Economy
Chongqing to become China's first inland tariff-free zone
By Qiang Xiaoji (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-03-07 15:06
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The State Council has just chosen Southwest China's Chongqing municipality to become the country's first inland tariff-free zone, Bo Xilai, the Chongqing Party chief and deputy to the National People's Congress, said on Saturday, chinanews.com reported.
Bo said Chongqing has lagged behind the other three municipalities directly governed by the State Council—namely Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai—in economic development, but it is the only one of these municipalities located in inland China.
Bo said a series of measures have been taken by both the local government and the State Council to create favorable conditions for the opening-up of Chongqing. The establishment of a tariff-free zone in Chongqing marks a big opportunity for the opening-up of China's inland cities.
Bo also announced that last year several major IT companies like Hewlett-Packard, Foxconn and Intel have signed big contracts with Chongqing to produce over 80 million laptops, which has greatly contributed to Chongqing's economic development and exports.
Chongqing will also make big moves in foreign cooperation and communications, he added.
