2025 Low-Altitude Industry Ecosystem Conference: Chongqing's Vision for Future Aviation

The 2025 Low-Altitude Industry Ecosystem Conference emerged as a pivotal gathering within the World Smart Industry Expo, taking place at the Chongqing International Expo Center on September 7. This landmark event brought together industry leaders, experts, and innovators from across China to explore the transformative potential of the low-altitude economy in Southwest China.

Chongqing, with its distinctive mountainous terrain and extensive river networks, has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the low-altitude sector. The city's remarkable achievements speak volumes about its commitment to this emerging industry. In the first half of 2025 alone, Chongqing recorded an impressive 190,000 low-altitude flight hours, representing a staggering 109% increase from the previous year. Simultaneously, the total number of flights soared to 1.16 million, marking a substantial 67% year-over-year growth.

Industry Leadership and Strategic Vision

Tian Zhong, Deputy Secretary of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, emphasized the conference's crucial role in fostering sector integration and driving innovation across multiple industries. The city's ambitious plans center on creating dynamic low-altitude application scenarios that will revolutionize smart cities, logistics operations, and cultural tourism experiences. This strategic approach leverages Chongqing's existing strengths in artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, and high-end equipment manufacturing.

Tu Xingyong, Deputy Director of Chongqing's Economy and Information Technology Commission, provided compelling insights into the city's manufacturing capabilities. Chongqing currently hosts 68 low-altitude manufacturing enterprises, including 17 specialized aircraft manufacturers. These companies collectively generated an output value of 8.3 billion yuan in 2024, achieving a growth rate of 3.3%. The city's future roadmap includes developing a comprehensive low-altitude management platform while significantly expanding manufacturing capabilities.

Innovative Projects and Strategic Partnerships

The conference showcased groundbreaking initiatives that exemplify Chongqing's innovative approach to low-altitude development. Two major projects were unveiled: the "Integrated Planning, Construction, and Governance" scenario from Liangping District and Fengjie County's poetic "Soaring with the Wind Over the City of Poetry" initiative. These projects demonstrate the practical application of low-altitude technology in diverse regional contexts.

Strategic collaboration took center stage with the signing of pivotal agreements, including the "Framework Agreement on Building a Regional Aviation Logistics Hub" and the "Strategic Cooperation Agreement on the Low-Altitude Economy." These partnerships underscore the industry's commitment to creating a robust ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and innovation.

Technology Integration and Future Applications

Conference discussions delved deep into critical aspects of low-altitude development, including safety technologies for aircraft operations, new-energy configuration systems, and the integration of intelligent-connected support systems. Participants explored the creation of comprehensive low-altitude economic capability systems that would seamlessly integrate drone logistics into the broader economic framework.

The event attracted representatives from prestigious institutions and major corporations, including AVIC 301 Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, China Mobile, Tencent Cloud, and JD.com. This diverse participation highlighted the cross-industry collaboration essential for advancing the low-altitude economy.

Transforming Traditional Industries

Chongqing's approach to low-altitude economy development extends beyond aviation, encompassing integration with traditional sectors such as biomedicine, manufacturing, and urban planning. The city serves as a living laboratory where low-altitude technology convergences with existing industries create entirely new business models and operational efficiencies.

The conference emphasized the development of "low-altitude smart cities" that would incorporate aerial logistics, emergency services, and urban monitoring systems. Cultural tourism applications were also highlighted, with initiatives that combine technological innovation with regional heritage and natural beauty.

Infrastructure and Safety Frameworks

Critical discussions focused on establishing robust infrastructure to support the expanding low-altitude economy. This includes developing advanced airspace management systems, ensuring safety protocols for diverse aircraft operations, and creating verification processes for new-energy aircraft configurations. The emphasis on safety and reliability demonstrates the industry's commitment to sustainable and responsible growth.

Expert panels examined the technical requirements for supporting various low-altitude applications, from urban delivery systems to emergency response operations. These conversations highlighted the need for sophisticated traffic management systems and real-time monitoring capabilities to ensure safe and efficient low-altitude operations.

Economic Impact and Growth Projections

The conference revealed impressive economic indicators that underscore the sector's potential. With current annual output values exceeding 8 billion yuan and consistent growth rates, the low-altitude economy represents a significant opportunity for regional development. Industry projections suggest continued expansion as technology advances and regulatory frameworks mature.

Chongqing's strategic positioning as a hub for low-altitude economic development extends throughout Southwest China, potentially influencing national industry standards and international collaboration opportunities. The city's unique geographical features provide ideal testing grounds for various low-altitude applications and technologies.

This transformative conference, hosted by the Chongqing Industrial Intelligent Technology Research Institute with support from the China Economic Information Service, established a foundation for continued innovation and collaboration in the low-altitude economy. As industry leaders and technology pioneers work together, Chongqing's vision of becoming a global leader in low-altitude economic development moves closer to reality, promising exciting developments for the future of aviation and integrated transportation systems.

Xinhua Silk Road: 2025 Low-Altitude Industry Ecosystem Conference Held in Chongqing - The Tribune

CHONGQING, China, Sept. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Low-Altitude Industry Ecosystem Conference, as part of the 2025 World Smart Industry Expo, was held on September 7 at the Chongqing International Expo Center. Experts in the low-altitude field from research…

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