China's Newest Free Trade Zone:  Chongqing further opens up to global business

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Four decades after China's Reform and Opening Up, the story of how an inland city in China's western backwater region transformed into a sprawling industrial metropolis is truly an economic feat. Chongqing is opening up to the world with a new free-trade zone that's making global business even easier. Tao Yuan has the story.

Touching down in the Chinese city of Chongqing. With shrimp straight from Thailand. Customs officer Zhang Chengqiang inspects the shipment for clearance. And he needs to do it fast.   

ZHANG CHENGQIANG CHONGQING CUSTOMS OFFICER "The procedure is called 'arrival, check, release'. We are streamlining the inspection process for every goods, and seafood is given special attention, because we need to make sure they stay as fresh as possible."

Two hours later, the shrimp are cooked and served. Ge Chongwei started importing seafood from Thailand last year. It wasn't possible here before. So when policies were put in place to reduce the time cost, he saw an opening.   

GE CHONGWEI CHONGQING FEILUO SITE "There's a huge appetite for seafood here in Chongqing because it's hard to come by, especially in the wintertime. Now the customs inspectors are on duty 24/7 and the clearance speed is very fast."

Chongqing, once a hinterland in China's overlooked west. The city grew from trade up and down the Yangtze River first relying on brute human strength to transport goods. Now it's a modern metropolis, home to China's newest free trade zone.   

TAO YUAN CHONGQING "China's economy is slowing, but Chongqing outpaces the rest of the country with near double-digit growth. China wants to develop its inland regions with Chongqing at the heart of it. A city that some believe may hold the key to the country's modern-day silk road."

The city is also becoming a top computer manufacturer. Xiyong Microelectronics Park, one of the largest of its kind and an R&D hub. Thousands of new models are made and tested here each year.  

WANG XIANGYU CHONGQING CUSTOMS OFFICER "We are making it easier for manufacturers to have their newly-developed models certified. I think it's all about creating a favorable environment for these enterprises so they want to stay here in Chongqing. That will in turn boost our city's export volume." 

A gateway to China's interior, one which the government hopes will reshape the country's western backwater region. Tao Yuan, CGTN, Chongqing.