Visitors are introduced to a cross-border e-commerce platform at a center in the Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

Journalists from 21 overseas Chinese-speaking media outlets on March 28 visited Liangjiang New Area – located in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality – to witness for themselves how it has successfully dedicated itself to free trade and innovation.

The reporters were from media outlets in the US, Russia, Japan, Thailand and other countries and they visited the Liangjiang Coordinative Zone, Guoyuan Port, the Liangjiang Inland Free Trade Demonstration Hall and the Belt and Road Commodity Exhibition and Trade Center.

The Liangjiang Coordinative Zone reportedly showcased the latest results in innovation to the media outlets. Officials from the Chongqing-based Harbin Institute of Technology and the National University of Singapore welcomed the media representatives and introduced two academic institutions to them.

"What the Liangjiang New Area offers to research institutes is capital, space and supporting infrastructure and services, and in return it gains upgraded industry, exchanges of top talent and more chances of business and investment in return," said Sun Hui, a journalist from a Japan-based news agency.

Sun added that it was a precious lesson to learn from and others concurred with the positive sentiments.

"Guoyuan Port aims high," said Wu Min, head of an Italy-based news outlet. "The local industrial layout and high potential of development will bring benefits, not only to the surrounding areas of Chongqing, but also to overseas markets," she added.

In the Belt and Road Commodity Exhibition and Trade Center, visitors were reportedly impressed by three functions in the Lianglu Cuntan Free Trade Port Area: transport, trade and tourism.

"It only takes 10 minutes for a customer to place an order in the center and pick up the goods he or she just ordered", said Yang Jianjun, a manager in charge of the center, referring to imported products being sold through the center's cross-border e-commerce platform.