CRI听力:Fortune 500 eyes on Sichuan to invest

As home of the chili hot pot and the un-bear-ably cute giant panda, Sichuan province in west China is well known and well loved by people at home and aboard.

Sichuan is known as the "Province of Abundance" and is one of the major agricultural production bases of China. Now also with rich mineral and natural gas resources, the region is becoming one of the major industrial centers of China too.

At a networking event in Beijing on Thursday, Yin Li, governor of Sichuan province said Sichuan was looking to reach out to the world.

"Sichuan is opening up to the world in all respects and is merging into the global industrial chain and value chain. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport now has 175 domestic flights and 95 international flights, transporting more than 46 million people last year. Along with 9 rail lines, 17 express ways, and 2 waterways, the mass transportation network has facilitated all kinds of transportation in and out of Sichuan," the governor says at the conference.

To date, more than half of the fortune 500 firms, the world's wealthiest businesses, have clinched deals to secure a market share in the province.

Thierry Garnier, vice president of Carrefour Group and president of Carrefour Greater China Region, says his company will keep up the investment in Sichuan as he sees bright future in the region.

Thierry Garnier, vice president of Carrefour Group and president of Carrefour Greater China Region, speaking at a networking event to invest in southwest China's Sichuan province. [Photo: China Plus]

He says: "In the future, we'd like to expand our presence in Sichuan. With the spirit of sharing, we will keep up our various types of retail business, and explore more channels for development."

Garnier says Carrefour is currently growing with the region. Its operation covers tens of cities in Sichuan with 22 retail complexes.

He says the company is also changing the ways of business as the Chinese economy is shifting to a slower but more healthy structure. Carrefour launched its online retail sector last year and is building more mini markets in communities.

Sichuan has also seen a boost its high-tech sector with more overseas firms setting up shop.

According to official figures from Sichuan's statistics department, more than 50-percent of laptop 'chipset' were manufactured in the province.

From April 6th to 8th, the Sichuan government is planning to host a series of activities to encourage more enterprises and foreign investors to come and visit, and facilitate future cooperation.