Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks to staff members during his visit to BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, Jan 4, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

During the stay, Xi also visited a port and an IT company in Chongqing.

The city, almost as big as Austria, is the fourth municipality under the direct leadership of the central government after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, the only one in west China.

Chongqing has long been the economic and trade hub in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and a gateway to the vast inland area.

During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Singapore in early November last year, the two sides announced the third government-to-government project will be located in Chongqing.