The opening ceremony of the 3rd Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade and the International Cooperation Forum for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is held on May 21 in Chongqing in Southwest China. [Photo/wcifit.com]

The third Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) and the 2021 CCI-ILSTC International Cooperation Forum opened on May 21 in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Zhang Xiaolun, chairman of Sinomach, attended the opening ceremony and concurrent events.

Chongqing is of special attraction for Singaporean businessmen and entrepreneurs, as the third intergovernmental cooperation project between Singapore and China, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Project on Strategic Connectivity (also known as the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, or the CCI), is centered in Chongqing.

Within the framework of the CCI, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC), a trade and logistics passage jointly built by western Chinese provincial regions and Singapore, serves as a bridge between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

This year’s fair, with the theme of “joining hands with the west for a bright future”, included exhibitions, forums and economic and trade negotiations, and resulted in signing of 359 deals worth 357.8 billion yuan ($55.6 billion).

The fair featured eight themed exhibition halls and more than 100 events to promote investment and cooperation. More than 4,100 companies and organizations from over 40 countries and regions participated in the fair.

An automobile and motorcycle industry exhibition area, undertaken by CMEC International Exhibition Co Ltd (CMEC EXPO), and a health industry exhibition area debuted at this year’s fair, and many new technologies and products were spotlighted.

The CMEC EXPO, an affiliate of Sinomach subsidiary China National Machinery Industry International Co Ltd (SINOMACHINT), built the automobile and motorcycle industry exhibition area into a platform integrating product display, promotion and negotiation, investment and trade, as well as technical research and development and exchanges of enterprises in the sector.

Sinomach Chairman Zhang Xiaolun (R) looks over the company’s exhibits in the fair. [Photo/sinomach.com.cn]

During his inspection, Zhang urged SINOMACHINT, given the upward business trend, to enhance the internal synergy with the company’s subsidiaries and other business sectors so they can work together to promote the high quality development of the company.

More and better platforms for industrial exchanges should be created, he said, adding that every effort will be heightened to serve the country’s new pattern of development and the dual circulation pattern.

The WCIFIT is an important diplomatic and trade and investment platform in western China for boosting international and domestic cooperation. It also functions as a crucial window for Chongqing to carry forward opening up.

Seeing the WCIFIT as an opportunity, Sinomach will tailor more measures such as further strengthening cooperation between the company and the regions to help China coordinate their development and make smooth progress in benefiting western regions in the new era.