On the afternoon of June 3, the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Co., Ltd. Municipal Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun met with Wang Annan, Party Secretary and Chairman of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group, and witnessed the signing.

Ying Xiong, Deputy Party Secretary and Director of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group, along with Vice Presidents Zhou Houguo and Li Xiaozhen, and municipal leaders Liu Shangjin and Jiang Guojie, attended the event.

Yuan Jiajun, on behalf of the municipal party committee and government, welcomed Wang Annan and his delegation to Chongqing for deepened cooperation. Yuan stated that Chongqing is an economic center in the upper Yangtze River region, a shipping hub, and a key national modern manufacturing base with vast development potential. Currently, the city is thoroughly studying and implementing the important speeches and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection of Chongqing, focusing on solidifying the “two major positions” and leveraging the “three roles.” It is amplifying comparative and late-mover advantages such as superimposed national strategies, city scale, industrial foundation, transportation hubs, and human ecology, accelerating the enhancement of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle’s development capacity, continuously strengthening the industrial main engine, striving to build a strategic hub linking the Eurasian continent economic corridor, promoting urban-rural integration and comprehensive rural revitalization, advancing the construction of a beautiful Chongqing, and working to become a growth pole and powerhouse for high-quality development in the western region. Water network construction affects every household and is crucial for sustainable urban development, forming a key part of Chongqing’s modern infrastructure system. He hopes China South-to-North Water Diversion Group will leverage its national team and main force advantages in water network construction, take this signing as a new starting point, strengthen mutual empowerment between central enterprises and local governments, and deepen practical cooperation with Chongqing in areas such as major water conservancy project investment, water-saving technology innovation, and smart water network construction, jointly creating mutually beneficial landmark achievements.

Wang Annan thanked Chongqing for its strong support of the group’s development in the city. He noted that Chongqing has a prominent geographical advantage and broad development space, holding a special and important strategic position in the national water network layout. China South-to-North Water Diversion Group will thoroughly study and implement the important speeches and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping, strengthen central-local cooperation and government-enterprise coordination, and deepen collaboration with Chongqing in areas such as investment, construction, and operation of major water diversion projects, as well as productive services for modern water networks, actively contributing to the construction of a modern water network and striving to make greater contributions to national water security.

Representatives from China South-to-North Water Diversion Group and relevant municipal departments and enterprises attended the event.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major city in southwestern China, known for its mountainous terrain and strategic location at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Historically, it served as the provisional capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and has since grown into a vital economic and transportation hub. Today, it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, stunning night views, and the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings located nearby.

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world, flowing over 6,300 kilometers through China. It has been a cradle of Chinese civilization for thousands of years, supporting agriculture, trade, and cultural development, with key historical events such as the Three Gorges Dam project and the ancient kingdoms along its banks. Today, it remains a vital economic artery and a symbol of China’s natural and cultural heritage.

Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle

The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is a major regional development initiative in southwest China, aimed at integrating the economies of the twin hubs Chengdu and Chongqing into a leading growth pole. Launched in 2020, it builds on decades of collaboration and infrastructure projects to foster innovation, manufacturing, and urban connectivity. This strategic plan seeks to create a competitive economic zone that drives balanced development and serves as a model for China’s western region.

Eurasian continent economic corridor

The Eurasian continent economic corridor refers to a network of trade and infrastructure routes connecting China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, most notably embodied by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Historically, it revives the ancient Silk Road, which for centuries facilitated the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas between East and West. Today, the corridor aims to enhance regional economic integration through investments in railways, ports, and energy pipelines, fostering development and cooperation across the vast Eurasian landmass.

China South-to-North Water Diversion Group

The China South-to-North Water Diversion Group is a state-owned enterprise responsible for managing one of the world’s largest water transfer projects, designed to channel water from the water-rich Yangtze River basin in southern China to the arid northern regions. Initiated in 2002 to address severe water shortages in cities like Beijing and Tianjin, the project consists of three major routes (Eastern, Central, and Western) and has significantly improved water security for over 500 million people. Its construction, completed in phases over two decades, showcases China’s ambitious engineering capabilities while also sparking ongoing debates about environmental and social impacts.