1. Comparing urban education competitiveness, Chengdu ranking fourth
The study report on Educational Competitiveness of Chinese Cities released on August 30th by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences shows that among 15 deputy provincial cities in China, Shenzhen ranks first in terms of educational comprehensive competitiveness, and Chengdu ranks fourth.

2. FAW new-energy passenger car to be put into production in 2011
The FAWER Chengdu base, the FAWAY Chengdu base and the FAW southwestern base of new-energy passenger car had officially signed with the Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone (CETDZ), learnt the journalist on August 30th from Longquanyi district. The total investment of the 3 automobile and parts production companies is more than 1.1 billion yuan, and according to plan, projects will be completed and put into production in 2011, which by then will greatly enrich the automobile industrial chain of the CETDZ.

3. First foreign-invested wholesale bank, JP Morgan Chase& Co’s Chengdu branch operated
On September 10th, the first wholesale foreign bank JP Morgan Chase& Co.’s Chengdu branch officially began operation, which means that Chengdu’s financial patterns become richer, whereas Chengdu also became JP Morgan Chase& Co.’s fifth chosen cities for conducting business after Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou. The opening of the Chengdu branch also signifies that the number of foreign banks operating in Chengdu has risen to 9.

4. CNBM’s “three flowers” blossom in Chengdu in one day
China’s first 0.5mm LCD glass substrate production line laid foundation in Chengdu, the seismic energy-saving house of the new rural construction project started construction in Chengdu, the 2 billion yuan investment in building light building materials industrial base project were formally signed… As the country’s largest comprehensive building materials industry group, the China National Building Material Group Corporation reached a package of cooperation agreements with Chengdu in merely one day of August 30th. The two parts’ collaboration starting from building materials and houses as the base is extending fully towards such new fields as photo electricity and new energy.

5. 390 million yuan investing in Longquanyi district, two projects settled in logistics center
Recently, the Minsheng (Longquan) logistics project and Changjiu Group’s southwestern commercial car transferring base project of total investment of 390 million yuan were settled in Longquan Logistics Center. The Minsheng Longquan logistics project has an investment of 170 million yuan, mainly engaged in building warehouse distribution center, container yard and regional headquarters and so on, and will achieve an annual turnover of 160 million yuan, annual tax revenue 4 million yuan after meeting full capacity; Changjiu Group’s southwestern commercial car transferring base project invested with 220 million yuan, will build high-end vehicle storage, high-end parts warehouse, vehicle parking, automobile preparation base and regional headquarters, and is expected to realize an annual turnover of 250 million yuan, annual tax revenue 8 million yuan. The two projects are planned to start construction in September of this year, and to be completed in 2010.

6. Making of prototype of home-made C919 large passenger aircraft head started in Chengdu
On September 1st, the head works prototype of China C919 large passenger aircraft project started production formally in the AVIC/Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Company, which marks that China’s independent design and manufacture of large passenger aircraft C919 has achieved a breakthrough – Chengdu “leading” large passenger aircraft project set sail.

7. Summer Tour Scoreboard, Chengdu ranks third
According to the “2009 National Summer Tour List” released by the Strip.com on September 2nd, under the leveraging effect of panda cards, tourists coming to Chengdu this summer increased by more than 200% compared with the same period of last year, which made Chengdu just behind Beijing, Xiamen, with the city ascending the second-runner “throne” as the third most popular summer tourist destination in China.

8. At new energy international forum, Shuangliu signed contracts of 5.6 billion yuan
The 2009 China (Chengdu) New Energy International Forum and Solar Energy Exposition were held in Chengdu on September 3rd to 6th. At the Chengdu new-energy industry promotion meeting and signing ceremony held on 5th, Shuangliu County signed 13 contracts with various parties, with total agreed investment of 5.6 billion yuan.

