The Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle is the region with the most dense population, the strongest industrial foundation, the strongest innovation capabilities, the broadest market space, and the highest degree of openness in western China. It has a unique and important strategic position in the overall development of the country.

In April 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated during an inspection in Chongqing that the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle was a major strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee. Chongqing and Sichuan should work closely together to continuously improve their development levels and jointly sing the "Tale of Two Cities" in the western region in the new era.

Since the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "Outline Plan for the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle" in October 2021, the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle has moved towards "an important economic center with national influence, a scientific and technological innovation center, and a new highland for reform and opening up., high-quality living and livable place" continues to forge ahead. Under the guidance of the strategy of developing the western region, the high-quality development and growth pole in the western region has accelerated its rise and momentum.

8 trillion yuan to create a new growth rate for economic development

On November 2, Chongqing girl Hou Yulan became the 100 millionth passenger to depart from Chengdu Railway Station this year.

"I often come to Chengdu on business. It only takes more than an hour from Chengdu East Railway Station to Chongqing Shapingba Station." Hou Yulan said with a smile. In the first ten months of this year, Chengdu sent 6.462 million railway passengers to Chongqing, with an average of more than 20,000 passengers per day. This is a vivid epitome of the close exchanges between Chengdu and Chongqing.

On November 2, 2024, at the Chengdu East Railway Station, Chongqing girl Hou Yulan (in the picture frame) became the 100 millionth passenger departing from Chengdu Railway Station this year. Published by Xinhua Agency (Photo by Fei Sitong)

From the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway to the Chengdu-Sui-Chongqing Railway, the Chengdu-Chongqing High-speed Railway, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Mid-Line High-speed Railway under construction, the time and space distance between the two cities directly connected to the tracks continues to shorten. Six railway corridors have been built and 16 expressways have been opened to traffic between Sichuan and Chongqing.

The first box girder erection operation site of the Chongqing section of the Chengdu-Chongqing Middle Line High-speed Railway was photographed on September 26, 2024 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

In accordance with the overall requirements of the planning outline, we must firmly establish the concept of integrated development, sing the "Tale of Two Cities", jointly build an economic circle, and play a supporting role in promoting the development of the western region in the new era.

Moving in the opposite direction, Sichuan and Chongqing have established a multi-level and regular cooperation mechanism, jointly issued more than 100 policy documents, focusing on policy sharing and matters handling. In the first three quarters, the 300 major projects in jointly building the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle have completed an investment of 369.9 billion yuan, with an annual investment completion rate of 84.7%, and a progress of 9.7 percentage points over schedule. In the first half of this year, investment in key areas of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle grew rapidly, and industrial investment increased by 14.5% year-on-year.

Chengdu-Chongqing region has 41 industrial categories. The modern industrial chain has distinctive characteristics and complete chains. Industries such as automobiles, electronic information, and power batteries have a prominent position in the country. Chen Heqiang, vice president and general manager of supply chain of GE Healthcare China, said that the company has developed four supply chain clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Chengdu-Chongqing and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, driving thousands of upstream and downstream suppliers.

The intelligent production site photographed in the final assembly workshop of Changan Automobile Chongqing Liangjiang Factory on July 3, 2024. Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

At present, the total population of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle of 185,000 square kilometers has reached nearly 100 million. In 2023, the total economic volume of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle will reach 8.19867 billion yuan. After exceeding 7 trillion yuan in 2021, it will take two years to reach another trillion yuan level. In the first three quarters of this year, the GDP of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle reached 6.18914 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. The economic aggregate accelerated to approach the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Guizhou and Yunnan both proposed high-quality development plans to actively integrate into the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle, and Shaanxi proposed to establish a coordinated docking mechanism with the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle. The Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle has become increasingly important as an important economic center with national influence, and its supporting role in the development of the western region continues to increase.

Aiming at the forefront and accelerating the formation of new productive forces

Daocheng, Sichuan, 4410 meters above sea level.

Cosmic rays, which are extremely difficult to observe, were captured by the "cable" of the Daocheng High Altitude Cosmic Ray Observatory. Through various precision instruments, these ray traces are transformed into data and transmitted to the National Supercomputing Chengdu Center for processing through a dedicated data line.

On April 21, 2023, in the "Lasuo" Water Cherenkov Detector Array Pool of the high-altitude Cosmic Ray Observatory located in Haizi Mountain, Daocheng County, Sichuan Province, researchers took a boat to replace experimental equipment. Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Jin Liwang

This is one of the application scenarios of scientific and technological innovation capabilities in Chengdu-Chongqing region. At present, 11 national science installations, 5 national industrial technology innovation centers, the first national laboratory in the west, and the Chengdu-Chongqing national hub node of the national integrated computing power network have been built in Sichuan and Chongqing, and the construction of the Western Science City has begun "one city" Multi-park "model.

The new-generation artificial solar China Circulation-3 experimental site in Chengdu flashes dazzling light from time to time. In August 2023, it achieved high-confinement mode operation under a plasma current of 1 million amps for the first time, making a major breakthrough.

On April 30, 2024, at the China Circulation-3 experimental site in Chengdu, Zhong Wulu (first from left), head of the China Circulation-3 team, was directing the operation. Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Xie Jiao

"Controllable nuclear fusion reactions have been scientifically verified, and the next step is engineering realization." Zhong Wulv, head of the No. 3 circulation team of China, said that thanks to the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle, relevant research has received support in Tianfu New Area, and international cooperation has been carried out in an orderly manner.

