A few days ago, the State Council issued "Several Measures for Promoting Institutional Opening-up in Qualified Free Trade Pilot Zones and Free Trade Ports" (hereinafter referred to as "Several Measures"), which clearly stated that Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin, Qualified pilot free trade zones such as Fujian and Beijing, and the Hainan Free Trade Port, piloted the integration of relevant international high-standard economic and trade rules, and steadily expanded institutional opening.
On June 30, at the State Council’s regular policy briefing held by the State Council Information Office, Chen Chunjiang, Assistant Minister of Commerce, stated that the introduction of the “Several Measures” was to comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up, and on the other hand, to Promote accession to high-standard economic and trade agreements to provide practical support. The five pilot free trade zones including Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin, Fujian, and Beijing and the Hainan Free Trade Port have a relatively high level of export-oriented economic development, rich application scenarios, and strong regulatory capabilities. In the future, pilot measures with good experimental results and controllable risks , Extend the replication to a wider range for stress testing, and continue to promote high-level opening up to the outside world.
A total of more than 3,400 reform measures have been launched
In September 2013, the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially listed. So far, the number of pilot free trade zones in the country has reached 21, basically forming a pattern of reform, opening up and innovation covering east, west, north, south, and middle.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, in 2022, the total import and export volume of the 21 pilot free trade zones will reach 7.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.5%, accounting for 17.8% of the country's total. The actual use of foreign capital was 222.52 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.5%, accounting for 18.1% of the country's total. Among them, the actual use of foreign capital in high-tech industries was 86.34 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 53.2%.
"my country's 21 pilot free trade zones account for less than four-thousandths of the country's land area, contributing more than one-sixth of the country's total import and export value and the total amount of foreign investment. It will foster new momentum for my country's economic development and consolidate new international competition. The advantages provide a strong boost." Zhang Guoqing, chairman of the Free Trade Zone Port Professional Committee of the China Institute of International Trade and deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the Ministry of Commerce, told the 21st Century Business Herald reporter that under the blessing of a series of opening advantages, institutional advantages, and environmental advantages , the existing free trade pilot zone is at the forefront of the country in attracting foreign investment, and has also become an important engine for local economic and social development. In the future, more efforts should be made in high-quality utilization of foreign capital and high-level development of foreign trade, so as to enhance the ability to radiate and drive the local economy, and play a key role in stabilizing foreign investment and foreign trade.
In addition to the current economic growth, each pilot trade zone is also providing more development potential for our country through a series of system integration innovations. As of the end of 2022, my country's pilot trade zones have launched a total of more than 3,400 reform measures, and more than 200 institutional innovations have been replicated and promoted to the whole country and specific regions, giving full play to the window, demonstration, leading, and driving roles of the pilot free trade zones.