Chongqing, Chengdu cooperate on opening-up highland

Southwest China's two national new areas -- Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing municipality and Tianfu New Area in Chengdu, Sichuan province -- held their first joint conference on Feb 28 to promote regional economic circle development, according to officials.

The meeting was seen as enhancing cooperation between both areas, which will make Chengdu-Chongqing region an influential national center for the economy and technology innovation, an opening-up highland, as well as an ideal place to live.

Officials said both new areas would work closely in strategic coordination, inland opening-up new modes, transportation interconnections, industrial interactive development, technology innovation center construction and reforms in multiple areas.

They added that as one of the priorities, the construction of an inland opening-up highland will allow both Liangjiang and Tianfu to have complementary advantages in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Both areas will further their cooperation in aviation and rail-water combined transportation -- relying on the China Express Railway, aviation hubs and national logistics hubs.

Officials said that currently Liangjiang is playing a key role in expanding opening-up in Mid-west China, as inland's first national new area. With several opening-up platforms -- such as Guoyuan port, Lianglu Cuntan free trade port and Jiangbeizui central business district -- Liangjiang will co-establish national logistics centers with cities in Chengdu-Chongqing region.

Plans are for Liangjiang and Tianfu to also support technological cooperation between enterprises, in order to build and share national key labs, as well as innovation platforms. Focusing on competitive and leading industries, both areas aim at breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies.

During the joint conference, Liangjiang and Tianfu agreed to set up work teams and form a normalized cooperation mechanism, to achieve development in some key areas every year.