Original Title: Notice from the General Office of the People’s Government of Shandong Province on Issuing the “Implementation Plan for the Construction of the Linked Innovation Zone of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone”
China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone

Implementation Plan for the Construction of the Linked Innovation Zone

This Implementation Plan is formulated to implement the Shandong Province “14th Five-Year” Development Plan, better leverage the exemplary, leading, and radiating role of the Pilot Free Trade Zone in deepening reform and expanding opening-up, support qualified regions in advancing coordinated reform and innovation, promote the formation of a development pattern characterized by interconnected markets, aligned rules, integrated industries, and mutually reinforcing innovation, and comprehensively enhance overall competitiveness and the influence of opening-up.

I. Guiding Principles

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee. Focusing closely on the strategic positioning assigned to the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone) by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, we will fully leverage the Pilot Free Trade Zone’s strengths in institutional innovation and opening-up, while integrating the industrial, policy, and spatial advantages of economic functional zones. Adhering to the principles of “empowering through innovation, promoting by category, driving the whole from points, and achieving comprehensive free trade,” we will advance linked innovation and co-construction and sharing.

II. Development Approach

In accordance with the functional positioning of each zone as outlined in the “Overall Plan for the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone,” we will prioritize industrial linkage as the main thread, institutional innovation as the core, policy reciprocity as the safeguard, and platform sharing as the foundation, while emphasizing differentiated development.The first batch of industries selected for linkage includes healthcare and elderly care, international trade, and the marine economy. Pilot programs will be launched in eligible areas within national and provincial functional zones, such as the Jinan New and Old Growth Drivers Transformation Pilot Zone, national-level economic and technological development zones, high-tech industrial development zones, and comprehensive bonded zones. Based on accumulated experience, the initiative will gradually expand to other industries and regions.

III. Key Tasks

(1) Healthcare and Elderly Care.

1. Collaborative Regions. Focusing on the Jinan Area of the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the “Jinan Area”), collaborate with the Tai’an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Dezhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Heze Economic Development Zone to advance cooperation in biomedicine; collaborate with the Zibo High-Tech Industrial Development Zone to advance cooperation in medical devices; and collaborate with the Jining High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Dong’e Economic Development Zone to advance cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine.

2. Main Content.

First, strengthen cooperation in biopharmaceutical R&D. Leveraging the Jinan Area’s resource advantages—including the Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the National New Drug R&D Platform, and the Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control—we will collaborate with the Tai’an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, the Dezhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the Heze Economic Development Zone to provide full-chain services ranging from drug screening, new drug R&D, safety evaluation, pilot-scale production, clinical research, to registration and application. Together, we will explore reform and innovation measures in areas such as drug market approval.Actively coordinate with provincial-level testing and inspection service agencies to explore the establishment of on-site service platforms for health food testing and inspection within the linked innovation zones, innovate service models, and accelerate R&D.

Second, deepen cooperation in the medical device industry. Leverage the Jinan Zone’s concentration of medical device R&D resources and the role of the integrated regulatory service platform for food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Collaborate with the Zibo High-Tech Industrial Development Zone to streamline medical device registration processes, explore innovative channels for importing research equipment, reduce corporate R&D costs, unleash development potential, and promote high-quality development of the medical device industry.

Third, promote the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Leverage the Jinan Zone’s industrial cluster advantages in TCM, collaborate with the Jining High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and the Dong’e Economic Development Zone, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as proprietary Chinese medicine preparations, herbal decoction pieces, and herbal cultivation. Utilize the Shandong-Guangdong-Macao TCM collaborative innovation mechanism to advance the internationalization of TCM through “going global via Macao.”Relying on the National Cultural Export Base in the Jinan Zone, we will assist TCM cultural products and “Time-Honored Chinese Brands” enterprises in “going global,” further expanding overseas sales channels and promoting TCM culture and products internationally.

(2) International Trade.

