 50,000 participants. 

Source: People's Daily