Chongqing, the economic powerhouse of southwestern China, is building western China’s first inland free trade zone, which is scheduled to open after this year’s two sessions.

“We have little experience in constructing inland free trade zones and we still face lots of challenges. I suggest we look to the Hong Kong Free Trade Zone as an example during the construction of Chongqing FTZ and focus on policy innovation,” said Tang Zongwei, deputy director of the Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee and a deputy to the 12th National People’s Congress.

Tang Zongwei, deputy director of the Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee and a deputy to the 12th National People’s Congress, presents his ideas regarding Chongqing’s FTZ . [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

The Chongqing Pilot FTZ is part of the third batch of FTZs the central government approved in August 2016.

A FTZ, as a pilot zone for economic reforms, can lower the threshold for businesses to set up new companies, cut restrictions on the flow of capital, and offer more market access for foreign investment. And Chongqing will help to implement the country’s Go-West campaign –– the national effort to develop the vast western regions.

Tang Zongwei made four suggestions to the National People’s Congress on the construction of Chongqing Pilot FTZ. Tang suggested Chongqing FTZ should learn from Hong Kong Free Trade Zone on its system, model, management and policies to find the best way for Chongqing to open-up.

Chongqing will build itself into a pilot zone of inland free trade featuring an attractive investment and trade environment, efficient supervision, complete financial services, as well as a sound legal environment for business. [Photo/cqnews]

Efforts should also be made to build a base for highly-skilled foreign workers in Chongqing FTZ to support offshore research, offshore trade and offshore financing, as well as construction of international cooperation industrial parks including the Sino-German (Chongqing) Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Liangjiang New Area.

He also suggested that Chongqing Pilot FTZ trial bold initiatives to find the best set of policies that will bring maximum benefit to Chongqing.

According to the FTZ blueprint, Chongqing will build itself into a pilot zone of inland free trade featuring a convenient investment and trade environment, efficient supervision, complete financial services as well as a sound legal environment for business.

A nighttime view of Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing, Southwest China, August 3, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

Edited by James Skinner