The Chengdu-Chongqing region has now jointly carried out 161 core technology research projects, shared more than 13,000 sets (sets) of large-scale instruments and equipment, and a number of innovative achievements such as the energy-saving driving assistance system for 400 kilometers per hour high-speed trains have been applied. Major equipment manufacturing ranks among the first in the country. In the first square array, the noses of domestic large aircraft are manufactured here, nuclear power technologies such as "Hualong-1" are developed here, and industrial drones such as "Pterosaur" and "Double-tailed Scorpion" form a complete industrial chain here. Aerospace information industries such as Beidou chips performed strongly.

From deep space for cosmic ray observation to deep space for dark matter exploration, from scientific research to science and technology industry, Chengdu-Chongqing region's hard power as a scientific and technological innovation center continues to improve.

Promote reform through opening up and build a new highland for trade exchanges

On October 25, an "ASEAN Express" carrying ASEAN goods left Chongqing Tuanjie Village Central Station and is expected to arrive in Poland in as soon as two weeks. By connecting the New Western Land-Sea Corridor with the China-Europe Railway, the Chengdu-Chongqing region has further expanded open trade. In the first three quarters of this year, the value of goods transported by Chongqing through the New Western Land-Sea Corridor increased by 80% year-on-year.

At present, the New Western Land-Sea Corridor reaches 542 ports in 125 countries and regions around the world. "With the cross-border highway shuttle bus from the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, the freight time for our products to Myanmar has been reduced from 2 months to 4 days." said Yang Heping, general manager of Chongqing Dechengwei Technology Co., Ltd.

This is the Chongqing Waterless Port of the New Land-Sea Corridor taken on October 28, 2024 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

Chengdu and Chongqing are two megacities in the west, located at the connection point of the "Belt and Road", the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. The three international airports of Chengdu Shuangliu, Chengdu Tianfu and Chongqing Jiangbei are operating at high frequencies, moving towards the goal of a world-class airport cluster in Chengdu and Chongqing. Along the air, railway, water, highway and other corridors, the Chengdu-Chongqing region is breaking through the location restrictions of the inland hinterland, forming an open pattern of linkage between land and sea and mutual assistance between east and west.

This is Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan (taken in May 2021, drone photo). Published by Xinhua Agency (Photo by Wang Ruilin)

Promoting reform through opening up, Chengdu International Railway Port has formed a total of 137 institutional innovations. Chongqing reformed the "International Letter of Credit for Railway Bill of Lading" into a financing document, raising a total of 400 million yuan for enterprises in the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park.

Merchants from all over the world have come one after another. At the end of October, Intel announced an increase of US$300 million in registered capital expansion in Chengdu; at the "National Development and Reform Commission and U.S. Multinational Enterprises High-Level Roundtable in China" held in Chongqing, six major foreign investment projects were signed, with an investment amount of approximately 7.57 billion yuan.

Chengdu heads east and Chongqing heads west. The two metropolitan areas travel in both directions, planning and laying out 10 integrated development platforms in adjacent areas; the "Chongqing-Zhoushan" river-sea direct route has been opened to promote the integrated development of the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River... The Yangtze River in the east, The west supports Qinghai-Tibet, Shaanxi and Gansu in the north, and Yunnan and Guizhou in the south. The responsibilities of the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle in the dual circulation pattern are increasingly important.

Overlooking the snowy mountains and resting on the Yangtze River to create a high-quality and livable place for life

When the sun rises in the east, standing on Longquan Mountain in Chengdu and looking out, to the east are the mid-Sichuan hills near Chongqing, and to the west are several snowy mountains surrounding the plains. The red glow coats the snowy mountains with colorful clothes. Behind the snowy mountains are the vast sky and high ground in western China.

As night begins, we stroll north and south along the mountain city of Chongqing. On the two rivers and four banks of the Yangtze River and Jialing River, urban lights and the waves of the river are intertwined. The lower reaches of the river is the long-lasting prosperity in eastern China.

On August 21, 2024, tourists took a cruise ship to enjoy the night view of Chongqing. Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

In the old teahouse, some people sip tea and talk about history; in the commercial district, some people show off fashion; in the stadium, there are endless competitions and performances. The colorful urban life makes people feel happy.

Direct settlement of medical treatment across provinces and places for multiple diseases, and mutual recognition of various electronic certificates... In recent years, the convenience matters of Sichuan-Chongqing Communication Office have been continuously introduced, allowing people to better enjoy a convenient life in the same city. This year, the General Office of Chongqing City Government and the General Office of Sichuan Province Government jointly issued the "List of Key Tasks for Deepening Sichuan-Chongqing Government Service Cooperation in 2024", which includes 72 policy measures in 7 aspects. The two places will continue to expand a number of high-frequency matters and strive to handle more than 350 matters.

A good urban functional environment not only provides services to people, but also promotes people's self-growth.

On August 21, 2024, tourists leisurely and went shopping in the Jiefangbei Commercial District in Yuzhong District, Chongqing City. Photo by Xinhua Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

27-year-old Tian Wenhui has just been in Chengdu for a year. He has become a squad leader of express delivery and is worried about business in several streets. "Chengdu has changed rapidly and greatly. Working here has given me a lot." he said.

Takeout boys, e-sports players, street art, online anchors... more and more professions are joining the operation of urban society, constituting a rich and diverse functional ecosystem of the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle.

In recent years, Chengdu has promoted the construction of a youth development city, provided a series of warm services for young talents who are employed and started businesses from abroad, and taken multiple measures to create a talent highland.

Creative transformation of industrial relics, subways running through buildings... In the greenways, in the river breeze, and under the neon lights, lovers depend on each other, the old and the young are brought together to feel the vitality and happiness of the city.

Written reporters: Xie Jiao, Li Xiaoting, Yuan Qiuyue

Video reporters: Yang Jin, Li Aibin

Poster design: Zhao Danyang

Coordinator: Liu Yangyang, Chen Enqi, Zhou Yongxi, Meng Jie