"Chongqing is set to launch a Russian Town construction project in Liangjiang New Area," said Liu Qiang, vice-mayor of the city, at a conference on cooperation between Yangtze River regions in China and the Volga Federal District in Russia on Feb 25.

The project aims to attract enterprises to invest in hotels, Russian restaurants, performance groups and language training institutions.

A designated area of 1000 square meters in an import and export commodity exhibition center will serve for the display and trading of Russian products, said Liu.

Russia also plans to set up a consulate in Chongqing. The vice-mayor introduced a list of cooperation programs in investment and the humanities field at the conference.

He also said that Chongqing and the Volga district would launch an aircraft manufacturing program for helicopters and seaplanes in an aviation-oriented industrial park in Liangjiang New Area.

In addition, direct flights between Chongqing and Moscow and between Chongqing and cities in the Volga Federal District are expected to start this year.

Chongqing government officials promoted the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway at the conference. Using it, goods can be delivered to Russia within 12 days. With a shortened transportation period, Russia products will increase their competitive edge in Chinese or even Asia-Pacific markets.

With its rail connection, Chongqing is becoming an inland port in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River region, distributing goods from other regions in China to Russia, according to Liu.

Up to 82 potential programs serving Chongqing and the Volga Federal District in Russia were proposed during the conference.