The State Reform and Development Commission has agreed in principle to include the development of Chengdu-Chongqing economic region in its 12th five-year plan (2011-16), according to a prominent scholar. Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of China’s Geologists Society, Professor Lu Dadao said that he had submitted a proposal to the SRDC to develop Chengdu and Chongqing as an integrated economic region. Several experts under his wing have already been involved in the development planning of the region.

Professor Lu said the move is significant because it means that both cities will try to complement rather than compete with each other in developing their industries. Integration and co-ordination in transport infrastructure investment will also bring about greater efficiency and an improved allocation of resources. More important perhaps, the Chengdu-Chongqing region will be the focus for developing China’s southwest and northwest regions. Some major cities in the region will be reachable within an hour of each other.