9. Belgium will set up a BCECC representative office in Chengdu
Belgium’s Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce will set up a representative office in Chengdu, and also a dedicated office. It is reported that this is the first representative office to be set up by the BCECC in China. On September 6th, leaders of Sichuan Commerce Department and Sichuan Provincial Import and Export Chamber of Commerce met Dewit, the visiting president of the BCECC, and an economic and trading cooperative agreement was signed between the provincial import and export chamber of commerce and the BCECC.

10. Ministry of Culture formally approved intangible heritage festival to permanently reside in Chengdu
The Ministry of Culture had returned a formal letter of approval, agreeing to hold with Sichuan Provincial People’s Government in Chengdu an edition every two year of the China Chengdu International intangible cultural heritage festival during the period of the national “cultural heritage day”, learnt the journalist on September 6th from the municipal bureau of culture.

11. Three important domestic design companies to enter Redstar 35
On September 9th, ARTOP Industrial Design Co., Ltd., a domestic well-known industrial design company, was formally settled in the Redstar 35 Chengdu Cultural Creative Industrial Parks, and together with the previously stationed Newplan and the upcoming LKK Design, the three most famous industrial design companies in China all have a presence in the Redstar 35 – Chengdu Cultural Creative Industrial Park, which will shoulder the flag of industrial design locally even in west regions.

12. Investing 30 billion yuan, West China Clothing Capital landed in Pengzhou
On September 10th, the fifth congress of Sichuan Household Textile Industrial Association was held in Pengzhou. It is reported that the major developer Huamao Construction Company collaborating with Chengdu Industry Investment Group, will gradually invest 30 billion yuan and devotedly build in Pengzhou the “West China Clothing Capital”. Its prophase project – the first phase construction of Huamao•Chengdu Household Textile Industrial Park has already completed, and 18 leading household textile companies will soon enter.

13. Chongzhou Chuanhui investing 100 million yuan to build a plastic pipe production park
On August 29th, Chongzhou Chuanhui Plastic, one of Sichuan’s leading plastic companies, invested 100 million yuan in Chongzhou’s industrial park, to add a 100-mou plastic pipe production park.

14. Chengdu entered China’s top ten e-commerce innovation and entrepreneurship cities
The 1997 – 2009: Survey Report on China’s E-commerce in Twelve Years released by the China B2B Research Center recently in Hangzhou has selected the “top ten e-commerce innovation and entrepreneurship cities/regions in China”; Chengdu was among the list, becoming the only selection from West China, learnt the journalist on September 13th.

15. Dujiangyan signed in Shanghai, obtaining investment of 3.06 billion yuan for post-disaster reconstruction
On September 14th, the Dujiangyan post-disaster reconstruction introduction and project promotion meeting were held in Shanghai, at which signed were a total of 53 post-disaster reconstruction projects, the investment amounting to 3.06 billion yuan, involving 4 primary industry projects, 10 secondary industry projects, 17 tourist cooperation projects, 12 commercial projects and 10 science and technology projects.

1. VXI US to set up western call center in Chengdu
The global one-stop call center solution provider VXI US had settled in the Tianfu Software Park, learnt the journalist on August 16th. It is introduced that the size of the Chengdu call center will exceed 1,000 seats, equivalent to the total sum of seats VXI has in the call centers of Shanghai and Guangzhou.

2. Giant investors from across China came to Chengdu, nearly a hundred Sichuan-based companies obtained investment of 8.8 billion yuan
On August 18th, the grand gathering of deep connection of high-tech industries and financial capital – the matchmaking meeting between Sichuan’s financial organizations and high-tech enterprises was held in the Chengdu High-tech Zone. Tens of investment “magnates” from across the country gathered together with over 400 high-tech companies from Sichuan, making matches between projects and capital.
At the meeting, nearly 100 Sichuan-based high-tech companies signed various agreements with such organizations as banks, insurance, guarantee and venture capital, obtaining financed and invested capital totaling 8.8345 billion yuan, among which, 13 banks including the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank signed loan agreements with 85 enterprises, with loan amounting to 7.208 billion yuan.

