(Yicai) Jan. 9 -- The gross domestic product of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is expected to have reached CNY8.6 trillion (USD1.17 trillion) last year, a 37 percent increase from 2019, before the regional development initiative was introduced.

The southwestern economic zone contributed more than 6.5 percent of China's GDP last year, up from 6.3 percent in 2019, Chen Yajun, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference today.

Launched in 2020, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle aims to promote economic integration and boost development across its 185,000-square-kilometer area, which includes cities such as Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu, Mianyang, and Nanchong.

The economic zone has established industrial clusters in electronic information, equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, and consumer goods, with each valued more than CNY1 trillion. The region's automobile and electronic information sectors account for more than 10 percent of national output, according to Chen.

Li Wenqing, vice governor of Sichuan, noted that the electronic information industry, which covers computer-related goods, including software, and communication equipment, is the strongest pillar industry in terms of innovation and industrial foundation in Sichuan and Chongqing. The region produces two-thirds of the world's iPads, nearly 80 million laptops, and more than 100 million smartphones annually.

Automotive manufacturing is another key industry. While Chongqing excels in vehicle manufacturing, Sichuan has strong capabilities in battery production and clean energy support. The regions plan to jointly develop a platform to match industrial supply and demand, the vice governor added.

The two regions host more than 2,000 automobile and auto parts manufacturers, Li said. One in seven domestically produced vehicles comes from Sichuan or Chongqing, and the economic circle produces more than one-fifth of the country's batteries.

Looking ahead, Sichuan and Chongqing will jointly develop future industries in artificial intelligence, low-altitude economy, commercial aerospace, and nuclear technologies, Li concluded.

Editor: Emmi Laine