China Daily Global Edition (USA)

Open Sichuan

- By MOJINGXI mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

Sichuan province is expected to become the leader of China’s future overall opening-up, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a tour with foreign diplomats.

Sichuan province is expected to become the leader of China’s future overall opening-up, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during an event on Wednesday to introduce the region to foreign diplomats.

“Sichuan province was the pioneer of China’s opening-up, and it has now become a new driving force of China’s new round of opening-up,” Wang said while hosting the event, whose name translates as “An Open China: See Sichuan, See the World”.

The event, the fourth in a series to present Chinese provinces, municipali­ties and autonomous regions to the world, drew diplomats and representa­tives from 140 countries.

Sichuan, in southweste­rn China, is considered the strategic bridge of the Belt and Road Initiative and the heartland of the Yangtze River economic belt.

By establishi­ng economic and trade relations with 216 countries and regions, the province has been transforme­d in recent years from an inland hinterland to the frontier of opening-up.

In August, the State Council decided to set up a new free trade pilotzonei­n the province.

Sichuan was the home of Deng Xiaoping, the leader who initiated China’s reform and opening-up in 1978.

Wang Dongming, Party chief of Sichuan, said the province is further opening up to the world by improving fair competitio­n and creating a good business environmen­t.

“Sichuan province is now the first choice if people decide to invest in the west,” said Sichuan Governor Yin Li.

To describe the remoteness of a place, there is a Chinese proverb that says, “The mountain is high and the emperor is far away.”

“But the mountain is no longer high,” said Nancy Gordon, consul general of the Australian Consulate General in Chengdu, who added that her country expects to enhance cooperatio­n with Sichuan.

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 ?? FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY ?? Foreign Minister Wang Yi receives a toy panda as a gift from Sichuan provincial officials at an event held by the ministry in Beijing on Tuesday to promote the province to the world.
FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY Foreign Minister Wang Yi receives a toy panda as a gift from Sichuan provincial officials at an event held by the ministry in Beijing on Tuesday to promote the province to the world.

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