3. More than 100 million US dollars attracted, building “leisure sports complex” in North Lake
On August 18th, the Chenghua district government and the China Merchants Property Development signed an investment agreement on the “Comprehensive Development Cooperation project of 198 North Lack Region of Chengdu”: with an investment estimation of 117 million US dollars, China Merchant Property Development will build an “urban leisure sports complex” covering an area of 1,700 mou, integrated with leisure sports, tourist sightseeing and vacation residence, whose construction is predicted to be roughly completed in 3 to 5 years.
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1. To establish corporate headquarter in Chengdu, company could be granted highest government reward of 20 million yuan
To establish corporate headquarters in Chengdu, companies could be granted the highest government reward of 20 million yuan. On August 5th, the General Office of Chengdu Municipal Government forwarded the Chengdu Investment Promotion Commission about Implementation Measures (Trial) on Encouraging Set-up in Chengdu of Headquarters and Regional Headquarters of Foreign and Domestic Large-scale Companies, in which were put forward for the first time the grant of more important financial aid and incentive to headquarters and regional headquarters set up in Chengdu, the offer of settlement subsidy and financial reward to high managerial officials, as well as the giving of the most preferential benefits and conveniences for talent introduction, capital management, entry-exit and customs clearance, etc.

2. TCL Chengdu liquid crystal production line put into operation
On July 29th, the rollout and production launch ceremony for the liquid crystal project of TCL Home Appliances (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. was held in the Chengdu High-tech Zone. The TCL Corporation has become Chengdu’s first LC flat television producer, filling in the gap of flat television production in Chengdu area.

3. Chengdu starting protection and utilization of 20 famous historical and cultural towns
On July 31st, the municipal planning bureau arranged a working conference on the protection and utilization of the famous historical and cultural towns of Chengdu, and kicked off the third-phase protection and utilization of 20 famous historical and cultural towns.

At present, Chengdu has 5 historical and cultural towns of national level, namely Anren, Xinchang, Huanglongxi, Pingle and Luodai, 8 provincial-levels and 7 municipal-levels.

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1. GDP increased by 14.3 % in first half year
In the first half of this year, Chengdu’s GDP has increased by 14.3%, far higher than the national GDP growth of 7.1%, while the second quarter’s growth rate is 2% higher than that of the first quarter; over half of the task has been realized in 50% of the time. Chengdu’s economy shows a tendency of stopping slide and rising up, the impact of financial crisis on which is gradually reducing.

2. High-tech Zone selected among Chinese top-ten high tech zones with most investment potential
Aiming to build a world first-rate industrial pack, the Chengdu High-tech Zone entered the list of the top ten high-tech zone with most investment potential in China. On July 19th, the “Future of a development zone and a city – the summit forum on and the metal presentation of China’s high-tech zones with most investment potential” was held in Beijing, the Chengdu High-tech zone among 10 national high-tech industrial development zones were selected as the “top-ten high tech zones of most investment potential of China”.

3. Venture capital magnate joining hands with Chengdu, to set up sub-funds of 500 million yuan
After having jointly set up a sub-fund of 500 million US dollars with the Korea Development Bank and the Korea KTB, on July 15th, the Chengdu government guided fund “Yinke Venture Capital” made another big endeavor: the company signed with the domestic VC magnate DT Capital Partners, to jointly establish a CV fund of 500 million yuan, which is the first time for the government-guided fund to introduce a pure RMB fund to support the local industries.

It is predicted that by the end of the year, Chengdu will in total own 5 CV sub-funds, and Yinke also plans to introduce 3 American and Chinese investment organizations to set up sub-funds in Chengdu.

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1. Chengdu to become foreign-invested financial “fourth city”, with currently 8 foreign invested banks
Recently, the Chengdu branch of Nanyang Commercial Bank (China) Limited opened to public, and the number of foreign-capital banks in the city has reached 8. According to the statistics, in counting the JPMorgan Chase and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi which are under preparation, Chengdu will have 10 foreign-invested banks, the number ranking first in western regions and fourth in China, becoming the “fourth city” of foreign-invested finance.

