Southwest hub seeks closer ties with neighbors

Chengdu will further consolidate the city's status as a leading economic center in China's southwest by opening itself up to more economic cooperation with South Asian countries, local officials said.

The capital city of Sichuan province has the largest economy in western China, and it is the closest major city to South Asia. Its GDP reached 550 billion yuan ($87.5 billion) in 2010, accounting for more than 30 percent of the whole province.

It also ranks highest in terms of exports among the cities in central and western China, and the city has established economic relationships with 189 countries and regions in the world.