The China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone was unveiled on April 1st, last year. The three districts, that is, Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Chengdu Qingbaijiang Railway Port Area and South Sichuan Port Area, actively took up the historical mission of deepening the reform and opening up of the pilot area.
The Tianfu New Area and the Qingbaijiang Railway Port Area (collectively known as the Chengdu Area of Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone), accounting for 83% of the entire Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone, are both under the jurisdiction of Chengdu Administration Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone and are regarded as the core area of reform exploration. What’s more, promoted by the construction of Chengdu's national central city and the Sichuan Tianfu New Area, the two areas are called “the golden place” by the public and with high anticipation.
Now, the first anniversary of the establishment of the Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone is approaching. Sichuan is actively promoting the construction of the Pilot Free Trade Zone into a more comprehensive and deeper new opening pattern. Looking back on this year, what innovative reforms and explorations have been carried out on the 100 square kilometers of Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone Chengdu Area? And what kind of achievement has it made?
A
The display of achievements
84 test tasks and 133 test projects were implemented
Since its inception, the Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone has been given the mission of being bold in experimentation, innovation and independent reform.
Having taking the responsibility as the “main body and core area” of reform, the Chengdu Area of Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone has taken the lead in the system and mechanism reform. It not only learns the experience that could be copied and promoted, but also pays attention to internal self-improvement and self-innovation.
In June last year, Chengdu Administration Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Singapore International Enterprise Development Bureau. In July last year, the Shuangliu District Free Trade Bureau signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Management Committee of Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Zone of Shenzhen. Then in last September, Chengdu Administration Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone has made its way into Europe to promote and expand its global “friend circle”...
Looking back on the development roadmap for the past year, it is not difficult to see that the Chengdu Administration Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone is pursuing reform and innovation. Mr. Zhang Jinquan, Executive Deputy Director of Chengdu Administration Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone, said “we should classifying international rules and standards, find out the painful, difficult and blocking parts, propose reform directions, and enhance the entire business environment.”
The result is obvious. According to the requirements of the “Overall Plan of China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Area”, the Chengdu Area of Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone initiated 155 reform tasks. In the past year, 84 test tasks and 133 pilot projects have been implemented, forming 141 demonstration reform and innovation cases.
As of the end of December 2017, the Chengdu Area of Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone has added 23,000 newly-registered enterprises with a total registered capital of 327.441 RMB billion, which means that the average daily number of newly settled enterprises has exceeded 80.
The influence is constantly highlighted throughout the province and the country.
In September last year, the State Council decided to promote 13 comprehensive innovation reform pilot measures that could be replicated, and 3 of which are related to Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone Chengdu Area. Among them, the “Winpower Technology Financial Service Model”, which was formed by the High-tech Block in the Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone, has provided a comprehensive “one-stop” investment and financing service for SMEs, and has provided over RMB 39 billion of debt financing for more than 4,500 SMEs.
B
“International Style”
Speeding up again for international open trade
From 9 hours to 9 minutes - this is the speed-up result after the use of the “virtual arriving of the goods in the area” system in the Shuangliu block in the Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone.
“Used in Sichuan for the first time, the system has replaced the original manual entry link. As long as it meets the corresponding conditions set by the customs, the system can automatically trigger the arrival and customs immediate release declaration”. A responsible person in Shuangliu District Free Trade Bureau said.
The enterprises in the zone all give thumbs up for improving efficiency through technological innovation. “Customs clearance logistics time” is a very important part of production and operation activities. The exploration of trade facilitation in the Pilot Free Trade Zone gives us more confidence.”
Thanks to the support behind its relevant policies frequently introduced by the Chengdu government, we have made obvious achievement and improved our self-confidence.
In order to accelerate the integration of the Pilot Free Trade Zone with the international trade system, in the past year, Chengdu has formulated the “Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion and Application of the Single Window of International Trade”. Besides, it also formulated and improved the “Implementation Plan for the Innovative Development of Chengdu Service Trade”, established a joint conference system for service trade development, and accelerated the construction of foreign trade platforms and parks such as China-Korea Innovation and Pioneer Park, Xinchuan Innovation and Technology Park. In addition, it also established a “Belt and Road” Legal Alliance Service Center...
The leading role is becoming increasingly evident. In 2017, Chengdu's total import and export volume reached RMB 394.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 45.4%, and its growth rate ranked first in the country's sub-provincial cities.
The international economic and trade exchanges have reached a new level. Last year, since the operation of the “China-Europe Center”, Chengdu has been standing at the forefront of the country's open cooperation with Europe; China-Germany, China-France and other countries' industrial cooperation platforms has accelerated their construction, and China Technical Support Headquarters of Germany's Winray Technology Corporation and other leading projects were successfully settled in Chengdu.
The international open channel is further expanded. In 2017, the import and export value of Chengdu through air ports reached RMB 274.65 billion, an increase of 42.2%, accounting for 70% of the city's total import and export volume; the import and export value of Qingbaijiang Railway Port was RMB 19.71 billion, increased by 3.6 times.
C
Benefits
Accelerating the development of industries in radiating regions
On March 22nd, the new plant of Sichuan International Aviation Engine Maintenance Co., Ltd. was put into operation in the Shuangliu block in the Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone. When the project is fully completed, it will become the largest aviation engine maintenance base in Asia.
Mr. Chai Weixi, chairman of the company, said that in the past, when overseas aviation engines needed to be repaired at domestic maintenance base, they needed to transport the engine to Hong Kong for export declaration, and then the overseas engine supplier or repair manufacturer imported the engine as a “repair item”. Under the cooperation of the Chengdu Customs and the Sichuan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and other port departments, the Ministry of Commerce approved the company to carry out domestic and overseas aircraft engine bonded maintenance business in the Shuangliu Comprehensive Bonded Zone in December 2017, which has broken through the institutional barrier. “After the maintenance base is stationed in the Shuangliu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, it will reduce the maintenance cost of the company by 2% to 5% and the time cost by 10 to 14 days.”
Promoting the domestic and foreign civil aviation engine bonded maintenance business is just one of the innovation pilots of the Shuangliu Block. In the past year, all the blocks have been aiming at reform and innovation, and have tried first in terms of talents, technology, capital, and systems, providing experience for Chengdu's industrial development and urban level improvement.
In July last year, Chengdu introduced “50 Industrial New Polices”, focusing on the supply of innovative factors and promoting the structural and institutional transformation of factor supply. Centering on the supply of innovative technology elements and accelerating the cultivation of talents, the High-tech Block in the Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone is exploring the building of a global platform.
The High-tech Block has initiated and implemented the International Top Technology Park Partner Program for the first time in the country. At present, Chengdu High-tech Zone and Spain's Barcelona Innovation Industrial Park, Shanghai Zhangjiang High-tech Zone, Shenzhen High-tech Zone, etc. jointly established a “world-class technology park alliance” to explore a new model of joint development of international science and technology parks.
In order to optimize the international business environment and open new channels for capital, European Industrial City standard factory plant is under construction in Chengdu Qingbaijiang Railway Port Area. The project covers an area of 516 acres, and is expected to be completed in November this year. Supporting investment work is carried out consistently and a batch of commercial investment “giants” have come one after another, such as Suning Commerce Group Co., Ltd., China Resources (Holdings) Company Limited, Morgan Stanley Asia International Limited, China Railway No.8 Engineering Group Co., Ltd....
