Sichuan's capital Chengdu is preparing to host the high-profile Fortune Global Business Forum later on this month.

 

　　CRI's Hu Jia now on the potential impact the event may have on Chengdu's fortunes.

 

　　Chengdu is preparing to hold one of the world's most prestigious business gatherings this month.

 

　　The city attracted investment from 31 Fortune 500 companies over the last year. Now it's been selected as the first city in western China to host such a high profile business event.

 

　　"We chose Chengdu because of its economic potential and appeal to international companies through innovation, preferential policies and expertise of organising conferences."

 

　　Yang Yu is vice secretary-general of Chengdu's municipal government. He says multinational firms are setting their eyes on western China.

 

　　Chengdu is now catching up with more developed areas on China's east coast.

 

　　The city of around 15 million people is setting up a global transport system.

 

　　This May it started direct flights to the German financial centre of Frankfurt. A direct connection to London is expected to start in September. And talks are underway to include Paris on this list.

 

　　Chengdu's also developing its railway.

 

　　"The first direct freight train to the city of Lodz in Poland has created an environmentally friendly connection between two continents. It unblocks barriers, allowing Chengdu and the western region to establish itself as a trade and logistics hub for the European market."

 

　　The Chengdu-Europe train goes through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus. It cuts up to 10 days off the previous train connection with Europe.

 

　　Zhou Min is an official from the customs service in Chengdu. He says they've cut red tape to speed up the process.

 

　　"Inland customs clearance is more expensive than in port cities. But exports from here can be cleared in one day."

 

　　He says western areas can build on this ease of exporting to Europe.

 

　　A train service between Lodz and Chengdu is planned to start later this year.

 

　　Even though the city now has 29 direct international cargo flight routes and a 13-day direct freight train to Europe, Wu Xiankui, Deputy Secretary-General of Sichuan Provincial Government says, Chengdu still needs to do more.

 

　　"While our influence in China or Southeast Asia is significant, people in the US or Europe still know little about the city. We're developing a lot ourselves. But external support is also necessary."

 

　　The local government hopes the upcoming Fortune Global business forum will help Chengdu along this path.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Hu Jia.