Though faced with complicated economic condition and downward pressure in the first half of this year, many industries gained great momentum in the field of foreign export, economic cooperation; labor sent abroad, sales exhibition, international tourism and foreign trade.

　　Foreign export of Yichang underwent stable development and was expected to keep the momentum. The total volume of export reached $ 993 million in the first half of this year, which held the second place in Hubei province.

　　Moreover, foreign economic cooperation witnessed a steady growth. In the first six months, the turnover of foreign economic cooperation topped $ 1,294,989,200 and the total amount of newly contracted overseas projects reached $ 8,940,075,600.

　　Even high mountains never stop the steps of Yichang people. In the first half of this year, the labor sent abroad amounted 1,539, a year-on-year rise of 22.14%; the equipment export based on contracted projects reached $112,527,300, a year-on-year increase of 14.32%.

　　Yichang was famous in ancient times because of the Tea-horse Ancient Road, and today its level of activity ranks only second to Wuhan in Hubei province due to the Belt and Road Initiative. The foreign investment of Yichang takes the lead in Hubei province in terms of investment amount, project number and participant number. In fact, Yichang’s contribution has earned Hubei province a position in certain areas in China.

　　With the strategic plan to make Yichang a city with developed tea industry, the tea industry of Yichang has accelerated the pace of its transformation and upgrading. In the early May, Yichang signed intentional agreements of over 7,380 tons of tea purchase, which was worth ￥320 million, with 60 foreign traders from 18 countries along the Belt and Road. Yichang also signed contracts with Poland on June 28 and with Czech on June 30 in the Economic and Trade Fair with a total volume of $102 million.

　　The construction of Sanxia Airport economic zone is in full swing. To provide a larger space for airport and build up more airlines, Yichang launched new chartered tourist flights to Bangkok, Thailand and Nha Trand, Vietnam, making Sanxia Airport a regional transportation hub with a driving force for Yichang’s economy. Sanxia Bonded Logistics Center (SBLC) paved a route to Europe, which starts from Nuremberg, Germany, with stops at Alashankou, Chengdu Comprehensive Bonded Zone and finally arrives at SBLC. By now, the value of bonded warehouse of SBLC has reached 79 million RMB with 172 customs declarations for importing and exporting and 3,579 tons freight volume. The first batch of freights, which weighed 17.3 tons, had a smooth trip to SBLC. The route, which links Yichang to Europe, shortens a 40-day trip compared with sea route and provides a new channel for importing and exporting of foreign trade enterprises in Yichang.

　　On April 1, with the release of the overall plan of China (Hubei) Free Trade Zone, Yichang zone had been officially announced as one of the three zones in Hubei province. By transforming government functions to adapt to the international rules, speeding up industrial upgrading to assist entity economy and building open platforms to play an exemplary role, Yichang, with the benefit from the construction of FTZ, is more resolute and ambitious to become the regional central city along the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. (Journalist Jie Xingwei, Correspondent Liu Yali)