From Ahmad Irfan Che Mohd Ruzaidi
CHONGQING (China), Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Chongqing has launched an all-media communication campaign to showcase its transformation into an international consumption centre and promote new consumption opportunities to domestic and international audiences.
The campaign, themed “Discover China - Encountering New Chongqing Through International Consumption”, was launched at Jiefangbei Guotai Plaza on Sept 20 and brought together nearly 100 journalists from local and foreign mainstream media.
The launch coincided with the fifth anniversary of Chongqing’s development as an international consumption centre, with the city unveiling the second edition of its Chongqing Food Map, inbound cultural and tourism consumption offerings, sports-tourism programmes and major consumption-boosting activities.
The campaign adopts a “5+3+N” framework comprising five flagship initiatives, three supporting activities and a series of district- and county-level communication programmes.
The five flagship initiatives include an overseas journalists’ tour of Chongqing, visit by Chinese and foreign social media influencers, in-depth research tours, an overseas promotion event in France and international communication outreach.
Speaking at the launch, Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce director Zhang Yongwu said the city’s consumption landscape had evolved alongside its unique cultural and geographical characteristics.
“Chongqing has always been a dynamic and charming city of consumption. From the cultural heritage of the Dazu Rock Carvings to the modern commercial districts and vibrant night markets, the city has continued to develop a distinctive consumption landscape that reflects both its history and its contemporary vitality,” he said.
Zhang said Chongqing had continued to strengthen its city brands, including “Chongqing that Never Sleeps”, “Landscape-oriented Tourism Destination” and “World-Famous Gastronomy City”, while ranking first among China’s Top 10 Influential Night-time-Economy Cities for four consecutive years.
The city has also upgraded 30 core urban commercial zones and developed more than 100 new consumption scenarios along riverbanks, cliffs, former air-raid shelters and rooftop sky decks, while international trade links have enabled residents to access global products and cuisines locally.
Meanwhile, Yuzhong District Party Committee deputy secretary and district mayor He Du said the district was strengthening its position as a key area for international consumption by improving facilities, services and tourist accessibility.
“Three landmark business districts, 20 shopping malls and 10 traditional-style blocks form a total consumption space of 2.3 million square metres with thriving vitality.
“At the same time, we are developing a tax-refund demonstration block and a payment-convenience demonstration zone to make it easier for international visitors to shop, dine and enjoy services in Yuzhong,” he said at the launch.
Chongqing was approved in July 2021, together with four other cities, as one of China’s first batch of pilot cities for fostering international consumption centres. Over the past five years, the city has pursued development through internationalisation, consumption-driven growth and its central hub positioning.
As part of the anniversary initiative, 33 mainstream media journalists from 30 countries, including Bernama, recently completed a three-day field visit covering consumption venues in Yuzhong, Nan’an, Shapingba and Liangjiang New Area.
-- BERNAMA