"Twin Cities" Lead the Way: Combined GDP of Sichuan and Chongqing Exceeds RMB 10 Trillion

"Twin Cities" leading, regional synergy in progress! In 2025, the combined economic output of Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality surpassed the RMB 10 trillion mark, with its share of the national total rising to approximately 7.2%. Driven by the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle strategy, the region's GDP has leaped across four RMB-trillion thresholds within six years, marking a comprehensive upgrade in its developmental capacity.

On January 3, 2020, the sixth meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA) clearly proposed "promoting the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle to create an important growth pole for high-quality development in Western China." Over the past six years, this national strategy has evolved from its initial launch to full-scale momentum. According to data from the statistics bureaus of Chongqing and Sichuan, in 2025, Chongqing's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached RMB 3,375.793 billion, while Sichuan's reached RMB 6,766.534 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 5.3% and 5.5%, respectively.

The "quality" of the data stems from the "foundation" of development. Over these six years, the two regions have joined forces to advance the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, carving out a unique path for coordinated regional development.

Industrial innovation drives structural transformation. Aligning with strategic goals, Sichuan and Chongqing have utilized the "dual cores" of Chengdu and Chongqing as sources of innovation and headquarters hubs. They have promoted a gradient industrial layout across the entire region, jointly cultivating four trillion-yuan industrial clusters (including electronics and information technology) and five national-level advanced manufacturing clusters. The number of technology-based enterprises has exceeded 70,000. This "nuclear fusion" across industrial chains has released energy throughout the region: in 2025, the value-added of Sichuan's high-tech manufacturing above designated size increased by 12.3% year-on-year, while Chongqing's value-added industrial output above designated size grew by 5.9%.

Breaking walls through reform: From "Twin-City Pilots" to "Sichuan-Chongqing Sharing." Pioneering institutional innovations began with dismantling regional barriers. The two regions explored the appropriate separation of economic zones and administrative divisions, implemented a cross-provincial "River Chief" system, and enabled the cross-regional use of housing provident funds. This integrated reform has stimulated market vitality, with mature experiences being promoted across the region and even nationwide.

Going global: From "Gateway Hubs" to "Highlands of Opening-up." Led by the Chengdu-Chongqing dual hubs and facilitated by major international corridors such as the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the entire Sichuan-Chongqing region is now more closely linked to the global market. The level of the region's open economy continues to rise; in 2025, Chongqing's total import and export value increased by 12% year-on-year, while the number of Sichuan enterprises with actual import/export performance exceeded 10,000 for the first time, with exports of the "New Trio" (electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar products) hitting record highs.

Development for the people. With the strategy as an engine, Sichuan and Chongqing have worked together to bridge gaps and promote balance, striving for a better life in both urban and rural areas. The two regions are co-developing the "Beautiful Bashu" demonstration belt for livable rural areas, consecutively launching 355 "Inter-provincial Government Services" items and collaborating on ecological protection. Strengthening the "backbone" of the regional economy while enriching the people's "wallets" embodies the original mission of high-quality development. In 2025, the per capita disposable income of all residents in Chongqing grew by 4.7% year-on-year, while in Sichuan, it saw a nominal increase of 5.2%.

The RMB-10-trillion milestone is a solid testament to how the Sichuan-Chongqing "Twin-City Initiative" has solved the puzzle of regional synergy. Standing at a new starting point, Sichuan and Chongqing are accelerating toward becoming an important growth pole and a new source of momentum driving high-quality development nationwide.

Source: Chongqing Daily