SW. China's Chengdu sees trade with B&R countries up 45.4 pct in H1

Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, saw its trade with the countries along the Belt and Road routes grow 45.4 percent in the first half of the year. 

During the period, value of the city's imports and exports totaled 323.09 billion yuan (about 46.33 billion U.S. dollars), up 23.5 percent year on year. 

In breakdown, its imports and exports grew 25.5 percent and 21.9 percent year on year, respectively. 

Despite impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chengdu saw a steady economic recovery in the first half of the year and achieved the gross domestic product (GDP) of 829.86 billion yuan, up 0.6 percent year on year. 

During the epidemic prevention and control period, the new economy provides opportunities for urban transformation and development. 

According to Lu Tiecheng, an official of Chengdu, the city will continue to make innovation and release more development opportunities for new economy enterprises.

It is reported that the internet sector has become a key component of China's "new economy" as the country undergoes a shift to growth driven more by technology and consumption.