Implementation Plan for Reform and Innovation Launched in Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone
In order to put the Notice of the State Council on Several Measures for Supporting the Deepening of Reform and Innovation in Pilot Free Trade Zones and the Notice of the Fujian Provincial People's Government on the 35 Measures for Further Promoting the Reform and Innovation in China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone into effect, the Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone recently worked out the Implementation Plan for the Reform and Innovation in Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone in accordance with the arrangements made at the 6th Plenary Session of the 10th CPC Fujian Provincial Committee. Firmly focusing on institutional innovation as the core and closely adhering to high-quality development and catch-up growth, the plan proposed 36 measures from five aspects so as to facilitate the Pilot Free Trade Zone to play a leading role in demonstration and reform with increased efforts and more concrete measures, making new contributions to the overall situation of reform and opening up.
First, implementing various policies and undertaking the powers of examination and approval transferred to the lower levels. In response to the policies and measures of ministries and commissions and provincial departments for delegating the powers of examination and approval of pilot free trade zones to the lower levels and supporting the construction of pilot free trade zones, supporting methods or operation specifications have been developed so as to do a good job in undertaking and implementation.
Second, speeding up the transformation of government functions. The functions involve 11 items, that is, implementing reforms to facilitate enterprise registration, accelerating e-government services, simplifying procedure for examination and approval of industrial product production licenses, putting the enterprise investment project commitment system into trial use, implementing the "comprehensive as-built survey," launching pilots of the architect responsibility system, improving trademark acceptance and registration of pledge, developing innovative measures for tax services aligned with international ones, strengthening intellectual property protection, exploring new modes of intellectual property financing, and further exerting the role of cross-strait arbitration centers.
Third, establishing pilot areas to implement new systems for open economy. This involves 9 aspects, that is, exploring the further opening up of the service industry, further improving the efficiency of and cutting fees of port customs clearance, improving the mechanism of rapid inspection and release at the port, building a global traceability system for import and export commodities, expanding the functional positioning of the quarantine and inspection center on the west coast of the Taiwan Strait, building an international pilot free trade digital port, expanding cross-border RMB business and the promotion of capital projects will first use the post-trial facilitation pilot, promoting pilots to facilitate the first use and then examination and approval of capital items, and advancing banking financial institutions to handle the RMB derivative products business.
Fourth, fostering new growth drivers for the development of platform format. This includes 3 areas, that is, giving a big boost to developing the platform economy, accelerating the development of cross-border e-commerce, and developing the healthcare and wellness industry.
Fifth, creating a cross-strait integration demonstration zone. This includes 12 items, namely, promoting the same treatment for Taiwanese enterprises as that in the region, providing the same treatment of employment and entrepreneurship for Taiwan compatriots as that in the region, creating a cross-strait common market of culture and tourism, introducing Taiwan's medical product technology to pilot areas, putting Taiwan's engineering construction model into trial use, building a cross-strait art dealer market, further facilitating the entry of Taiwan-made vehicles into the Fujian market, exploring the cooperation mechanism between ports in both Fujian and Taiwan, expanding credit inquiry business for Taiwanese enterprises and Taiwan compatriots, strengthening the introduction of talents from Taiwan, enhancing cross-strait cooperation in legal services, and promoting cross-strait cooperation in intellectual property .
According to Weng Xiaotan, Deputy Director of the Reform Promotion Department of Pilot Free Trade Office of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, since its inauguration in 2015, the Pingtan Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone has launched a total of 166 innovations in 14 batches, including 72 firsts in the country, putting into play its role as a "test field" in comprehensively deepening reform.
