On July 2–3, the National Pilot Free Trade Zone Construction Work On-site Meeting was held in the Qingdao Area of China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (SDPFTZ). Participants comprehensively studied and implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions regarding the construction of FTZs, conveyed the arrangements and requirements of the State Council Executive Meeting, and planned to advance key tasks for the next phase. Assistant Minister of Commerce, Tang Wenhong, attended the meeting and delivered a work report.
Participants emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions provide a fundamental guideline for executing the strategy of upgrading FTZs, which must be deeply understood and thoroughly implemented. We must adhere to the arrangements and requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding promoting the enhancement of quality and efficiency in FTZs and extending the authorization for reform tasks, advancing the construction of FTZs with a profound sense of mission, responsibility, and urgency.
Participants emphasized that over the past year, the Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with relevant local governments and departments, deeply implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Efforts were made to advance the implementation of the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Implementing the Strategy for Upgrading Pilot Free Trade Zones" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), supporting FTZs in rolling out plans such as establishing hubs for bulk commodity resource allocation. In terms of cross-border data flow and innovative development throughout the entire industrial chain, numerous pioneering and integrated explorations were undertaken, attaining a series of groundbreaking and exemplary achievements, promoting on a larger scale the first batch of pilot measures aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and further unleashing the role of FTZs as comprehensive experimental platforms for reform and opening-up.
Participants emphasized the importance of accurately grasping the objectives of enhancing the quality and efficiency of FTZs, intensifying efforts to advance institutional opening at higher levels, strengthening reform systems integration, and improving the quality of the open economy, striving to establish a new milestone in the work of FTZs. Efforts should be concentrated on critical tasks such as implementing the "Opinions", aligning closely with international high-standard economic and trade rules, adapting reform task authorizations to regional conditions, enhancing the "1+N+X" policy framework, and advancing the effective execution and depth of FTZ upgrading strategy. It is essential to balance development with security, incorporating risk management throughout all stages of constructing FTZs.
At the meeting, the representative of the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area delivered a presentation discussing its development progress since its approval and outlining ideas and plans for implementing FTZ upgrading strategy to further enhance quality and efficiency. During the meeting, participants also conducted field research on the innovation and development statuses of major enterprises in fields including the marine economy, genetic technology and life sciences, and intelligent manufacturing within the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area.
Representatives from the management bodies of various national FTZs, along with officials from relevant departments including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the People's Bank of China, and the General Administration of Customs, participated in the meeting.
