Official Release | 247 Major Projects Signed, Over 62,000 Attendees - the 7th WCIFIT Delivers an Impressive "Report Card"

On May 25, the Achievement Release Conference of the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) was officially held. At the event, Zhang Yongwu, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commerce Commission, presented the key outcomes of this year's WCIFIT.

▲ On May 25, the achievement briefing of the 7th WCIFIT took place. Photo by Reporter Liu Li/Visual Chongqing

▲ Zhang Yongwu. Photo by Reporter Liu Li/Visual Chongqing

Over 1,300 enterprises and institutions participated

Over 62,000 attendees

This year's WCIFIT continued to focus on the theme of "New Western China, New Manufacturing, New Services", adopting a hybrid approach of "exhibitions + events" and "online + offline" to build a trade and economic exchange platform rooted in the Western China, serving the whole country, and connecting the world.

The WCIFIT designated three "guests of honor" for the first time. Thailand, as the guest country of honor, fully showcased the friendship marking the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, vividly reflecting Chongqing's deep integration into the Belt and Road Initiative and its ever-deepening global economic and trade partnerships. Sichuan, as the permanent guest province of honor, embodied the vibrant spirit of the Chengdu-Chongqing region's "twin-city" development in the new era and the commitment to fostering a "family-like" bond. A guest city of honor was designated for the first time, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region invited as the guest city of honor. Seven Chongqing-Hong Kong cooperation projects were successfully launched, showcasing Chongqing's attractive foreign investment environment.

Over 200 distinguished guests from home and abroad attended, including eight foreign ministers such as Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan; 19 officials from embassies and consulates in China; and 18 provincial- and ministerial-level leaders from sister provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities such as Sichuan, Qinghai, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region participated in related events.

This year's WCIFIT attracted more than 1,300 enterprises and institutions from 39 countries (regions), 28 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) across China, as well as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. A total of 212 central and local state-owned enterprises participated, more than tripling the number from the sixth session; while 140 Fortune Global 500 and multinational companies attended, doubling compared to the previous session. Notable first-time exhibitors included global and domestic well-known companies such as U.S.-based Adient plc, Italy's ATS, and Namchow Food Group.

This year's WCIFIT attracted over 62,000 visits for exhibitions, conferences, and shopping, an increase of about 10,000 compared to the sixth edition. Among these, professional visitors accounted for around 7,000, exhibitors about 6,000, and general public visitors nearly 50,000. The promotion of consumption was clearly effective, with thousands of specialty products from around the world available for residents to choose from. On-site sales of Rongchang Braised Goose and Fengdu Spicy Chicken reached RMB 600,000 and RMB 700,000 respectively. Trade cooperation hit new highs, with multiple trade matchmaking events held during the WCIFIT, resulting in trade agreements worth approximately RMB 2 billion. The exhibition and showcase were highly effective, fully demonstrating the Western region's high-quality development and achievements in opening up. The fair further strengthened its role as a "window" for the West to connect with the world, for the world to understand the West, and for cooperation between the West and global partners.

Exhibitions in Full Swing

Successfully Driving Visitor Traffic

This edition of the WCIFIT features three main exhibition zones: Comprehensive Image, International & Regional Cooperation, and Modern Industries. Additionally, new specialized zones have been introduced, including E-commerce, Cross-border E-commerce, Foreign Trade Premium Products, Silver Economy, Inspection and Testing, Industrial Design, Supply Chain Management, Production-oriented Finance, Legal and Intellectual Property Rights, and Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation. The total exhibition area spans 110,000 square meters.

The International & Regional Cooperation Exhibition Zone alone covers 11,500 square meters, showcasing a comprehensive display of the "Belt and Road" international cooperation, the overall image of international sister cities, achievements in cooperative exchanges, and high-quality domestic and international consumer goods. By building a dual platform that combines "international renown + industry leaders", the fair successfully attracted representative exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, including the Netherlands, Kenya, and Italy. Notably, the Netherlands' national children's brand Fien and Teun made its debut in Chongqing, alongside more than ten companies such as AkzoNobel and the Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V. (NACO), all appearing for the first time.

The Modern Industry Exhibition Zone brought together 722 leading enterprises from advanced manufacturing and modern services both domestically and internationally. It offered a comprehensive, full-chain, and all-scenario showcase of the innovative integration achievements between advanced manufacturing and modern services, cutting-edge emerging technologies, new business models, products, and formats, as well as industry-university-research collaborative platforms. Notable Chongqing new energy vehicle representatives such as AITO, AVATR, and Qingling were prominently featured.

