Chongqing Week in Singapore Celebrates Cultural Exchange and Enhances Bilateral Cooperation

(Video credit: Chongqing Daily)

Chongqing - On July 16, the China Cultural Centre in Singapore became the vibrant host to the grand opening of Chongqing Week. This week-long extravaganza celebrated the dynamic cultural exchange and deepening cooperation between Chongqing and Singapore.

Gabriel Lim, Singapore's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, shares his inspiring words at the opening ceremony of Chongqing Week. (Photo credit: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

Numerous events exhibit the unique flavor of Chongqing

The event served as a cultural bridge, bringing together business and cultural representatives from both Chongqing and Singapore to deliberate on future developments. Displaying their rich cultural talent, Chongqing artists captivated the audience with performances of traditional folk songs, including the captivating A Song for the Changjiang River.

A melodious performance by Chongqing artists at the opening ceremony leaves the audience enthralled. (Photo credit: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

The upcoming days at the center promise a cultural feast, with presentations of Liangping woodblock prints, Jiangbei bamboo shell carving, Youzhou Miao Embroidery, and various other remarkable intangible cultural heritage techniques from Chongqing.

Following the grand opening ceremony, Singapore and Chongqing joined forces to host the Chongqing-Singapore Tourism Promotion Conference. This event spotlighted the abundant tourism resources of Chongqing, presented through an array of dynamic performances and engaging cultural promotions.

At the exhibition, engrossed Singaporeans discover the intricate beauty of Chongqing's intangible cultural heritage. (Photo credit: Zhao Yingzhao)

This vibrant cultural celebration will continue through to July 19, offering a host of intriguing activities. Participants can look forward to the Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Singapore Tour, the Chongqing-Singapore Enterprise Exchange Conference & Western Chongqing Integrated Promotion Event, and the mouth-watering Chongqing Time-honored Food Tour in Singapore.

A broad spectrum of departments, enterprises, and organizations from both Chongqing and Singapore are actively contributing to make this event a resounding success.

Cultural tourism IPs birthed through China-Singapore strategic connectivity

The Chongqing Week in Singapore marks a significant milestone under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Project on Strategic Connectivity (CCI).

The accomplishments of the CCI over the past eight years have been phenomenal. Since its inception on November 7, 2015, China and Singapore have been creating connective corridors within the CCI framework, focusing on key areas such as financial services, aviation, transport and logistics, and information and communications technology. This strategic initiative has significantly boosted the connectivity between Western China and Southeast Asia.

Furthermore, Chongqing Week in Singapore and Chongqing Experience Singapore Week have evolved into pivotal cultural tourism IPs, jointly developed by both regions.

Just last October, Chongqing successfully hosted the Chongqing Experience Singapore Week at Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street in Yuzhong District. This immersive event showcased an extensive array of Singaporean tourism, arts, performances, films, and shopping experiences, allowing Chongqing residents to enjoy a taste of Singapore's vibrant culture. 

The unique artistry of Liangping woodblock prints captures attention at the exhibition site. (Photo credit: Zhao Yingzhao)

Last November marked the establishment of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Culture and Tourism Industry Alliance in Chongqing, a remarkable collaboration encompassing 147 enterprises and organizations from both regions.

Singapore Changi Airport, renowned as one of the world's top airports, and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport are shining examples of this synergistic partnership. They have formed a joint venture to operate retail, catering, advertising, and other specific businesses within the terminal buildings and surrounding areas.

As a result of this cooperative venture, Jiangbei International Airport has successively brought in prestigious international brands such as Gucci, Cartier, and Burberry. Further enhancing its status, it has become the first airport in China to host the three retail titans DFS, DUFRY, and LTR, thus significantly uplifting the business environment and service level.

There has also been a joint exploration into exporting Chongqing's agricultural produce. Just last summer, Wushan crispy plums turned into a sensation in Singapore. Delicacies like Tongdefu Taopian, Hehua crunchy rice candy, Tianfu Cola, and other traditional Chongqing food products will be highlighted during Chongqing Week in Singapore.

From January to May 2023, the total import and export volume between Chongqing and Singapore reached an impressive 4.1 billion yuan (about 570 million U.S. dollars), marking a year-on-year increase of 2.76%.

As these accomplishments underscore, the bond between Chongqing and Singapore is not only enriching their cultural narratives but also creating tangible economic growth, ensuring a flourishing partnership for years to come.