Shenyang to be a central city in Northeast Asia

Liaoning opening up to wider world with free trade zone and continental freight train service

Wang Xinwei, Party secretary of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, said: "In recent years, Shenyang has made great efforts in promoting cross-border trade and attracting investment, which has helped Shenyang improve its level of opening-up to the outside world and make solid steps in revitalization and development."

Shenyang should compare with Tokyo in Japan and Seoul in South Korea, and become a main force in serving high-quality development, Wang added.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), Shenyang accelerated the pace of opening up to the outside world, realizing 468.5 billion yuan ($73.48 billion) in total import and export, with an average annual growth rate of 8.44 percent, and utilizing $5.27 billion of foreign investment. From January to October 2021, the city utilized foreign investment of $720 million, up 24.1 percent year-on-year.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Shenyang will strive to keep its economic aggregate above 1 trillion yuan, its revenue in the general public budgets above 100 billion yuan, and its population above 10 million.

"Shenyang will further expand its opening-up, and build itself into an international central city in Northeast Asia by taking its advantages in location and industries," Wang said.

The capital of Liaoning is stepping up efforts to open wider to the outside world, as China-Europe freight trains are launched.

By the end of June 2021, a total of 996 trips have been made by the China-Europe freight trains. The land route has provided a convenient and stable channel for Liaoning to integrate into the global economy.

The local government said that in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, the construction of an international railway transport channel is urgent.