@ Chongqing @ The World—A Visit to Pengshui by Foreign Consulates and Overseas Institutions in Chongqing and Chengdu

To help foreign consulates and overseas institutions gain deeper insights into Chongqing’s economic and social development, and to further enhance the city’s global engagement, from July 2 to 3, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and the People’s Government of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County jointly hosted the “@Chongqing @The World — Ride the High-Speed Rail to Miao County — A Visit to Pengshui by Foreign Consulates and Overseas Institutions in Chongqing and Chengdu,” leveraging the momentum from the opening of Chongqing East Railway Station and the launch of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-Speed Railway.

The event brought together nearly 70 participants, including consular officers from 11 countries, such as Japan, Canada, Brazil, Myanmar, and Viet Nam; representatives from six overseas institutions, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce in Chongqing and the Chongqing Liaison Unit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and journalists from 13 domestic and international media outlets. Taking the newly launched Chongqing–Xiamen High-Speed Rail from Chongqing East Railway Station, the delegation traveled deep into the heartland of Pengshui’s Miao County to gain firsthand insights into how ecological industries and ethnic culture are contributing to rural revitalization and to explore new opportunities for international cooperation. The event was attended by Wang Wen, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government; Chen Qingsong, Secretary of the CPC Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County Committee; Ren Xujiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County Committee and County Mayor of Pengshui; Li Mingquan, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government; and other local officials from Pengshui.

During the event, the delegation visited the Miao Medicine Valley in Shangan Township, and participated in an international discussion held in a traditional rural courtyard. Together, Chinese and international guests engaged in in-depth exchanges to better understand Pengshui’s progress in developing specialty products, deepening international cooperation, and advancing rural revitalization. Amid the discussion, future opportunities were also explored, with participants offering insights and suggestions to support Pengshui’s high-quality development.

“There’s a proverb in Chongqing, saying ‘If you want to discipline your child, send him or her on a trip to Youyang, Xiushan, Qianjiang, and Pengshui.’ It reflects how tough life used to be in Southeast Chongqing. But today, things have changed,” said Wang Wen. With a local proverb, Wang introduced the story of Pengshui’s transformation. She explained that since 2015, the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs has been providing targeted assistance to Pengshui by facilitating connections, attracting investment and talent, and supporting industrial development. Today, Pengshui’s rural charm is increasingly infused with international features. The opening of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-Speed Railway has offered tremendous opportunities for Pengshui. Wang hoped that all parties would seize the opportunities, engage in meaningful exchanges, and identify areas of mutual interest and shared benefits for future cooperation.

In addition, Liu Shuang, Vice County Mayor of Pengshui, gave a focused presentation on Pengshui’s specialty products, including Pengshui crystal sweet potato vermicelli, tiger ginger, and mustard. Zhang Rao, Head of Shangan Township, introduced the township’s achievements in rural revitalization across key areas such as industries, ecology, and talent development.

During the exchange session, international guests shared their insights and ideas, offering valuable suggestions to support Pengshui in expanding international cooperation and advancing rural revitalization.

During their visit to Pengshui, the guests also visited the International Cooperation Exhibition Hall for Rural Revitalization of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, where they gained a comprehensive understanding of Pengshui’s approach to development. This approach leverages targeted support from the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and facilitates connections with international resources to explore cooperation opportunities. In Shipen Village of the Shangan Township, the clean and beautiful new rural landscape showcased the achievements in improving the living environment. The cultivation base of tiger ginger in Miao Medicine Valley demonstrated the development model featuring the industrialization of ecology. At the Chongqing Miao Sweet Potato Agricultural Co., Ltd, and the Sweet Potato Industry Development Center in Baojia Industrial Park, the delegation took a close look at how Pengshui is transforming its traditional sweet potato industry through technology and advanced processing, turning it into a “golden chain” for boosting local prosperity. Additionally, the delegation also visited projects for cultural inheritance and culture-tourism integration such as the Miao Medicine Hall, the Miao Embroidery Hall, the Chiyou Jiulicheng Scenic Spot, and the Ayi River Scenic Area.

Many expressed that the trip to Pengshui reshaped their understanding of rural China, especially the development in ethnic minority communities. They also noted that going forward, they would actively promote pragmatic cooperation between enterprises in their home countries and Pengshui, helping “good products from Miao County” and the brand of “Heart Nourishing Pengshui” reach broader international markets.

“@Chongqing @The World” is a flagship brand event for Chongqing’s foreign affairs created by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. Since its launch in 2023, it has been held in Liangping District, Yongchuan District, Jiangjin District, and other areas, continuously promoting the distribution of foreign affairs resources to districts and counties and boosting their international cooperation capacity. This visit to Pengshui is another success under this brand, injecting fresh international momentum into Pengshui’s high-quality development.