2. “Ranking of Comprehensive competitiveness of Western Economic Development”, Sichuan’s general ranking topped the list
On July 12th, the ranking of the comprehensive competitiveness of West China Economic Development was released, in which Sichuan, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were list the top three. The conclusion was drawn from the “2009 West China Blue Print: West China Economic Development Report”, which is conducted by the West China economic development research center of the Northwest University.

3. Degree of Chengdu’s integrated urban and rural development reached 65.9%
The 2008 Appraisal and Monitoring Report on the Integrated Urban and Rural Development of Chengdu conducted jointly by the Chengdu Bureau of Statistics, the Coordinating Committee of the municipal party committee and the Chengdu survey team of the National Bureau of Statistics was recently released. The report shows that the balancing urban and rural development of Chengdu in such four appraisal fields as economic development, social undertaking, cultural development and democratic political development has been fully improved in 2008, and its overall degree of realization has reached 65.9%, up 4.4% over last year.

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1. Investment of 100 million US dollars, Alibaba to build western base in Chengdu
On June 29th, the signing ceremony of the western base project of Alibaba Group was held in Chengdu High-tech Zone. It is learnt that Alibaba Group is to invest 100 million US dollars in Chengdu to build the “Alibaba Western Base”, whose business range will cover all related businesses conducted by the Group’s subsidiaries, with such functions as research, calling, background operation and maintenance, management and settlement, disaster recovery and training, etc. The settlement of the Chengdu Operation Service Center subordinated to the Alibaba Group was also signed at the occasion.

2. Total investment of 800 million yuan, China Plastic City Chengdu project settled in Xindu
The management committee of China Plastic City based in Yuyao city of Zhejiang province recently signed an agreement with Xindu district, to formally settle the China Plastic City Chengdu project in the district. According to the introduction, the project has a total investment of 800 million yuan, and after the first-phase put in operation, the annual tax revenue can reach 100 million yuan averagely, capable of providing over 3,000 job positions.

3. Important projects of 10.1 billion of Jinniu district signed collectively
Recently, Jinniu district held an signing ceremony for important projects, during which 4 companies including RedStar Furniture and Zhongtie Wuju signed with Jnniu district a “big bill” worth 10.1 billion yuan, in which the RedStar-Shanghai Mall project of investment of 3 billion yuan will start construction on August 8th, which also contains the first five-star hotel in the northern part of Chengdu.
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1. Qionglai and French Glon Group signed strategic agreement
On April 23rd, Europe’s biggest meat processing company – Group Glon of France and Qionglai city formally concluded the strategic cooperative partnership. According to the agreement, the 5 year-time from May 1st of this year to May 5th of 2014 is the first phase of cooperation, and the Group Glon will build in Qionglai a world-leading boar breeding farm and an animal pharmaceutical factory, and in the meanwhile provide for local agricultural companies such technical supports as agro-technical personnel training, renewing of agricultural equipment and building of agricultural technical center, helping local agricultural products meet the international standard.

2. Sichuan’s tourist market fully embraces visitors
It is reported that up to now, except for several severely-hit disaster areas, Sichuan province’s tourist market has entirely opened to visitors. The province’s total tourist revenue in 2008 has achieved 109.152 billion yuan, dropping merely 10.3% compared with the year of 2007. During January to March of this year, the tourism around Sichuan and within Sichuan has recovered rapidly, and the inbound tourist market gradually warmed up, generating total revenue of 33.79 billion yuan, up 12% year-on-year. The expected target for 2009 is to restore itself to the pre-earthquake level, with the gross annual income attaining 120 billion yuan

3. Investing 500 million yuan, West China’s biggest steel marketing center broke earth
On April 27th, the biggest steel marketing center in the western region – Longgang Steel Marketing Center was put into construction in the Longtan Industrial Park of Chenghua district. The project is planned to have a construction area of around 47,000 square meters, and total investment of more than 500 million yuan, and is estimated to be finished in 2010. Up to now, Chenghua district has 57 projects newly commenced since this year, and 150 under construction, having completed fixed asset investment of 5.06 billion yuan.

