The warehouses and container yards of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Multimodal Transport Demonstration Base in Guoyuan Port National Logistics Hub are a hive of activity. (File photo, photographed by Zhang Jinhui / Visual Chongqing)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The Singapore-Chongqing Week started in Singapore on July 16. The slogan “Start with something new” indicates a closer partnership between Chongqing and Singapore.

Many Singaporeans have been living in Chongqing and contributing to the high-quality development of Chongqing since the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Project was implemented in Chongqing. On the occasion of Singapore-Chongqing week, Singaporeans in Chongqing are very excited. Recently, we interviewed three Singaporeans in Chongqing. Let’s listen to their stories and suggestions for Chongqing.

Huang Ruicheng, Managing Director of CapitaLand (China) Chongqing: Chongqing has the potential to become an international consumer center

Raffles City (Chongqing) is a key project of CapitaLand in Chongqing. Huang Ruicheng was posted to Chongqing in 2015 and has been responsible for the management of this project. Raffles City (Chongqing) is an important project of CapitaLand Group, a well-known Singaporean enterprise, implemented in Chongqing. Huang Ruicheng has been in charge of the project since he was stationed in Chongqing in 2015.

Years of living in Chongqing have given Huang a special feeling for the city. He said Yuzhong is the mother city of Chongqing and Chaotianmen is the birthplace of Chongqing. Before you work in a city, you have to integrate yourself into the city and obtain an insight into the history and culture of the city, he added.

When the project was still under construction, Huang Ruicheng proposed to carry out a series of activities like opening days to enhance the mutual understanding between Chongqing residents and the project department. What moved Huang most was that on the opening day of Raffles City (Chongqing), Chaotianmen Square was crowded with visitors. The footfall on the day reached 350,000.

The scene convinced him to believe that Chongqing had the potential to become an international consumer center.

As a municipality directly under the Central Government and an important place connecting the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Chongqing has a very good foundation and strong purchasing power and willingness of its citizens, said Huang Ruicheng. He often recommends Chongqing to his friends and ask them to take an investigation trip to Chongqing, in the hope that they will make investment and boost industrial development here.

This city is increasingly international, said Huang. He added, Chongqing integrates natural beauty, modern buildings, and its down-to-earth lifestyle. The locals are very straightforward and accommodating, and this is a city that you don't want to leave.

Lai Zhihui, General Manager of Singapore SPACElogic Group: To help Chongqing apply for the City of Industrial Design

Lai Zhihui came to Chongqing in May 2020 to establish the Chongqing branch of SPACElogic Group.

“We often heard about the connectivity projects between China and Singapore when we were in Singapore, which made me believe Chongqing is a great city,” said Lai. SPACElogic Group believes that in addition to the eastern coast, it needs to have a presence in the west. The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Project makes Chongqing one of the best choices to set up branches of Singaporean enterprises in the West.

Lai Zhihui and his company have been dedicated to cultural tourism since he came to Chongqing. The cooperation between Chongqing and Singapore in tourism was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it is deepened and strengthened as the epidemic impact weakens, said Lai.

After more than two years of effort, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Cultural and Tourism Industry Alliance (CSCTIA) was established. Considering that an institution is needed to lead the exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing and Singapore, CSCTIA designated SPACElogic Group as the secretariat of this alliance.

I spend three-quarters of my time in Chongqing every year, so I'm already half a Chongqing resident now, said Lai Zhihui. He is going to help Chongqing apply for the City of Industrial Design in the near future.

Despite a lack of tourism resources, many cities in Germany still attract many visitors because of the culture of its automotive industry. With an industrial foundation similar to that of Germany, Chongqing can integrate the industrial culture with tourism. This fact makes him confident in helping Chongqing apply for the City of Industrial Design.

Wang Huoquan, Director and General Manager of YPL Supply Chain (Chongqing) Multimodal Company: Let more private enterprises take part in the construction of the New International Land-Sea Corridor

I cooperated with China Railway Express (Yuxinou) when I arrived in Chongqing in 2017, said Wang Huoquan. He added that logistics is one of the key areas of the China-Singapore connectivity project. Many Singaporeans, including Wang Huoquan, are optimistic about its prospects.

It was in 2007 that Chongqing, with the help of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Project, opened up the New International Land-Sea Corridor, a major international logistics channel to the south.

According to Wang Huoquan, Chongqing is not as good as the coastal areas in terms of opening-up level and resources. There are high requirements for building an inland opening hub. With the development of the new land-sea channel, Chongqing has more logistics options. Making good use of these elements will provide a strong driving force for Chongqing to build an inland opening hub.

To speed up the development of this channel, Chongqing needs to pay attention to two points, said Wang Huoquan. Firstly, Chongqing needs to improve the industrial level, such as adding segments in the automobile industry. Only by diversifying the industrial formats and products can more goods be transported along the channel. Secondly, it is necessary to let more private enterprises participate in constructing the new land-sea channel.

Private enterprises are a significant part of foreign trade in every region, and only with the active participation of private enterprises can the channel be optimized to ensure its sustainable and healthy operation, said Wang Huoquan. He believed that the various departments in Chongqing had already realized this and started to work hard.

Wang Huoquan also recommends the New International Land-Sea Corridor to his friends and customers, hoping to speed up the development of this corridor. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)