2025 “Chongqing Week in Singapore” Showcasing Chongqing’s Charm Across Multiple Sectors for the First Time

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore and the 10th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI), Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry co-hosted the 2025 “Chongqing Week in Singapore” at Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road, Singapore, from June 10 to 13. With the theme “Connected by Mountains and Rivers, Chongqing and Singapore Advancing Together,” the week featured brand promotions, forums, and exhibitions. It showcased Chongqing’s appeal and presented a multidimensional view of the decade-long collaboration. A delegation of over 100 representatives from Chongqing traveled to Singapore to strengthen the “mountain-sea bond” between Chongqing and Singapore.

A Multi-Faceted Showcase of Millennia-Old Bayu Culture

At the 2025 “Chongqing Week in Singapore” and the “China, an Opportunity: Chongqing Brands” Singapore Promotion Event, five key brands from the second batch were launched: “Beautiful Chongqing,” “8D Magic City,” “360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavor,” “Chongqing Global Trade,” and “Yu Shi Wei (Ten Herbal Medicines in Chongqing).” The event also highlighted Chongqing’s environmental resources, three-dimensional urban landscape, distinctive local cuisine, industrial strengths, and premium traditional Chinese medicine.

This year’s “Chongqing Week in Singapore” featured a 1,200-square-meter immersive experience space at Ngee Ann City, with five themed exhibition zones: Chongqing’s Culture and Tourism: Intangible Cultural Heritage, Traditional Chinese Medicine of Chongqing, Time-Honored Chinese Brands, 360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavor, and Photography of Chongqing. The event drew large crowds of Singaporean residents and tourists eager to explore and engage with the exhibits.

In the “360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavor” exhibition zone, visitors eagerly queued up to taste local delicacies such as Chongqing Hotpot, Chongqing-Style Noodles, and Chongqing-Style Spicy Chicken. Many remarked, “It’s my first time tasting Chongqing food. It’s spicy but delicious!” A Chinese master chef even demonstrated intricate knife skills on balloons, prompting French tourist Pierre to exclaim, “Unbelievable! This is truly Chinese Kung Fu on the tip of the tongue!”

Chongqing’s Culture and Tourism exhibition zone showcased the unique charm of “a land of natural beauty and a city with cultural appeal” through activities such as a cultural and creative market of intangible cultural heritage and live cultural performances. In the exhibition area of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Chongqing, visitors experienced Liushi Fire Needle Therapy, Zhaoshi Thunder Fire Moxibustion, and the crafting of traditional moxa sticks.

At the Photography Exhibition of Chongqing, landmark buildings such as Hongyadong and Raffles City were prominently featured. Visitors attentively admired the photography on display—some nodding in approval and others engaging in lively discussion. Singaporean resident Tan Swee Kiat shared that he had long heard of Chongqing as an “8D Magic City.” The exhibition deepened that impression and sparked his interest in planning a trip to Chongqing.

At the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC) Trade and Financial Conference, over 200 guests from the governments and enterprises of China and Singapore, as well as institutions from countries along the ILSTC and ASEAN nations, gathered to review the achievements of bilateral cooperation. Centered on the theme of “Regional Connectivity, Smooth Trade, and Shared Growth,” participants engaged in dialogues on topics such as the ILSTC development, and green and digital cooperation.

Over the past decade, the China-Singapore cross-border financing channels have continued to expand, making Singapore the largest source of actual foreign investment in Chongqing. Chongqing has opened up multiple cross-border financing pathways with Singapore, including international commercial loans, cross-border financing guarantees, and offshore bond issuance, enabling local enterprises to secure over USD23 billion in cross-border financing. The city has issued 38 bonds in Singapore, ranking among the top three in China by volume. Through China-Singapore financial cooperation, Chongqing has also played a leading role in facilitating over USD7 billion in financing for 11 western provinces, including Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Shaanxi in Singapore.

Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Health of Singapore, stated that the 10th anniversary of the CCI marked a milestone in bilateral cooperation, reflecting both countries’ shared commitment to regional integration and innovative development. As ASEAN and China are each other’s largest trading partners, the prospects for cooperation are broad. The ILSTC is set to create more new opportunities in cross-border trade and financing.

Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), stated that finance is a key driving force behind the CCI. Looking ahead to the next decade, Western China and ASEAN can further deepen cooperation in forward-looking areas such as green finance and digital connectivity. This will enhance both the quality and scope of cross-border financial services, providing stronger support for the real economy.

During the thematic discussion, representatives from DBS Bank Singapore, Bank of China, Pacific International Lines, and Chongqing Qingling Motors engaged in a dialogue on the topic “Resilient Supply Chains–Deepening Trade and Financial Connectivity and Cooperation Among Singapore, Chongqing, and Other Regions.” Meanwhile, representatives from Ascent Solutions Pte Ltd, Changan Automobile, Proxtera, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China held discussions on “Green and Digital Connectivity–Promoting Exchanges Between China and Singapore and Advancing Regional Economic Integration.”

In addition to the main forum, four parallel sessions were also held: 1)Digitalization of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor; 2)Green Economic Development; 3)RMB Internationalization; and 4)the 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum.

At the 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum themed “Trends and Visions for Chinese Industries Expanding into Southeast Asia”, participants discussed how Chinese enterprises seize opportunities in ASEAN markets, with key topics including cross-border e-commerce, AI, and cultural exports.

In response to the diverse markets across ASEAN countries, panelists emphasized that AI technology is becoming the key to breaking through existing challenges. By empowering e-commerce, AI can significantly enhance efficiency and accuracy, while also helping businesses conduct precise analysis of local markets and optimize their supply chains.

In recent years, Chinese cultural products have seen significant growth in Southeast Asian markets. Popular IPs such as Black Myth: Wukong and Ne Zha 2 have gained traction, while micro-dramas have emerged as a new medium. Panelists believed that as China’s global influence continues to rise, “cultural export” will become a new strategic focus for Chinese enterprises venturing into ASEAN markets.

The CCI has strengthened the connection between the two countries’ capital markets. Chia Caihan, Head of Greater China Capital Markets of Singapore Exchange, stated that the achievements under the CCI have positive significance for deepening China-Singapore financial cooperation and strengthening the connectivity of capital markets between China and ASEAN. What’s more, they have also facilitated secondary listings for Chinese companies in Singapore, enabling better resource allocation for Chinese enterprises as they venture into ASEAN markets and beyond.

Deng Guanghuai, Executive Vice District Mayor of Yuzhong, said that with the support of this project, many enterprises in Yuzhong have gone public in Singapore. The district has also established a RMB5 billion fund, in collaboration with Yufu and China Capital Investment Group, to mobilize a RMB20 billion fund cluster, supporting the development of Singaporean enterprises in Chongqing, and is committed to becoming a window for China-Singapore financial cooperation.

China Securities released a Southeast Asia Investment Report, recommending a focus on new energy vehicles, semiconductors, and digital trade. It also suggested supporting companies’ international expansion through a combination of “cross-border M&A funds+green bonds.”

The CCI was officially launched on November 7, 2015, as the third intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore, following the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City. Over the past decade, China and Singapore have focused on “Modern Connectivity and Modern Services”. More than 300 cooperation agreements have been signed, advancing projects such as the ILSTC and the International Data Channel.

According to a representative from Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Bureau (CCIB), the next step for Chongqing and Singapore will be to seize new opportunities in digital and green development, enhance the demonstration effect in key areas, and focus on creating new landmark outcomes such as the digital ILSTC and the regular operation of cross-border e-commerce digital financial service platforms. At the same time, cooperation will be expanded and upgraded in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, cross-border computing power, life and health sciences, and megacity governance, propelling the CCI into a new stage of development.

Photo/Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Bureau/Office of the Financial Commission of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee