Updated: 2011-07-19 09:33

(chinadaily.com.cn)

   The 7th China Logistics 10,000-Mile Promotion, under the theme of "promoting urban development with logistics service", was launched in Chengdu on July 7. Qian Yongchang, former communications minister and current president of China Communications and Transportation Association, spoke at the opening ceremony. He said Chengdu's mode of developing logistics business is worth promoting. The city will surely make greater achievements in this respect in the future. Experts and enterprise representatives who have surveyed and inspected logistics development in the city say Chengdu has met the criteria to stand for the "2011 Logistics Promote Urban Development • Fastest Chinese City" election.

   Chengdu, one of the 21 key cities for logistics service as planned by the State Council, has scored remarkable achievements in transport hub construction. It has entered the stage of all-round development of modern logistics. The city has boosted construction of crucial infrastructures for logistics service, which in turn facilitates rapid expansion of key logistics projects. Leading officials of the municipal logistics office said Chengdu has invested about 20 billion yuan in logistics fixed assets investment since it started to expand its modern logistics industry in 2006. The city has made significant progress in inviting investment into the logistics sector. It has introduced over 70 modern logistics projects and signed 17 billion yuan worth of investment agreements. More than 40 famous Chinese and foreign logistics companies have settled in Chengdu.

   Qian said although it is located in the hinterland, Chengdu, a place of strategic importance in west China and a famous historic and cultural city, has ingeniously moved seaports to its door via railways and ports. It has developed itself into a water-free port city. "The Chengdu municipal party committee and municipal government have paid high attention to developing modern logistics. It has also set up a competent department in charge of logistics affairs. This mode of boosting logistics business is worth promoting. The city will surely achieve greater results." In recent years, Chengdu has constructed and put into operation a list of major infrastructures for logistics development, including the second runway of the airport, railway container central station, railway freight transportation outer lines, and a new airport freight depot. "Chengdu has convenient logistics transportation facilities and loose policy environments. I hope in addition to exploring logistics development and exchanging logistics development experiences in the China Logistics 10,000-Mile Promotion activity, we may summarize successful experiences to exercise the tenet of 'promoting urban development with logistics service'," said Qian. Qian also wishes more logistics companies realiazed the investment and cooperation opportunities in Chengdu.

   In the afternoon of July 7, experts and logistics enterprise representatives participated in activities, and paid a field visit to Chengdu International Container Logistics Park and Chengdu Air Harbor Logistics Park. The results of the survey and investigation are said to serve as important basis for Chengdu to run in the election of "2011 Logistics Promote Urban Development • Fastest Chinese City".