Chongqing's Jiangjin to Establish an Efficient ASEAN Market Resource Distribution Center in 2027

Chongqing - Jiangjin District is playing a pivotal role in developing Chongqing's hub for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). As the December 19 press conference revealed, Jiangjin aims to become a central stop for southbound trains on the corridor, serving as a gateway to South Asia and Southeast Asia and a distribution hub for the ASEAN market.

New logistics route unveiled: Jiangjin to Zhanjiang

In the realm of logistics, Jiangjin district has played a crucial role in supporting the construction of the Chongqing hub. Notable achievements include completing the expansion project for Luohuang Port this year, increasing its annual throughput capacity to 20 million tons.

The upcoming upgrade of the Xiaonanya Railway Logistics Center's cargo area is also set to boost container throughput by an additional 200,000 TEUs.

As one of Chongqing's four major Yangtze River hub ports, Luohuang Port possesses an annual throughput capacity of 20 million tons. (Photo/ Jiangjin District)

"To facilitate the smooth flow of goods in Chongqing and even throughout the Western region, we primarily focus on strengthening logistics operations while simultaneously emphasizing the development of cross-border train services," remarked Tang Dajun, deputy secretary of CPC Jiangjin District Committee and mayor of Jiangjin District.

Regarding logistics operations, Jiangjin has opened a new route to Zhanjiang Port and increased the frequency of direct trains and water shuttles to Xinjiang, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, and other provinces.

As a vital hub for the ILSTC, Jiangjin facilitates exporting and importing goods for regions such as Northwest China, Sichuan, and Guizhou. From January to November, Jiangjin saw a remarkable 143.76% year-on-year growth in the number of trains, totaling 1,075, with a cargo value of 2.88 billion yuan (about USD 407.44 million), representing 33.4% of the total in the city.

Developing cross-border train services in Jiangjin focuses on strengthening existing international and domestic routes, such as those connecting to Europe, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. These services cover 13 domestic provinces and 119 countries, with 393 ports worldwide, demonstrating substantial and rapid growth.

Establishing the ASEAN commodity distribution center

Looking ahead to 2027, Jiangjin aims to establish an efficient and orderly ASEAN market resource distribution center and become a prominent open economic hub focusing on high-quality development.

Collaboration with the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and four northern Chinese provinces has led to a cassava trade alliance. Additionally, the ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations will establish its Chongqing Liaison Office in Jiangjin, reinforcing Jiangjin's role as a key ASEAN distribution hub for commodities like plastic granules, cassava, and non-ferrous metals.

On September 20, 2023, the inaugural ILSTC hotpot ingredients import train arrived at the Xiaonanya Railway Logistics Center. (Photo/ Jiangjin District)

Jiangjin is currently making continuous efforts to enhance the Xiaonanya Railway Logistics Center. The objective is to reach 1,500 train services by 2024 and consistently refine cross-border train services to Southeast Asia. 

Additionally, plans include establishing an international cooperation mechanism for the ILSTC and expediting the expansion of overseas warehousing in Singapore and Thailand.

Regarding economic development for the Chongqing hub, Jiangjin leverages the major transportation routes to fortify key industries. It has become a crucial corridor for Chongqing's bulk commodities imports, such as grains and pulp, and exports, including automobiles and agricultural machinery. 

Jiangjin adheres to organizing special train services for importing durian, hot pot ingredients, and cassava and exporting machinery and cars, aligning with integrating transportation and trade.

Tang highlighted the successful launch of the Chongqing-ASEAN Agricultural Product Distribution and Trading Center, which distributed 130,000 tons of imported ASEAN fruits this year. The new Chongqing Western ASEAN Agricultural Product Cold Chain Distribution Center in Jiangjin marks a step forward in enhancing agricultural trade cooperation.