Pingyao economic development and investment forum in Sichuan

The tourist county of Pingyao, in North China’s Shanxi province, held a forum on June 22, in Chengdu, Sichuan province in the country’s Southwest, to talk with potential investors about the county’s development plans and investment environment.

The county government also signed a framework agreement on cooperation with the Shanxi chamber of commerce, in Sichuan, and described cultural tourism as a good area for cooperation. The two parties said they will begin some long-term, strategic cooperation that benefits both and look for other areas of common development with the same effect.

This was Pingyao’s first ever attempt at such a large-scale, high-profile promotion outside Shanxi, and it shows just how determined the government and people of Pingyao are to open up to the outside world. The idea of using Chengdu for the forum, according to Cao Zhisheng, the county head, came from the Pingyao government which was hoping to take advantage of Chengdu’s recently concluded Fortune Global Forum, which attracted business people from around the world. Cao was on hand to welcome Sichuan business people and asked them to invest in Pingyao and make use of its cultural and industrial resources.

Pingyao is a world heritage site and the cradle of a Shanxi merchant class and has its own unique charm, said Wei Mingxi, head of the county Party committee. The locals now dream of a more prosperous, beautiful county with good governance, a developed economy, pleasant environment, improved livelihoods, happy locals, social harmony, and the realization of a dream that requires the effort of not just local people but friends from outside, Wei confided.

Pingyao really does deserve a lot of attention because of its rich culture, other resources, and economic and social development, said Fan Jianchuan, head of the Shanxi chamber of commerce, who spoke in Sichuan. It has abundant funds, top quality talents, advanced technology, and up-to-date information. Meanwhile, members of Sichuan’s chamber of commerce in Shanxi are doing business in urban construction, real estate, pharmaceuticals, culture, the media, logistics, trade and tourism.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw