By Diana Arushanyan in Chongqing, China

On September 20, the launch ceremony of the “Discover China: Encountering New Chongqing Through International Consumption” multi-media campaign was held at Jiefangbei Square in Chongqing, China, dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Chongqing’s development as an international consumption center.  The event brought together about 100 Chinese and foreign journalists, including the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent. The 2.0 version of the Chongqing Culinary Map, new tourism programs, and the “5+3+N” concept promotion plan were presented.

Zhang Yongwu, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, presented the city’s consumer potential through four characters: a rock painting, a shelter, a train, and a locomotive. He noted that Chongqing has topped for the fourth consecutive year the list of Chinese cities in terms of night-time economic development, has attracted 325 Fortune Global 500 companies, and has created more than 100 unique commercial spaces on rocks, in coastal areas, and in former shelters.

He Du, the head of Chongqing's Yuzhong District, said that three business districts, 20 shopping malls, and 10 traditional streets have formed a consumer space of 2.3 million square meters. Projects include the MixC Xinhua Complex, as well as the first rate-refund district in Western China, and a convenient payment zone for foreigners.

The Jiefangbei District is on the top ten most tourist-friendly business districts in China and ranks fourth in the country in consumer competitiveness.

A total of 33 journalists from 30 countries participated in the three-day press tour in Chongqing.