Transnational transport links deliver development to Chengdu's Qingbaijiang

Qingbaijiang district in Chengdu, Sichuan province, is making full use of the China-Europe transnational rail service to further its openingup.

The district is developing an internationally competitive industrial system to boost regional growth, with a European industrial complex under construction.

The project known as the European Industrial City was approved in September 2017.

One of 66 industrial parks in Chengdu, the modern industrial complex project mainly focuses on two sectors－manufacturing near ports and supply chain management, and is aimed at creating an industrial cluster for import and export enterprises via the China-Europe freight trains.

At the European Industrial City, an intelligent manufacturing base funded by Chengdu Tianma, a bearing producer, is operating flat-out. Due to an influx of overseas orders, production lines in the base had to work during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in October, preparing for exports to Germany and the Netherlands.

"Due to the smaller production capacity in our old plant, we did not dare to accept all the orders before," said Yang Qunhao, general manager of Chengdu Tianma.

The designed production capacity of the new base doubles that of the old one and will be equipped with upgraded technologies, extend the industrial chain and increase production efficiency, Yang said.

After the new base is completed, 11 intelligent bearing production lines will be put into use that are capable of rolling out more than 20,000 sets of bearings used for offshore wind power farms, as well as 300,000 total sets of bearings a year, Yang added.

Thanks to the China-Europe freight train service, all of these products will be shipped to countries and regions in Europe, Southeast Asia and America, according to the general manager.

Another major investment project introduced to the European Industrial City is funded by Konka electronics group. The company invested 200 million yuan ($30 million) in four production sites for intelligent electronic devices in the industrial zone in December 2019.

About half a year later, the first batch of 100,000 TV sets rolled off production lines, marking that the project has reached its full production capacity, with intelligent displays being its signature product. It is capable of manufacturing 80,000 intelligent displays a month, according to the company.

"The European Industrial City's sound industrial policies, appealing environment and an ample supply of market resources provide local businesses with robust support for their development," said Zhou Bin, president of Konka. "All these have given us faith in growing stronger here.

"At the same time, Qingbaijiang's position as a transportation hub also helps us to explore the overseas market better."

The group has expanded investment by an additional 3 billion yuan for an intelligent electronics export-oriented production center in the European Industrial City, focused on multimedia displays, intelligent electronics, white goods, onboard devices and solar power electronics. The products will be exported via the China-Europe freight trains to the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the company.

In September, a new group of 16 projects involving close to 11 billion yuan in combined investment value were signed with the European Industrial City.

The projects are mainly from the intelligent manufacturing sector, including an unmanned helicopter production base funded by Beynac Technology (Hong Kong), and a research and development project focused on the export of intelligent electronic devices.

Wan Jianhong, president of a US-based company that invested in the R&D project, said: "Our products have been exported to North America and Europe. We decided on the investment at the European Industrial City because we hope to make full use of its transportation advantages and sell our products to BRI-related countries and regions, creating a first-class center for R&D and export of intelligent electronic devices using 5G technology."

Leng Shoubing, executive deputy general manager of Beynac, said Qingbaijiang's advantages in transportation is also a factor that prompted his company's decision to make a presence in the European Industrial City.

"The European Industrial City's development plan nicely dovetails with our company's future growth direction and aspiration for increased exports," Leng said.

Within three years, the European Industrial City has attracted 15 megaprojects with a total investment value close 57 billion yuan, including nearly $2 billion in overseas capital. Of these, three each involve over 10 billion yuan in investment value, one cost more than 5 billion yuan and three are each worth more than 3 billion yuan.

The European Industrial City has improved day after day, said an official of its administrative committee.

In addition to businesses, the industrial park has attracted higher education institutions. Sichuan Normal University and Sichuan Radio and TV University have both established branch campuses at the European Industrial City this year.

The European Industrial City was designed based on the learned experiences from a slew of landmark industrial parks at home and abroad, seeking high-quality development with a sound spacial layout for production, life and environmental spaces, an official said.

"By creating an industry ecosystem and innovation chain, the European Industrial City aims to become a new type of urban community, incorporating production, R&D, residences, consumption, services and environmental protection," he said.

To date, the industrial park has taken basic shape, with supportive amenities and facilities covering education, medical care, housing, culture and sports, being developed.

Qingbaijiang International Railway Port and an advanced materials industrial park have also gained development momentum in recent years. It has ranked among the top 100 districts in China in terms of comprehensive competitiveness for eight consecutive years.