On March 24, Sichuan Provincial Department of
Commerce and Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce convened a meeting in
the Department to deepen business cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing and
promote the construction of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. Centering
on the business sectors of Sichuan and Chongqing at the meeting, both sides
made exchanges on the following subjects, such as making joint efforts to drive
ideas and strategies for the construction of Sichuan-Chongqing economic circle,
working together to build "the Belt and Road" import and export
commodity distribution center, accelerating the construction of
Sichuan-Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone Cooperative Opening Demonstration Zone
through overall planning and deepening the cooperation in convention and
exhibition between Chengdu and Chongqing. Liu
Xin, Director-general of Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce attended and
addressed the meeting. Xu Xincheng and Song Gang, Deputy Directors of Chongqing
Municipal Commission of Commerce talked about the main considerations and
suggestions for the initiative. The meeting was hosted by Chen Youqing,
Full-time Deputy Director of China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone Office and
attended by Deng Dexiong, Deputy Commissioner of the Special Commissioner
Office in Chengdu of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
and Deputy Director of China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone Office.
Director-general Liu Xin pointed out that building
Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle represents the strategic decision of our
country, which is of a great benefit for Sichuan and Chongqing. The First
Party-Government Joint Meeting of Chengdu and Chongqing indicates that the
cooperation between the two regions has entered into a new stage which is
strategy-driven, all-round and in-depth and pushed forward by high-level
administration. The business sphere of Sichuan and Chongqing must seize the
strategic opportunity and focus on the main issues to enhance the commercial
cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing. On
one hand, both sides need to work together with a view to obtaining favorable
policies from the central government so as to strive for a bigger scope of
authority in terms of foreign trade and investment, opening-up of
service sector and collaborative opening of pilot free trade zones as well as
the formation of rules and regulations for roadway trade. On the other hand,
both parties will make joint efforts to advance the major feasible projects
with short investment cycle and make breakthroughs in the enhancement of
effectiveness of China Railway Express, the construction of the Land-sea New
Channel in Western China and the cooperation under capital account. Sichuan and
Chongqing should step up cooperation and communication, and work together on
major fields of business cooperation and coordination mechanism. As smart and
able players, both sides need to give full play to their advantages and
resources while developing the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.
The two sides reached a consensus about the
establishment of mechanism, formulation of plans, creation of lists and other
relevant matters. First, the two regions will establish the joint conference
mechanism made up of a special coordination team, being responsible for connecting
decision-making level, coordination level and executive level, so as to enhance
the cooperation in information exchanging, data sharing, case communication and
task discussion. Second, through research and study, the Construction Plan
for Sichuan-Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone Cooperative Opening Demonstration
Zone and the Working Plan for Deepening Sichuan-Chongqing Business
Cooperation and Promoting the Construction of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
will be proposed to comb through and create development strategy and major
tasks of the business cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing. Besides, both
sides will realize policy coordination and benefit sharing, and focus on
optimizing inventory and broadening increment. Third,
through research and study, three lists will be created, including
"working together to obtain favorable policies", "promoting
major projects independently through joint efforts" and "Starting
early for early return", to manage and promote the businesses in the form
of lists and projects.
Over 30 people including the persons in charge of relevant offices of Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce and Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce attended the meeting.
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