At this year's WCIFIT, cutting-edge "black technologies" gathered to compete on the spotlight stage. Highlights included the global or Chongqing debuts of high-quality products such as Adient plc's Moritz premium car seats and PANDAG's world's first modular commercial lawn mower robot. Digital robots and low-altitude aircraft were on full display, attracting strong attention, alongside exhibits like the Wing Loong UAV model and 3D medical printers. The Chongqing Exhibition Hall showcased standout items including the AITO M8 electric vehicle, Camel Heavy-duty Drone, Black Sting micro-drone, 7 Sevnce Robotics, and an original spacesuit design by the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

The WCIFIT also became a grand "showcase" for food, with thousands of local specialties on display. Both domestic specialty products and trendy international goods drew enthusiastic crowds and widespread popularity. The International & Regional Cooperation Exhibition Zone served as a global showcase, featuring well-loved products such as handcrafted alpaca dolls from Peru, shea butter from Senegal, amber and jade jewelry from Myanmar, and herbal balm from Thailand. Specialty goods from various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities also proved popular, Sichuan, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Tibet all brought a diverse array of regional products. Chongqing's own favorites, including Liangping Zhangyazi (Preserved Duck), Chengkou Gastrodia and Native Chicken Soup, Qianjiang Chicken Offal, and Wuxi Grilled Fish, attracted food enthusiasts in droves.

This year's WCIFIT also focused on bringing in "traffic", with dedicated influencer-friendly pavilions like the International Exhibition Hall and the Foreign Trade Premium Products Exhibition Hall. Livestreaming sessions with internet personalities, including Rongchang's "Braised Goose Brother", helped drive product promotion. The "Chongqing Products Gather Online" E-commerce Resource Matching and New E-commerce All-domain Resource Selection Conference drew over 700 brand enterprises, leading e-commerce platforms, and more than 100 MCN agencies. Eight major digital commerce projects were signed on-site, and the official launch of the "Chongqing Products Gather Online" public e-commerce brand marked a regional collaboration among six provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities, Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, and Xinjiang, under the new "Chongqing Products Gather Online" star plan.

247 Major Projects Signed

Marking a Strong Performance in Investment Promotion

Investment promotion has always been a central feature of WCIFIT. At this year's WCIFIT, a series of key activities were successfully held, including the "MNCs Tour in Chongqing" and the "Invest in Western China" industry roadshows. A total of 247 major projects were signed, among which 124 were part of centralized signed projects, with a total contract value exceeding RMB 200 billion. Additionally, projects signed independently by various districts and counties surpassed RMB100 billion in value. These influential and catalytic projects will inject powerful momentum into shaping a new pattern for the Western Development in the new era.

From a scale perspective, nearly 100 projects exceed RMB1 billion in investment, totaling around RMB260 billion, including 17 projects each worth over RMB5 billion. From a quality perspective, 62 projects involve "Fortune Global 500" enterprises, "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive and Innovative" enterprises, industry leaders, or publicly listed companies, with a combined investment of nearly RMB 100billion, accounting for almost 30% of the total signed projects value. From an industry perspective, 167 projects are in the manufacturing sector, with an investment of RMB157.28 billion, while 57 projects are in modern services, totaling RMB75.28 billion. From a source perspective, 10 foreign-funded projects originated from countries and regions such as the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with a total investment of RMB16.4 billion. The implementation of these projects will provide robust support for Chongqing's high-quality development.

Among the signed projects, 122 industrial projects originated from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and other provinces and cities, with a total investment of RMB170 billion, accounting for over half of the total value of signed projects. Of these, 110 projects came specifically from eastern provinces and cities. WCIFIT's role in serving the development of Western China was fully demonstrated. The Alliance of Western China Associations of Enterprises with Foreign Investment was established in Chongqing, and the "Western China Foreign Investment Confidence Index" was released for the first time. Provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, such as Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Guangxi, collaborated on co-building and sharing industrial chains, signing 46 industrial cooperation projects totaling nearly RMB40 billion.

A total of close to 170 key industrial projects were signed in areas such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, next-generation electronic information manufacturing, and advanced materials, with a combined investment of nearly RMB160 billion, representing more than half of the total signed projects. These projects will strongly support the development and enhancement of Chongqing's "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system. The signed modern service industry projects span fields such as technological innovation, emerging finance, modern logistics, software and information technology, and are increasingly integrated with advanced manufacturing.

Chongqing has seen steadily growing cooperation with central state-owned enterprises in recent years. During this year's WCIFIT, 16 cooperation projects were signed with central SOEs, with a total investment exceeding RMB70 billion. These projects span sectors such as advanced manufacturing and energy. For example, China Energy Engineering Gezhouba Group Clean Energy Company will establish a "Central SOE Clean Energy Headquarters" project in Chongqing, and China National Coal Group Corporation will launch a clean coal power project in Fuling District.

Focus on Producer Services

10 Thematic Events "Packed with Substance"

At this session of the WCIFIT, emphasis was placed on producer services to support the development of modern industries. Ten thematic events centered on modern services were held, including a special Chongqing-Hong Kong cooperation forum on modern services, promoting mutual empowerment and integration between producer services and advanced manufacturing.

