Chongqing reports booming trade with B&R countries in 2019

CHONGQING - Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality saw its trade with countries and regions along the Belt and Road up 30 percent year-on-year in 2019, accounting for about 27 percent of the municipality's total.

Chongqing's total foreign trade also maintained a robust growth last year, with an annual increase of 10 percent, said Zhang Zhikui, director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, at the annual session of the municipal people's congress.

The actual use of foreign capital in 2019 in the municipality exceeded $10 billion. More than half of the total figure came from countries and regions part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chongqing further promoted its opening up last year. Consulates of Belarus and Uruguay were set up in Chongqing, bringing the total consulates to 12. In the meantime, the municipality has 48 international sister cities and 104 friendly exchange cities.

Chongqing reported an estimated 6.3-percent year-on-year growth of its GDP in 2019.