1. Collaborative Regions.Focusing on the Qingdao Area of the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Qingdao Area), we will collaborate with the Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone on petroleum product trade, and with the Yanggu Economic Development Zone on copper ore trade; we will collaborate with the Zouping Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Tengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone on cross-border e-commerce and county-level e-commerce, and with the Rizhao Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Linyi Comprehensive Bonded Zone on cross-border e-commerce and live-streaming sales.

2. Main Content.

First, expand the scale of commodity trade. Leverage the role of the Qingdao Area’s international commodity trading platform to attract commodity traders and buyers to conduct spot trading online. Building on the Qingdao Area’s innovations in commodity customs clearance facilitation, provide expedited customs clearance services to enterprises within the zone, reduce import costs, and enhance market competitiveness.Collaborate with the Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone to strengthen coordinated energy security. Leveraging the bonded crude oil supermarket, crude oil futures delivery warehouses, and existing pipelines for crude oil, refined oil, and chemical products, we will establish a bonded crude oil blending and direct sales center and an international crude oil distribution and transshipment center. Collaborate with the Yanggu Economic Development Zone to build a copper ore trade supply chain system and improve the trade service system covering market transactions, settlement, warehousing, and logistics.

Second, promote complementary advantages between cross-border e-commerce and county-level e-commerce. Leverage the role of the Qingdao Zone’s comprehensive cross-border e-commerce service platform to collaborate with the Zouping Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Tengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone in fostering cooperation between cross-border and county-level e-commerce, thereby helping local specialty products “go global”;Leverage the cross-border e-commerce industry strengths of the Qingdao Zone, collaborate with the Rizhao Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Linyi Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and encourage cross-border e-commerce and logistics enterprises to establish overseas warehouses. Share resources for overseas warehouses and cargo distribution hubs, and promote the innovative integration of live-streaming sales and cross-border e-commerce bonded inventory.

(3) Marine Economy.

1. Collaborative Areas.Focusing on the Yantai Area of the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Yantai Area), collaborate with the Dongying High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and the Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone on marine engineering equipment; collaborate with the Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone on marine vessel repair and construction; collaborate with the Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Weihai Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone on marine fisheries; and collaborate with the Weihai South Sea Economic Development Zone on blue carbon economy initiatives.

2. Main Tasks.

First, promote the clustered development of the marine engineering equipment industry. Leveraging the Yantai Area’s institutional innovation advantages across the entire high-end equipment manufacturing value chain and the strengths of innovation platforms such as the Yantai Harbin Engineering University Research Institute, we will collaborate with the Dongying High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone to jointly build a comprehensive marine equipment technology system encompassing R&D, final assembly and construction, power equipment, equipment supply, and technical services, thereby establishing the “Shandong Marine Engineering” industry brand.Promote the joint construction of a National Comprehensive Marine Test Site by the province and relevant ministries to achieve the seamless integration of R&D scenarios for high-end marine equipment—transitioning from research outcomes to commercial products and from R&D to industrialization. Facilitate the development of financial leasing services for ships and offshore engineering equipment. Develop new “Offshore Engineering+” models and business formats, guide key enterprises to conduct bonded maintenance within the pilot free trade zone, and promote the transformation of the offshore engineering equipment sector toward service-oriented operations.

Second, advance the transformation and upgrading of the marine fisheries sector. Relying on the “Offshore Engineering + Fisheries Services” model in the Yantai Zone to build the “Deep Blue Granary,” and in conjunction with the Huiyue Marine Pasture in the Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Xiaoshi Island National Marine Pasture in the Weihai Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, construct “deep-sea net pens” to high standards and explore new models for the integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors.Leveraging the Yantai Zone’s marine germplasm resource introduction and transit base and the Marine Intellectual Property Center, we will provide intellectual property protection for the marine seed industry, optimize services such as import and export inspection and quarantine procedures for aquatic products, and explore new models to support the development of the seed industry.

