Chongqing FTZ aims to connect economic belts

The Chongqing Free Trade Zone aims to become an international logistics hub serving the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Chongqing FTZ, established on April 1, consists of Liangjiang New District, Xiyong and Guoyuangang and covers an area of about 120 square kilometers.

Zhang Bo, vice general manager of the newly founded Chongqing Baosheng International Trade Company, said: "The company mainly imports printing equipment and had been in Hong Kong for years. We moved the company from Hong Kong to the FTZ in Chongqing, because we are optimistic of the FTZ's development."

It takes more than four months to transport the equipment from Europe to China by sea, and less than one month by the China-Europe Freight Train. The pressure on loans therefore becomes lighter, said Zhang.

According to Zhang, Chongqing has the potential to become a national distributing center of printing equipment, thanks to its bonded railway logistics center and convenient water transport channel along the Yangtze River.

By the end of June, 304 projects have been built in the FTZ, involving a total investment of 182 billion yuan (US$28 billion).

Experts believe the FTZ in Chongqing can play a bigger role in connecting the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.