Li Jing, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Chongqing Technology and Business University

Striving to Build an Important Strategic Support Point for the Development of China’s Western Region in the New Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping, during his inspection of Chongqing, gave Chongqing the significant strategic positioning of“an important strategic support point for the development of the Western Region in the new era,”which provides a direction for the construction of the new Chongqing. Chongqing will follow the earnest instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, give full play to its comparative advantages and late-mover advantages, and strive to build itself into an important strategic support point for the development of the Western Region in the new era.

From“playing a assisting role”to“an important strategic support point,”it is important to deeply understand Chongqing’s new strategic positioning in the development of the Western Region in the new era. In April 2019, when inspecting Chongqing, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that more attention should be paid to planning the whole area from a global perspective and serving the whole area from a local perspective, and strive to play a assisting role in promoting the development of the Western Region in the new era. Five years later, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Chongqing again and gave Chongqing a new strategic positioning as“an important strategic support point”for the development of the Western Region in the new era. The shift from“playing a assisting role”to“an important strategic support point,”represents a higher positioning for Chongqing to show greater achievements in fulfilling the“three roles.”This positioning reflects three important features. First, it further emphasizes the importance of Chongqing in the development of the Western Region in the new era. Located at the junction of the“Belt and Road”and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Chongqing plays a unique and important role in the national regional development and opening-up framework. Second, it further emphasizes the strategic position and strategic value of Chongqing in the development of the Western Region in the new era. This strategic value is related to the long-term, holistic, and coordinated development of the region. Third, from“assisting”to“support point,”it emphasizes Chongqing’s important role in playing the“lever”and“leading by example”in the Western Region Development Strategy. Chongqing will better serve the whole country with its unique function.

The connotation of building an important strategic support point for the development of the Western Region in the new era. Anchored on the strategic goals of the development of the Western Region in the new era, based on Chongqing’s prominent location advantages, ecological advantages, and industrial advantages, Chongqing should build itself into an important strategic support point from three dimensions. First, it should serve as a support point for high-quality development. The Western Region of China needs to accelerate and increase efficiency in high-quality development. In the new era, Chongqing has the foundation, conditions, confidence, and ability to play a leading role in high-quality development in the Western Region. It could become a high-quality development support point for the development of the Western Region in the new era, serving as an important growth pole and new driving force for high-quality development in the Western Region. Second, it should serve as a modern industry support point. With complete industrial chains and a strong foundation of modern manufacturing industries, especially in intelligent connected new energy vehicles, next-generation electronic information manufacturing, and advanced materials, Chongqing has obvious advantages in becoming a modern industry support point. Third, it should function as an inland opening support point. During his inspection of Chongqing, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized again the importance of promoting greater openness and enhancing the level of internal and external opening-up in the Western Region. Chongqing took the lead in opening the China-Europe train service and building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in Western China. Being at the forefront of inland opening-up and possessing superior conditions, Chongqing is well-positioned to serve as a crucial strategic support point for inland opening-up.

Chongqing is striving to build itself into a key strategic support point for the development of the Western Region in the new era. First, it is important to do a good job of“high-quality development”and build a high-quality development strategy support point. We must give full play to the traction of the national strategy of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and release the momentum of economic development in all aspects. We must accelerate the improvement of urban functions and promote the transformation of urban development from outward expansion to internal improvement; we must expedite industrial agglomeration and population attraction, and accelerate the gathering of high-end elements such as international talents and global capital. Second, we must do a good job of“big industry”and create a important strategic support point for the modern industry. We should focus on the“innovative”part by strengthening the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, deepening cooperation with eastern and central regions in scientific and technological innovation, actively developing new quality productivity, and innovating cross-regional industrial collaboration and optimization layout mechanisms; we should also focus on the“reforming”part by accelerating the technological renovation of traditional industries, promoting the renewal of equipment in key industries, and focusing on promoting the“Three Critical Battles and One Revitalization”reform. This will drive the upgrade, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement of traditional advantageous industries.

Third, we must do a good job in“opening-up”and use opening-up to promote development, so an important strategic support point could be built for inland opening-up. We must further explore the comparative advantages of time cost, strategic support, and geographical advantages in international logistics transportation, and comprehensively improve the level of openness in channel construction, platforms, and institutional development.

We must further strengthen the construction of open channels, use the channels to boost greater logistics and generate greater industries. We must vigorously promote the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in Western China, promote the development and openness along the route, and deepening the integration into the joint the“Belt and Road”; we must promote the integrated development of channels and regional economy, further strengthen the construction of open large platforms, and promote the high-quality development of free trade pilot zones. We should innovate mechanisms for connecting open platforms in the eastern, central, and western regions and deepen practical cooperation with the eastern, central, and northeastern regions.

Source: Chongqing Daily

https://m.cqrb.cn/cqrb/2024-05/17/012/node.htm