Chengdu Chinese New Year Reception Spotlights Open Development

As the Chinese New Year approaches and the festive atmosphere grows stronger, Chengdu has held a special “Chinese New Year gathering” at its “doorstep”.

On February 4, the People’s Government of Chengdu Municipality held the 2026 Chinese New Year Reception. Over 70 guests were invited to attend the reception, including consuls general (acting consuls general) and consular officials from 20 consulates general stationed in Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Xi’an and Kunming, representing countries such as Austria, France, Poland, Singapore, Hungary, the UK, Italy, and Malaysia; representatives from international chambers of commerce in Chengdu; city representatives; representatives from foreign-funded enterprises; international experts and scholars; and representatives in Chengdu from Hong Kong and Macao institutions. They engaged in face-to-face exchanges on strengthening friendship, deepening mutual trust, and expanding pragmatic cooperation, discussing Chengdu’s development opportunities and prospects for cooperation.

At the reception, the presentation of a number of products “Made in Chengdu” that blended frontier technology with distinct Bashu elements attracted consular officials, international guests, and representatives from Hong Kong and Macao, who paused to watch and tried their hand at the products. “Excellent! This is a significant breakthrough in AI technology,” exclaimed Joel Tan, Consul General of Singapore in Chengdu, after trying the exoskeleton robot “Made in Chengdu”. “The speed of Chengdu’s development in AI is impressive. These technologies not only enhance the convenience of daily life but also inject strong momentum into industrial upgrading and international cooperation.” He noted that Singapore has put extensive efforts in recent years into driving the digital transformation of enterprises, particularly into strengthening the adoption of AI across various sectors. He anticipated deepened exchanges and cooperation with Chengdu in relevant fields in the future to explore broader application scenarios for AI technology.

“The rapid development and profound changes Chengdu has seen in recent years are truly astonishing,” shared Günther Lazelsberger, Consul General of Austria in Chengdu. Every time he travels through the city by car, what he sees along the way genuinely reflects the city’s development. “In Austrian culture, the horse is a symbol of agility, diligence, and strength. I was born in the Year of the Horse, and I hope the Year of the Horse brings good fortune. As this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, we are committed to promoting two-way cultural and economic exchanges between the two countries.”

In the new year, Sake Nopthaisong, Consul General of Thailand in Chengdu, will continue to advance cooperation in cultural tourism. “Over the years, China has been Thailand’s largest source country of international tourists. Last year, we welcomed nearly five million tourists from China. This year, we will enhance two-way interaction and vigorously promote Chengdu’s rich and diverse tourist attractions, cultural heritage, and various tourist landmarks to attract more Thai citizens to visit Chengdu.” In his view, Thai tourists visiting Chengdu can not only explore Chengdu’s cultural landscape but also experience firsthand the park city’s unique charm. The continuous two-way interaction and exchanges will further advance cooperation between both sides.

Source: HomeinChengdu