Overseas envoys tour modern industries

A total of 16 foreign diplomats from nine countries concluded a four-day visit to Southwest China's Chongqing on Sunday.

The trip, themed "China, An Opportunity: Chongqing Brands Global Promotion Diplomatic Envoys", was organized to enhance cooperation and foster exchanges between the southwestern municipality and countries and regions across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Central and Eastern Europe as well as countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The diplomatic envoys — including ambassadors to China from Argentina, Cambodia, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Pakistan; a minister from Germany; and counselors from Serbia and Singapore — paid visits to areas of the city such as Yuzhong, Nan'an, Shapingba, Liangping, Fuling and Dazu districts and Liangjiang New Area, to learn more about the city's unique landscape, culture and industries. Most importantly, they explored business opportunities in the largest municipality in China.

The trip was part of the Chongqing Brands Global Promotion Program, which is a year-round initiative jointly hosted by the city's publicity department; commissions of education, economic and information, agriculture and rural affairs, commerce, and culture and tourism; and foreign affairs office, and is organized by the Western China International Communication Organization.

"This is my first time in Chongqing," said Marcelo Suarez Salvia, ambassador of Argentina to China. "I see a very vibrant city, very modern, very clean and I am amazed."

Chongqing, a megacity with a population of 32 million in Southwest China, located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, boasts key geographic advantages as a strategic pivot in the national development programs for western regions and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and also as a connecting point for the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

According to Chongqing Customs, in 2023, Chongqing's general trade exports reached nearly 200 billion yuan ($27.68 billion) — among which, exports of Chongqing-made mobile phones and automobiles exceeded 37 billion yuan and 33 billion yuan; an 11.5 percent and 51.9 percent year-on-year increase respectively.

As a key hub of the country's auto industry, Chongqing registered rapid growth in new energy vehicle production in 2023. More than 500,000 NEVs rolled off production lines in Chongqing that year, up 30.3 percent from 2022, according to local authorities.

Chongqing carmaker Changan Automobile has achieved fast growth in overseas markets. In the first quarter of this year, Changan sold 108,900 units abroad, marking a significant year-on-year increase of about 80 percent.

At the first stop of the trip, which was the research and development center of Changan on Thursday, the envoys showed interest in learning about the development of the local automobile industry.

"Quality of the chassis, luxury of the vehicle, high technologies used in the systems … everything makes it very appealing. That's why China right now represents over 60 percent of the NEVs sold worldwide," said Michael Rene Campbell Hooker, ambassador of Nicaragua to China.

He said Nicaragua and other countries of the Global South are welcoming these NEVs and hope to make that important transition. It will help their countries to develop sustainably.

On Friday morning, the envoys visited the "China Liangping Pomelo Sea" — a main production base for Liangping pomelo fruit and a demonstration base for local rural vitalization — in Liangping district.

As the only international wetland city in Southwest China, Liangping has achieved exemplary results and applications in wetland ecological protection.

Ambassador of Honduras to China Salvador Moncada said Chongqing sets an example for Honduras, which is a tropical country and has a similar climate and problems in terms of plants and animals' conservation.

On Saturday morning, the envoys participated in the 2024 Land-Sea Economic Forum and the launch ceremony of China: An Opportunity: Chongqing Brands Global Promotion. At the ceremony, envoys from various countries and city leaders jointly initiated the global promotion initiative, highlighting Chongqing's strategic position and development potential in the global economy.

After lunch, the envoys proceeded to the International Logistics Hub in the Inland China Exhibition Center for a comprehensive overview of Chongqing's strategic initiatives and latest developments in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

As a pivotal logistics hub in western China, Chongqing connects inland China with the global market through its strategic geographical location and improved infrastructure.

The center illustrated Chongqing's essential functions and accomplishments in advancing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, showcasing the city's efforts in developing an open highland through high-tech displays.

Argentine Ambassador to China Marcelo Suarez Salvia emphasized that as trade continues to expand, China and Argentina must engage in more interactive cooperation in logistics. "Chongqing is strategically located in China, with extensive and modern infrastructure that facilitates the entry of Argentine products into the Chinese market and vice versa."

Wong Choo Sin, the economic counselor at the embassy of Singapore in China, praised Chongqing's impressive integration of air, land, and sea transport into a unified system.

As the gateway to western China, Chongqing has established a vast distribution network connecting Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Europe. This strategic positioning underpins Singapore's collaboration with Chongqing on the initiative.

Later in the afternoon, the envoys visited Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology to observe the city's significant advancements in high-tech medical fields, particularly ultrasound-focused surgery. This technology highlights the competitiveness and innovation of Chongqing enterprises in the global medical technology sector, offering less invasive treatment options for patients.

Campbell Hooker stated that since 2007, Nicaragua has been heavily investing in its healthcare sector.

"Healthcare in Nicaragua is free, and we provide comprehensive services ranging from vaccinations to oncology preventive care. Therefore, partnering with Haifu Technology and companies in Chongqing is an absolute priority for us. This technology is highly appealing to Nicaragua and other developing countries," said the ambassador.