FTZ to rely on huge shipping network

The advanced international transport network in Chengdu is expected to boost the development of the newly launched Sichuan free trade zone.

China launched the zone on April 1, together with six other free trade zones, a move that is expected to accelerate the country's opening-up and boost the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Sichuan free trade zone covers nearly 120 square kilometers, of which 100 are in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan.

"As platforms that integrate into the global economy, free trade zones need to have large transport networks to maintain close economic ties with countries around the world," said Dai Bin, head of a research center for regional economy and urban management at Southwest Jiaotong University.

He said Chengdu is China's fourth-largest aviation hub, fifth-largest railway hub and an important highway hub, laying a solid foundation for the city to facilitate trade links with the outside world.

"The Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, which serves as an international logistics corridor linking China and Europe, will play a crucial role in the future development of Sichuan's free trade zone," Dai said.

Supported by the express rail, the Sichuan free trade zone can strengthen cooperation with China's coastal ports, establish more duty-free shops to boost cross-border e-commerce businesses and also better facilitate construction of bonded logistics centers, Dai said.

"The construction of a new airport in Chengdu was a key factor in Sichuan being approved to be a free trade zone," said Deng Ling, a professor of economics at Sichuan University.

The new airport will boost Chengdu's opening-up and international connections, thus providing strong support for construction of the FTZ, she said.

Construction of the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport started last year, making Chengdu the third city on the Chinese mainland after Beijing and Shanghai to have a second civil international airport.