Jiangsu eyes development as intersection of BRI

Jiangsu launched five plans in the document, covering the expansion of an international integrated transport system, international cooperation on production capacity, the promotion of trade development along the Silk Road Economic Belt, the upgrading of overseas industrial parks and the cultivation of cultural brands.

Jiangsu will spare no efforts in constructing a comprehensive transport network and upgrading its information infrastructure to improve the level of connectivity along the BRI.

Companies involved in light textiles, petrochemicals, metallurgy, building materials and new energy equipment are being encouraged to set up manufacturing bases in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Africa to expand their markets.

Jiangsu companies have been urged to set up a cross-border industrial chain system integrating elements such as manufacturing, marketing, logistics distribution and after-sales service to further promote Jiangsu’s brands, services and industry standards. International cooperation in science and technology will be enhanced.

Jiangsu is considering promoting trade development along the Silk Road Economic Belt, encouraging companies to take active roles in various kinds of economic and trade exchanges such as exhibitions and expositions held by countries involved in the economic belt.

A comprehensive platform for cross-border electronic commerce will see progress, along with the cultivation of new business models.

The construction and upgrading of overseas industrial parks run by private enterprises, such as Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone in Cambodia and Eastern Industry Zone in Ethiopia, will be accelerated.

Construction of two other key cooperative parks – Horgos Special Economic Zone in Kazakhstan and Jiangsu-Shinyanga Agricultural Industrial Park in Tanzania – are also listed in the document.

The province will promote the maturity of cooperative industrial zones settled in Jiangsu, such as China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park, Sino-Italian Hai’an Ecological Park and China-Korea (Yancheng) Industrial Park.

Multilevel and wide-ranging exchanges in areas covering the humanities, science and education are expected to be carried out to lift the level of mutual cooperation. Foreign affairs activities, such as Study in Jiangsu and Silk Road Youth Tour, will be further developed.

Seven cities in Jiangsu were listed in the document for their future development orientation. For example, Nanjing is expected to be turned into a regional shipping logistics center, Nantong will be constructed into an important sea portal, and Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou will become international demonstration cities for production capacity cooperation.

Areas along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu province will devote more efforts in developing the shipbuilding industry, shipping logistics and project contracting, while coastal areas will focus on portside manufacturing, distinctive farming and fishery, and port logistics.

Green economic cooperation bases will be established in Huai’an and Suqian.