Original Title: Notice of the General Office of the People’s Government of Shandong Province on Issuing the Implementation Plan for the Innovative Development of Foreign Trade in Shandong Province (2021–2022)
Implementation Plan for the Innovative Development of Foreign Trade in Shandong Province

(2021–2022)

This Implementation Plan is formulated to implement the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, promote the innovative and high-quality development of foreign trade, and support the province’s efforts to serve and integrate into the new development paradigm.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and fully implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the second, third, fourth, and fifth plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee, this plan takes supply-side structural reform as its main thread. Focusing on serving and integrating into the new development paradigm—which features the domestic economic cycle as the mainstay and the mutual promotion of domestic and international dual cycles—and building on Shandong’s industrial foundation and geographical advantages, it aims to accelerate the coordinated development of imports and exports, goods trade and services trade, trade and two-way investment, and trade and industry.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Implement the Trade Facilitation Initiative

1. Optimize the international market layout. Implement the “100 Overseas Exhibitions” market expansion plan, focusing on competitive sectors such as mechanical and electrical products, agricultural products, and daily consumer goods. Prioritize market expansion in the RCEP region, 20 key countries, and “Belt and Road” markets. Align with international trade rules such as the CPTPP to advance the “One Country, One Exhibition” and “One Industry, One Exhibition” initiatives.Organize import expos in Japan, South Korea, and the RCEP region to establish integrated import cooperation platforms for commodity procurement and investment promotion. Leverage major economic and trade events and the Eurasian Railway logistics corridor to enhance economic and trade cooperation with Europe. Monitor U.S. economic and trade policies toward China to stabilize the U.S. market. Improve working mechanisms for trade facilitation with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Commerce)

2. Innovate market development models. Fully utilize technologies such as 5G, big data, blockchain, AR, and VR to conduct cloud exhibitions, cloud negotiations, and cloud signing ceremonies, and build the “Shandong Commodities Online Exhibition Hall” to enhance enterprises’ digital marketing capabilities. Establish online and offline commodity exhibition and sales platforms at overseas warehouses in Central and Eastern Europe, East Africa, Japan, and South Korea where conditions permit, and organize special promotional events for new business formats.Strengthen the development of international marketing systems, encourage enterprises in key sectors such as the automotive, equipment manufacturing, and agricultural machinery industries to establish international marketing service outlets, and foster public service platforms for overseas marketing. (Responsible entity: Provincial Department of Commerce)

3. Promote the integration of domestic and foreign trade. Encourage foreign trade enterprises to utilize new models such as live-streaming e-commerce and social e-commerce to expand into the domestic market. Guide distribution enterprises and e-commerce platforms to engage in international operations and “Silk Road E-commerce” cooperation. Implement the “Same Line, Same Standards, Same Quality” initiative to facilitate market access for products shifted from export to domestic sales and resolve issues related to labeling standards.Establish a service platform for export-to-domestic sales, supporting foreign trade enterprises in strengthening production-sales coordination with major domestic supermarket chains, retail and wholesale businesses, and high-quality brand owners to expand the domestic market. Cultivate model enterprises for the dual circulation strategy and explore new models for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. (Responsible units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade)

4. Strengthen international logistics support. Optimize the functional layout of ports, expand and increase the frequency of international shipping routes, and develop five major competitive route clusters: Japan-Korea, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India-Pakistan, and Europe-America.Construct a China-Japan-Korea maritime express corridor; launch container express and cargo liner routes to Japan; promote the construction of a rapid land-sea intermodal transport corridor connecting Weihai Port, Incheon Port, and Incheon International Airport; and establish a 40-hour land-sea intermodal express route linking Weihai (Shidiao), Gunsan, Busan, and Osaka.Promote the development of Jinan and Qingdao airports into international hub airports in Northeast Asia, vigorously develop all-cargo flights, and expand cargo charter and postal charter services. Increase the number of scheduled routes for the Eurasian Railway Express and increase the frequency of operations. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Transportation, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Provincial Department of Commerce, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, Jinan Railway Bureau, China Post Group Shandong Branch)

5. Enhance customs clearance efficiency. Steadily advance reforms such as “advance declaration,” “two-step declaration,” and “two-stage admission,” and improve the level of “smart inspection” by customs. Implement a 6-hour release convenience measure for perishable goods, express parcels, air cargo, and air shipments originating from RCEP signatory countries that arrive at customs supervision areas with all relevant information fully submitted.Strengthen efforts to cultivate corporate creditworthiness, expand the number of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) enterprises, and implement the “single-point clearance” regulatory model for international mail. Expand the functionality of the China (Shandong) International Trade “Single Window” to achieve data coordination across operational stages such as vessel arrival, customs inspection, and cargo removal. Intensify efforts to streamline port fees by implementing a catalog and public disclosure system for port operational service charges. Improve the quality and efficiency of export tax rebates and further shorten approval times.Improve the level of foreign exchange receipts and payments facilitation, and guide new foreign trade models and commodity import sectors to use RMB for pricing and settlement within the scope permitted by policy. (Responsible Units: Provincial Port Office, Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, People’s Bank of China Jinan Branch, Provincial Tax Bureau, China Post Group Shandong Branch)

(2) Implement the “High-Quality Imports and Exports” Initiative

6. Improve the quality and efficiency of exports. Support the establishment of a number of new R&D institutions in key sectors to enhance the independent innovation capabilities of export enterprises. Build innovative public service platforms such as inspection and testing centers, and support export enterprises in obtaining quality management system certifications. Intensify efforts to cultivate independent international brands, and guide enterprises to cooperate with international brand companies through equity participation, share swaps, and mergers and acquisitions. Provide conveniences for overseas trademark registration and patent applications.Guide enterprises to advance the “online and digital” transformation of all trade processes, leverage cross-border e-commerce to strengthen brand cultivation capabilities, build independent internet brands, and promote Shandong brands in international markets. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, Provincial Tax Bureau)

