Jiangsu launches plans for development as intersection of BRI

Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government launched five plans in January 2019, with the aim of promoting the high-quality construction of Jiangsu as the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

It is expected that by the end of 2020, Jiangsu’s geographic advantage as the intersection of the BRI will be basically established and a high-level opening-up pattern will be initially formed.

The document lists five areas, covering the expansion of international integrated transport system, international cooperation on production capacity, promotion of trade development along the Silk Road Economic Belt, upgrade of overseas industrial parks and cultivation of cultural brands.

Jiangsu will devote efforts to expand its international integrated transport system. The province will spare no efforts in constructing coastal railways to make sure these railways can be put into operation at the beginning of the 14th Five-year Plan (2020-24). A large railway system alongside the Yangtze River Delta connecting Shanghai and China's central and western regions will gain momentum.

The project to turn Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, into a regional shipping logistics center is expected to be accelerated, giving full play to the advantage of the Yangtze River’s 12.5-meter-deep water channel.

The planning document points out that Jiangsu will offer more guidance in leading equipment manufacturing companies in areas such as engineering equipment, rail traffic, new electric power, and ships and marine engineering to actively participate in infrastructure construction in regions including Africa and Latin America.

Companies managing businesses such as light textiles, petrochemicals, metallurgy, building materials and new energy equipment are being encouraged to set up manufacturing bases in areas including Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Africa to expand their market space.

Jiangsu is considering promoting trade development along the Silk Road Economic Belt, encouraging companies to take active roles in various kinds of economic and trade exchanges such as exhibitions and expositions held by countries involved in the economic belt.