The event successfully launched the "City of Design" Industrial Design New Product Launch Event, with the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform established in Liangjiang New Area. Innovations in Chongqing's intelligent connected new energy vehicles, high-end equipment, and biomedicine sectors were showcased, alongside the unveiling of new city-level outstanding industrial design centers. The China New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center was also officially established in Liangjiang New Area. Additionally, the Singapore Design-Led Companies List 2025 was released. Jiutian Yilian's series of low-altitude navigation and monitoring products were unveiled at the "Aerospace Empowering Chongqing's Airspace Intelligent Journey" innovation product launch.

The event also featured the "Legal Safeguards in Chongqing" International Legal Services Special Event, a Promotion Conference on the High-Quality Development of Modern Logistics and Modern Industries, and the Financial Empowerment & Channel Linkage - Financial Cooperation & Matchmaking Event for the New Western Land-sea Corridor. The launch of the Land-Sea New Corridor Logistics Alliance was initiated, actively supporting "Chongqing enterprises" in going global. The International Industrial Talents Gather in Western China - "Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities" Joint Talent Recruitment Fair attracted 123 enterprises, offering over 3,900 job opportunities.

Specialized forums such as the 2025 China Western Carbon Neutrality & Green and Low-Carbon High-Quality Development Special Event and the China-Netherlands Smart/Sustainable Urban Construction Seminar fostered discussions on green and low-carbon development. Typical cases were successfully released, including pilot projects for urban and park carbon peak initiatives, "Chongqing Vehicles Going Global", and foreign-related legal services. In-depth policy interpretations were provided on hot topics such as zero-carbon industrial parks and financial services related to the Land-Sea New Corridor. A foreign-invested enterprise symposium was held to provide detailed explanations of the upcoming Several Measures for Stabilizing Foreign Investment Development in Chongqing. At the Invest in China Promotion Event on Greater Openness-Up In the Service Sector of Chongqing, the Chongqing Service Industry Opening-Up Index was unveiled. The Department of Foreign Investment Administration under the Ministry of Commerce offered on-site interpretations of national pilot policies to accelerate service sector opening-up. A German biomedicine delegation conducted targeted county-level visits and business matching.

Held Over 10 Trade Matching Events

Sparking a New Wave of Economic and Trade Cooperation

This year's WCIFIT has consistently upheld proactive service to integrate into the new development pattern, maintaining a dual focus on both domestic and international openness. Over ten events, including trade matchmaking, consumption promotion, and regional cooperation, were held to actively explore new areas of collaboration and create win-win opportunities.

The Global Sourcing Matchmaking Conference attracted buyers from 32 countries, with 550 domestic and international enterprises precisely matched for resource collaboration. On-site, intended contract agreements amounted to approximately RMB 65 million. The Alliance on Chinese Automobile and Motorcycle Exports to Africa was established at the Supply and Purchase Matchmaking Event of Chinese Automotive and Motorcycle Brands into the African Market, signing project agreements worth RMB1.65 billion. At the "Foreign Trade Premium Products China Tour - Chongqing Station" event, more than 70 buyers engaged in one-on-one production and sales matchmaking with foreign trade enterprises from Western provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities. Malaysia and Chongqing jointly discussed green, high-end, and intelligent transformation pathways for the food industry, focusing on sectors such as hot pot and edible oils. During the China (Chongqing) - UAE Economic and Trade Investment Promotion Conference, the Chongqing Municipal People's Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the Emirate of Ajman to deepen cooperation in industry and commerce, jointly promoting the "Chongqing Vehicles Going Global" initiative.

Simultaneously, WCIFIT carried out three major consumption promotion activities: "WCIFIT Benefits the Entire City", "WCIFIT Selected City Discounts", and "WCIFIT New Product Launches". An on-site "WCIFIT Selected Experience Center" was established, along with pre-event sub-venues in Jiangbei and Jiulongpo Districts, showcasing three key zones: selected Chongqing products, popular city goods, and international premium items, offering a unique blend of international flair and local vibrancy.

Four inter-provincial negotiation and exchange sessions were held to deepen regional cooperation and jointly contribute to the construction of a unified national market. At the Chongqing-Guangdong Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange, investments and trade cooperation exceeded RMB 2 billion. The "Chongqing Gifts in Hand, Together with Easy Joy" production and sales matchmaking conference resulted in purchase and sales contracts exceeding RMB 300 million between Chongqing brand merchants and Easy Joy Convenience Stores. Ningxia, Liaoning, and other provinces organized targeted matchmaking sessions to strengthen collaboration with Chongqing across energy, agricultural products, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

The 8th WCIFIT is scheduled for May next year. With a clear focus on national priorities, Chongqing's own strengths, public aspirations, and future directions, the city will uphold the values of innovation, intelligence, green, and openness. It aims to build a premier economic and trade cooperation event, driven by "precision matchmaking, global synergy, and empowered industries". We sincerely invite all new and old friends to reunite in Chongqing next year.

Source: New Chongqing - Chongqing Daily