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1. Ge Honglin met IBM’s Great China President Zhou Weikun and his party
IBM reintegrated the 9 provinces and 1 city in Southwest and Northwest regions, and put forward the “Grand West Zone” strategic layout, making Chengdu its west zone headquarters. On April 15th, while meeting with Ge Honglin, vice secretary of CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee and mayor, Zhou Weikun, President of IBM Great China, expressed that IBM will invest more resources into Chengdu, continue deepening cooperation, and strengthen the regional radiation force of its western headquarters.

2. Canadian Trade Office in Chengdu to be opened before July 1st
Having just finished his visit to Chengdu, Mr. Stockwell Day, Canadian Minister of International Trade, formally announced the start-up of two newly-established trade offices in Chengdu and Shenzhen, in order to help Canadian companies to enter into China, the fastest growing economic body of the world, learnt the journalist on April 15th from the Canadian Embassy in China. The two offices will be opened before July 1st.

3. Macao to donate 179.6 million yuan to rebuild Taoist temple of Qingcheng Mount
In order to restore as quickly as possible the previous simple and beautiful scenery of the ancient architectural complex at the Mount Qingcheng scenic spot which was damaged during the great earthquake of “May 12th”, Macao Foundation recently decided to donate 179.6 million yuan to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the ancient buildings on the Mount Qingcheng, revealed the Ethnic and Religious Affaires Bureau of Chengdu on April 15th.
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While visiting Chengdu this week on some non-profit work, I took notice of the fact that the city of Chengdu has become a work zone.

Reminding me of Beijing 8 years ago, the sky is absolutely filled with cranes and half built buildings are EVERYWHERE.

Speaking to friends, many of these buildings are selling well, but are 2nd and 3rd homes… and therefore no one is living in the buildings (sounds familiar).

To give you some idea of the scale of the building, I took out my camera while headed out of town.  Essentially, the 20 or so pictures below all represent different sites that start a bit south of the High tech zone and make our way out of town.  This ws just a tip of the iceberg, and on my next trip in a few weeks, I will do my best to capture more of what is going on down town.

1. Lafarge’s second-phase waste heat generation project put into production
Dujiangyan Larfarge Cement Co., Ltd’s second-phase work, the waste heat generation project (3700t/d+3500t/d clinker production line and pure low-temperature waste heat power generation station engineering), is Chengdu’s key fund-support energy-saving drainage-reducing project. Of total investment of 7.101 million yuan, the project, after nearly half-year restoration and reconstruction, was successfully connected to the grids and generated electricity on March 20th. The successful operation of the project will greatly reduce the production cost of the company, and it is another important measure of Dujiangyan Lafarge Cement Co., Ltd for the protection of environment. Currently, the project generates electricity of 6,500 KWH averagely.

2. Over 50 clients first stationed in Chengdu Chuanhua Logistics Base
Chengdu’s key logistics project – Chengdu Chuanhua Logistics Base of total investment of 150 million yuan will soon be put into operation formally. The first batch, over 50 clients have officially entered into the Chengdu Chuanhua Logistics Base, learnt the journalist on March 31st.

It is introduced that the base is the first station in the western strategic arrangement of logistic industry of Chuanhua. The base has an area of 1,150 mou, and its first-phase plan has constructed a management service center, information exchanger center, traffic center and warehouse distribution center and auxiliary service zone, etc.; the number of logistics companies signed to settle in the base has exceeded 1,000.

3.Fortune Global 500 company DHL to establish business service center in Chengdu
After Accenture and Amazon, Chengdu welcomed its third investment project from Fortune Global 500 companies this year. On April 2nd, the global logistics giant DHL signed with Chengdu High-tech Zone an investment cooperation agreement, and will establish in the city the solely-owned DHL (Chengdu) Business Service Co., Ltd, and make it a comprehensive service-sharing center combined with such functions as financial shared service, customer service and human resources management in support of DHL’s co-invested companies in China.
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