After 15 years of arduous negotiations, China became the 143rd member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Dec 11, 2001. This was a milestone in China’s reform, opening up and modernization drive.

Looking back on the past decade, further implementation of a new round of west development opened up the inland areas in China. Chengdu’s high-tech development zone and the Tianfu New Zone were constructed, injecting new vitality and creating potential development for Chengdu to open up to the outside world.

All industrial sectors of Chengdu have enjoyed a more open environment since China’s WTO access and Chengdu has demonstrated to the world its investment environment. It continues to integrate the local economy into the broad global economy. The entry into the WTO has also enabled Chengdu residents to be in the “global village” and have better choices in life.

As the provincial capital city of the Sichuan province, Chengdu has developed into a model city boasting an open economy both in Sichuan and even in west China

Over the 10 years after WTO access, Chengdu has kept expanding its production scale of local competitive products. The city, known as the capital of lady’s footwear, has boosted its shoe business to reach over $800 million from just several million US dollars.

Chengdu, the economic core of the Sichuan province, has also aimed at high-end industries and high-end products during the past 10 years. It participated in the global economy and became a key supplier in many global industrial chains of various industries. By the end of August 2011, 200 of the world top 500 companies had established branches in Chengdu.

In 2011, Chengdu won the “special contribution to constructing a well-off society” award. It was also conferred as a model city for post-disaster reconstruction by the UN disaster risk reduction agency.

Chengdu, a pacesetter for cities in the Sichuan province, is exciting and full of opportunity.