Cities hold events to strengthen regional economic circle

The close bond between Chengdu and Chongqing, two of the largest metropolitan economies in Southwest China, has grown stronger since the central government released a plan to build the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle in January last year.

The vision for the economic circle, as laid out by the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, is for the area to become an important driver of high-quality development in western China, a major economic center with national influence, a hub for scientific and technological innovation, a new frontier for reform and opening-up, and a place that offers high-quality life.

"The collaborative building of the economic circle is off to a good start," a local official said. "The two cities are actively carrying out communication in building international centers of consumption, strengthening the economic circle's role as a consumption booster and furthering commercial cooperation."

On May 15, 2020, a vocational education group specializing in commerce and logistics in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle was established.

The group is a joint effort by Chengdu Polytechnic, the Urban Technician College of Sichuan, courier company SF Express, more than 100 large and medium-sized enterprises in the field of commerce and logistics, over 20 industry associations or societies, and more than 40 vocational schools in Chengdu and Chongqing.

"We believe the vocational education group will definitely promote the coordinated development of vocational education in Chengdu and Chongqing, and open a new chapter in the development of commerce and logistics vocational schools in the two cities," said Yu Zhiping, Party secretary of Chengdu Polytechnic.

On June 4, a seminar on school-industry cooperation between Chengdu and Chongqing took place at the Urban Technician College of Sichuan in Chengdu.

On the same day, the college hosted a job fair for employers and college graduates from Chengdu and Chongqing. Fifty key enterprises offered 2,100 jobs in industries such as manufacturing, logistics and services.

The fair helps to promote school-industry collaboration in Chengdu and Chongqing, which drives the healthy development of the regional economy, according to the fair's organizer.

The two cities have also carried out cooperation in culture and tourism as they strive to build the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.

At the seventh Western China Tourism Industry Expo and the 2021 Chongqing International Culture & Tourism Industry Expo that began on June 11, Chengdu won the attention of many visitors with a creatively and beautifully designed booth themed "Chengdu－A city of creativity and a destination for every season".

Chengdu highlighted its modern culture and tourism industry ecosystem initiative at the expo, which is aimed at helping Chengdu and Chongqing jointly build the Bashu Culture and Tourism Corridor, and foster representative industrial clusters and brands.

Chengdu and Chongqing are exploring the possibilities of jointly organizing exhibitions and conferences to improve transport connectivity and facilitate capital flow, tourist flow and corporate cooperation within the economic circle.

On April 22 last year, Hongyadong in Yuzhong district of Chongqing and Kuanzhai Alleys in Qingyang district of Chengdu signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build the Bashu Culture and Tourism Corridor.

The two tourist attractions will join hands in promoting urban culture, the image of the scenic spots and tourist activities. Events in the pipeline include a marketing campaign titled "A Tale of Two Cities－Chengdu and Chongqing", where Kuanzhai Alleys will be promoted to tourists in Hongyadong. Hongyadong will be promoted to tourists in Kuanzhai Alleys.

The two scenic spots are also planning to hold themed food exhibitions and publish tourist guidebooks that provide tips on dining, accommodation, shopping, entertainment and getting around in Chengdu and Chongqing. The goal is to offer tourists an opportunity to experience firsthand the unique yet compatible beauty of the two cities.

"The cooperation (between Kuanzhai Alleys and Hongyadong) is a reflection of the integration and compatibility of the two hugely popular tourist attractions," said Zhang Ting, deputy general manager of Chengdu Culture & Tourism Development Group.

Yang Jing, deputy general manager of Chongqing Tourism Investment Group, said, "We hope to boost tourism-related consumption, develop more city-level tourism projects and expand our tourist market through the joint promotions organized by Chengdu and Chongqing."

On Oct 16, 2020, the 17th Chengdu International Food Festival and the 12th Chongqing Hotpot Food Culture Festival kicked off in the two cities. Two recreational vehicles loaded with specialties from Chongqing, Chengdu and several other cities in Sichuan province were featured at the events in a creative way to display food from the region.

As part of the 17th Chengdu International Food Festival, the inaugural Chengdu International Chefs' Festival of Sichuan Cuisine invited renowned experts, companies and chefs to communicate with and learn from each other through seminars, exhibitions and culinary skill demonstrations.

The Chengdu International Chefs' Festival of Sichuan Cuisine would contribute greatly to boosting consumption, increasing domestic demand, vitalizing the restaurant business and enhancing the popularity of Sichuan cuisine, according to its organizer.