Chongqing has welcomed the simultaneous kick-off of its 22 major new infrastructure projects, covering such fields as 5G, data center, and artificial intelligence, with a total investment of RMB 81.5 billion.

Technicians test and evaluate automatic driving functions at the automobile inspection test field in Chongqing Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Tang Yi)

Covering over 0.66 square kilometers and lying in Chongqing Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, the national quality inspection base enjoys ten national inspection centers and supporting facilities, including the automobile inspection test field, notebook computer, urban energy measurement, and elevator and lifter. In the elevator and lifter lab, technicians are testing the performance indicators of elevators at high altitudes.

On March 10, Changan Automobile announced the massive production of its novel model equipped with a Level 3 automated driving system, making the automaker the national pioneer in this field. Notably, the test and evaluation of its automated driving function are completed at the base.

The base is only an epitome to reflect Chongqing’s active moves to implement new infrastructure in recent years. Moreover, in Chongqing Xiyong Micro-electronics Industrial Park, with the integrated circuit as its pillar, some new infrastructure projects have been steadily releasing new drivers for growth. For instance, the phase II project of SK Hynix, which was put into operation last September, helps the integrated circuit industry to achieve growth against the trend in the first quarter this year, achieving an output value of RMB 4,098 million, a year-on-year increase of 52.3%. As for the park’s joint microelectronic center, which was established two years ago, the 8-inch silicon-based optoelectronic special process platform, its phase I project with an investment of RMB 1.3 billion, will welcome the volume production of such products as 100G/400G high-speed optical transceiver chip, lidar chip and microwave photonic chip in this May.

“Owing to its advantages in expanding effective investment, fostering new drivers for growth and leading the transformation and upgrading of the real economy, the acceleration of new infrastructure serves as a strong move to stabilize the current growth and promote the long-run development,” said Dai Ming, Deputy Director of Chongqing Development and Reform Commission.

Chongqing is planning to set up a dynamic database for major new infrastructure projects to promote industrial upgrading better. So far, the database has included more than 250 projects, with a total investment of more than RMB 230 billion. “Such 22 major new infrastructure projects will play an important role in Chongqing’s efforts to accelerate the upgrading of the industrial chain and cluster in the intelligent industry and to build itself into a powerhouse of intelligent manufacturing and an important city of smart industry,” added Dai Ming.