"The Belt and Road Initiative has made the western regions the new frontline in opening up, offering great opportunities," said Chen.

Namchow Group decided to set up a new branch in Chongqing. Chen's confidence in the decision was not only built on what he saw during his tour but also on careful calculations.

Over the past several years, southwestern regions on the mainland have taken the lead in regional economic performance amid economic downturn pressure, and Chongqing has maintained double-digit growth for four consecutive years.

Last year, with its GDP reaching 1.76 trillion yuan (around 254.36 billion U.S. dollars), Chongqing posted a 10.7-percent growth.

However, sales in the southwestern regions accounted for merely 12 percent of Namchow Group's total on the mainland, according to Chen. "There is huge untapped market potential in the western part of the mainland, especially in Chongqing."

Location was another top factor for Chen and his company when choosing the city. Situated along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing is a transport hub with an extensive network of railways, highways, and inland waterways.

In 2016, the Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) Railway opened to connect Chongqing and Duisburg in Germany, which, along with other transportation projects launched under the Belt and Road Initiative, aims to support business and trade along the new silk road.

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