By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

Recently, there are quite a few materials from the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) on the desk of Li Qian, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. Besides him, other staff members of the office also have a copy of these materials.

Li Qian said, “We should have a new understanding of ILSTC. This year, we are going to make efforts to expand international regions for it.”

As a bridge connecting “Belt” and “Road”, ILSTC is expanding its coverage.

As a bridge connecting “Belt” and “Road”, ILSTC is expanding its coverage to international regions

This year, Chongqing will strive for a new pattern of greater foreign affairs services, wider opening up, and faster development, so as to expand the covering regions of ILSTC, and share the benefits of opening up with other western provinces, districts, and municipalities.

Li Qian added that they will focus on building an exemplary inland city of opening up as well as scheming and implementing plans for state-to-state exchanges and cooperation. They plan to promote exchanges and cooperation with key target countries and regions, which are along with ILSTC and China-Europe freight trains. They will increase direct flights and inbound tourists, congregate foreign capital and grow foreign trade.

Apart from Singapore, one of the “dual hubs”, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and other countries have also successively joined ILSTC.

Apart from Singapore, one of the “dual hubs”, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and other countries have also successively joined ILSTC

According to the Director Meeting of Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government held in this February, Chongqing aims to give full play to the advantages of ILSTC, make new achievements in jointly constructing of the “Belt and Road” Initiative more deeply and pragmatically, and vigorously promote the construction of ILSTC. Furthermore, it also schemes to enrich the branch network of China-Europe freight trains and open more than 10 new international routes, thus promoting people-to-people exchanges with the construction of ILSTC.

Source: CQCB