7. Increase imports of high-quality products. Expand imports of advanced technology and equipment, including “bottleneck” equipment for chip production, assembly, testing, and packaging, as well as high-end petrochemical equipment, into the scope of encouraged imports. Increase the interest subsidy ratio for the import of key technologies, equipment, and components for the “Top Ten” competitive industries. Establish brand import distribution hubs, high-quality fresh produce import consolidation centers, and food and agricultural product import supply chain service platforms to expand imports of high-quality consumer goods.Replicate and promote the “Chain-based Free Trade” one-item-one-code model, and conduct pilot programs for the off-zone sales of bonded goods. Establish regional consolidation centers along the Eurasian Railway routes to facilitate the import of specialty products from Central and Eastern European countries and regions. Build a high-quality product import distribution center in the SCO Demonstration Zone to facilitate the import of specialty products and bulk commodities such as petroleum products from SCO member states.Prioritize the development of 1 national-level import trade promotion and innovation demonstration zone, 10 provincial-level import trade promotion and innovation zones, and 100 “small giants” in import trade. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs)

(3) Implement the Action Plan for Upgrading New Foreign Trade Models

8. Breakthrough development of new business models such as cross-border e-commerce and market procurement. Attract and cultivate leading cross-border e-commerce enterprises; launch initiatives to foster key entities including cross-border e-commerce platforms, industrial parks, and public overseas warehouses; and encourage enterprises to establish their own independent websites. Promote the “industrial clusters + cross-border e-commerce” model; select advantageous industries such as textiles and apparel, agricultural products, and auto parts; and carry out online expansion initiatives for distinctive industrial clusters.Develop a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce index system. Enhance the outward orientation of pilot markets for market procurement trade, cultivate a group of enterprises with strong leading roles, and foster a batch of independent brands that reflect industrial characteristics. Optimize tax refund services for comprehensive foreign trade service enterprises. Develop new forms of barter trade, and expand transshipment and transit trade with Japan, South Korea, and Eurasian countries. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, Provincial Tax Bureau, People’s Bank of China Jinan Branch)

9. Innovate and develop trade in services. Focusing on service sectors such as the “manufacturing + services” transformation, digital trade, cultural products and services, and medical and elderly care, cultivate provincial-level export bases for characteristic industrial services; develop intellectual property and human resources services, and strive to establish a national human resources service export base.Orderly open up the service sectors of pilot cities for the innovative development of national trade in services. Focus on building Jinan into a center for trade in services such as cultural education, digital services, and technology R&D; build Qingdao into a center for trade in services such as international maritime shipping, industrial design, financial and legal services, and cultural tourism; and build Weihai into a distinctive service trade center oriented toward Japan and South Korea that integrates “marine biology + health and elderly care + cultural tourism.”Accelerate the digital, networked, and intelligent transformation of emerging service trade sectors such as outsourcing, finance, insurance, healthcare, education, exhibitions, and cultural entertainment; and accelerate the development of high-value-added service trade related to manufacturing, including cross-border R&D and design services, industrial internet services, integrated circuit design services, and embedded software.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Cyberspace Administration Office, Provincial Department of Education, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Provincial Health Commission, Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security)

(IV) Implement the Trade-Industry Integration Initiative

10. Improve foreign trade industrial and supply chains. Promote the high-quality development of foreign trade transformation and upgrading bases; establish public service platforms for R&D, testing, marketing, information, and logistics; optimize and improve support policies; and maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains. Launch initiatives to create “counties strong in opening-up” and “zones for high-quality foreign trade development”; support the transformation and upgrading of foreign trade-led industries; and encourage the accelerated development of new business formats and models.Focus on 42 key industrial chains, including integrated circuits, offshore engineering equipment, and medical devices, to attract investment in upstream and downstream industries, cultivate and improve supporting systems, and enhance industrial clustering. Strengthen the leading and driving role of economic (technology) development zones and high-tech industrial development zones, focus on dominant industries, and attract upstream and downstream supporting industries to cluster within these zones.We will optimize and enhance the functions of customs special supervision zones and pilot free trade zones to create hubs for business model innovation in cross-border e-commerce, bonded maintenance, transshipment and consolidation, futures bonded delivery, offshore trade, and offshore settlement. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Qingdao Customs, Jinan Customs, Provincial Tax Bureau)

III. Support Measures

Establish a coordination and promotion mechanism under the leadership of the Provincial Leading Group for Opening-up, to comprehensively plan major initiatives for the innovative development of foreign trade and coordinate the resolution of bottlenecks and challenges. Introduce supply chain financial services and expand the coverage of export credit insurance. Launch the “Shandong Province Special Training Initiative for Open-up Talent” to intensify efforts in recruiting high-level and practical talent from overseas and other provinces, and provide convenient conditions for their entrepreneurship, work, and daily life.Improve services for handling overseas commercial complaints by enterprises and enhance service levels in areas such as commercial law and standard system development. Strictly prevent the importation of overseas COVID-19 cases. While strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control requirements, make full use of invitation policies for visiting China under pandemic conditions, such as the “Fast Track,” and provide convenience in the issuance of invitation letters for eligible foreign business personnel.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Committee Foreign Affairs Office, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, Provincial Bureau of Local Financial Supervision, Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, People’s Bank of China Jinan Branch, Shandong Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, Sinosure Shandong Branch)