16th Chongqing-Taiwan Week Opens with $1.67 Billion in Deals

Chongqing - On September 10, the 16th "Chongqing-Taiwan Week" opened in Southwest China's Chongqing. The opening ceremony featured the signing of 9 key cross-strait economic and trade cooperation projects involving seven districts and counties in Chongqing and various open platforms, with a total investment reaching 11.87 billion RMB(about $1.67 billion).

On September 10, the 16th "Chongqing-Taiwan Week" opened in Southwest China’s Chongqing. (Photo/The event organizer)

At the ceremony, Zhang Zhijun, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, said that Chongqing is a city full of significant historical opportunities and a fertile ground for Taiwan businesses, individuals, and youth to thrive. The association will continue to support the exchange and cooperation between Chongqing and Taiwan, helping Taiwan entrepreneurs and youth achieve better development in Chongqing.

In his speech, Hsia Li-yan, a vice-chairman of the Kuomintang political party, mentioned that Chongqing connects the Silk Road Economic Belt to the north and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to the south. For Taiwan businesses, this presents an opportunity to build internationally competitive enterprises. It offers a broad perspective on global affairs for Taiwan youth studying and working here. Chongqing provides a stage and opportunities for cross-strait cooperation and global advancement.

Zhang Yongwu, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, revealed that there are currently over 2,200 Taiwan-invested enterprises in Chongqing, making Taiwan the city’s fourth-largest trading partner. In 2023, cross-strait trade reached 47.69 billion RMB; in the first half of this year, the total trade amount was 25.4 billion RMB, an increase of 15.4%.

Zhang highlighted that in the new-generation electronic information manufacturing field, Chongqing and Taiwan can benefit mutually and complement each other. Taiwan's electronics industry is a global leader, holding a 75% market share with a total value of $ 2 trillion. Chongqing, a hub for intelligent manufacturing in China, boasts abundant market resources such as land, energy, and labor, with local laptop industry integration exceeding 80%.

Many Taiwan electronics and information companies have set up operations in Chongqing. Chongqing has identified the new-generation electronic information industry as one of its three trillion-yuan-level key development industries, with an annual output value reaching 716.4 billion yuan in 2023. Further deepening cooperation in electronic information manufacturing between Chongqing and Taiwan can optimize resource allocation and enhance synergy, achieving core competitiveness and high-quality development.

Nine key cross-strait economic and trade cooperation projects were also signed during the opening ceremony. The projects primarily cover areas such as new energy, entrepreneurial services, and new materials.

Among these, the "Four Seasons Treasure Island" cross-strait youth entrepreneurship center project is the first specialized youth incubation center in the southwest region, focusing on cultural tourism, e-sports, and self-media entrepreneurship.

It aims to provide youth from both sides of the strait with more tailored and trend-adapted entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. Upon its launch, the project will introduce nearly 150 well-known brands from both sides, as well as teams from the cross-strait animation and e-sports industries, renowned e-sports development agencies, and numerous world champions and clubs.

It will also partner with Xiamen Bank to provide support funds for cross-strait youth entrepreneurs, actively creating a renowned service platform for cross-strait youth entrepreneurship and exchange.