Third, we will establish a national model for the blue carbon economy. Drawing on the institutional innovation experience of the Yantai Zone’s Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea Blue Carbon Monitoring and Assessment Research Center in accelerating the industry’s low-carbon transition, we will leverage the role of the “Weihai Marine Ecological Economy (Blue Carbon Industry) Demonstration Park” in the Weihai South Sea Economic Development Zone.to advance regional surveys and assessments of marine and fisheries carbon sink capacity, methodological research and development, the formulation of trading rules, and the establishment of trading markets. We will foster and expand the carbon sink economy industry, promote the ecological transformation of marine industries and the industrialization of marine ecosystems, and build a national model for the blue carbon economy.

IV. Implementation Pathways

(1) Institutional Coordination. First, comprehensively replicate and promote innovative achievements. Based on the needs of industrial coordination, selectively and purposefully replicate and promote innovative achievements from the Pilot Free Trade Zone to drive the synchronized development of the Linked Innovation Zone and the Pilot Free Trade Zone. Second, comprehensively strengthen coordinated pilot initiatives. Institutional obstacles encountered during the development of the Linked Innovation Zone may be addressed through reform, innovation, and stress testing within the Pilot Free Trade Zone, with the results of these trials reported as innovative experiences to the Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference on Pilot Free Trade Zones under the State Council.

(2) Policy Reciprocity. First, promote the delegation of provincial-level authority. Based on the industrial development needs of the linked innovation zones, certain provincial administrative powers will be delegated to the cities where these zones are located, provided they possess the capacity to assume such responsibilities and meet the necessary implementation conditions. The cities hosting the linked innovation zones shall support their development in accordance with laws and regulations. Second, promote the sharing of statistical data. During provincial performance evaluations, both parties are permitted to count the incremental portions of foreign trade and economic indicators as 100% each; statistical reporting must strictly adhere to relevant regulations.

(3) Platform Sharing. First, share the “Chain-based Free Trade” digital trade platform. Assign codes to bonded goods and place them on the blockchain, extending bonded functions to the linked innovation zones to achieve end-to-end traceable supervision. Second, share the “Digital Safe” smart government service platform. Achieve the digitization of materials and certificates, as well as the trustworthy transmission and sharing of credit information across departments, systems, and regions; implement “paperless approval” to improve the efficiency of government services.Third, share the bulk commodity trading platform. This will help manufacturing and trade enterprises improve transaction efficiency, expand trade opportunities, and ensure transaction security. Fourth, share marine germplasm quarantine facilities. This will assist enterprises in introducing high-quality germplasm resources and conducting breeding programs, facilitate import and export inspection and quarantine, and expand the openness of the marine seed industry and the scale of marine seed trade.

V. Organizational Guarantees

(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. The development of the Linked Innovation Zones will be included in the key agenda of the Leading Group for the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone to coordinate the resolution of major issues. The Office of the Leading Group (Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce) will take the lead in organizing and coordinating efforts, working with relevant units to guide the development of the Linked Innovation Zones. The municipal governments of the prefecture-level cities where the Linked Innovation Zones are located will serve as the responsible entities, tasked with driving the development of these zones.

(2) Strengthen Policy Support. All provincial-level departments shall support the development and construction of the Interconnected Innovation Zones. The municipal governments of the prefecture-level cities where the Interconnected Innovation Zones are located shall provide full support for all aspects of interconnected development.

(3) Strengthen Evaluation and Assessment. Establish an evaluation and exit mechanism for the Linked Innovation Zones. The Office of the Leading Group (Department of Commerce) shall take the lead in conducting comprehensive evaluations of the construction progress of the Linked Innovation Zones, summarizing experiences in linked innovation, and enhancing the level of linked development. Zones that fail to make sufficient progress or fail to complete their linked innovation tasks shall be subject to exit procedures.

(4) Strengthen Communication and Publicity. The Leading Group Office (Department of Commerce) shall take the lead in organizing exchange and training activities, regularly publicizing achievements in reform and innovation, highlighting key successes, and continuously enhancing the influence of linked innovation.