Original Title: Several Measures to Promote the Stabilization and Improvement of Foreign Trade and the Stabilization and Optimization of Foreign Investment in the Autonomous Region

People’s Governments of All Prefectures and Cities, Administrative Offices, and All Departments and Directly Affiliated Agencies of the People’s Government of the Autonomous Region:

To thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding stabilizing the fundamentals of foreign trade and foreign investment, and in accordance with the deployment and requirements of the Third Plenary Session of the 10th Autonomous Region Party Committee, we hereby propose the following measures to promote the stabilization and improvement of foreign trade and the stabilization and optimization of foreign investment across the region, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the economy and industrial and supply chains. These measures have been approved by the People’s Government of the Autonomous Region:

I. Improve and Perfect the Mechanism for Stabilizing Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment. Leverage the role of the Autonomous Region’s coordination mechanism for stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment; establish a “whitelist” system for key foreign trade enterprises; strengthen coordination between the regional and local levels as well as among departments; establish a two-tiered (regional and local) liaison and service mechanism; open green channels for imports and exports; implement a “one-enterprise-one-policy” approach; provide guarantees in production, logistics, and labor; strive to resolve the practical difficulties and problems faced by enterprises; and ensure the stability of the foreign trade supply chain.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Foreign Affairs Office of the Autonomous Region, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Urumqi Customs, China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

II. Continuously Enhance Port Cargo Handling Efficiency. All localities must broaden their perspectives, shift their mindset, and improve their work style. Based on the actual conditions of each port and the characteristics of import and export goods, they should scientifically and lawfully coordinate efforts to balance port epidemic prevention and control with the promotion of stable foreign trade growth. They should optimize all stages and processes of cargo handling at ports and further reduce processing times.(Lead Agencies: People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities; Cooperating Agencies: Foreign Affairs Office of the Autonomous Region; Urumqi Customs; China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd.; Civil Aviation Administration of China, Xinjiang Administration)

III. Promote the normalization of two-way cargo handling at road and air ports. Learn from and draw on the experience and practices of border ports in other provinces and regions in balancing the prevention of imported cases with ensuring smooth customs clearance. Formulate and implement plans for cargo imports at road ports to ensure that all road ports with cargo-handling capacity operate normally, thereby reducing overall transit costs and improving overall efficiency. Promote imports through air ports and reduce operational costs. The volume of imported cargo at all ports shall not be lower than the 2019 level.(Lead Units: People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all localities (prefectures, cities); Cooperating Units: Autonomous Region Foreign Affairs Office, Health Commission, Department of Transportation, Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Entry-Exit Border Inspection General Station, Civil Aviation Administration of China Xinjiang Administration)

IV. Ensure the Smooth Flow of Foreign Trade Goods Transportation. Strictly implement the requirements of the “Notice of the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism on Effectively Ensuring the Smooth Flow of Freight Logistics” (State Council General Office Document No. 3 [2022]), fully leverage the role of the Autonomous Region’s logistics smooth-flow mechanism, include foreign trade goods within the scope of essential material supply guarantees, facilitate the transportation of foreign trade goods, and ensure the stability of international logistics supply chains.(Lead Agency: Department of Transportation of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Public Security Department, Department of Commerce, and Health Commission of the Autonomous Region; Urumqi Customs, China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and Civil Aviation Administration of China, Xinjiang Administration; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

V. Cooperate with Neighboring Countries to Enhance Port Clearance and Cargo Handling Efficiency.Continue to leverage the bilateral border port joint prevention and control mechanism, strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries in information sharing, policy coordination, and emergency response, promptly address and resolve issues arising during port clearance, and encourage neighboring countries to simultaneously improve customs clearance and operational efficiency. Proactively promote the measures and efforts taken to ensure the stable operation of border ports, encourage counterparties to increase infrastructure investment, enhance port transshipment capacity, improve operational efficiency, and jointly reduce enterprises’ overall costs.(Lead Agency: Foreign Affairs Office of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Department of Transportation of the Autonomous Region, Health Commission of the Autonomous Region, Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Entry-Exit Border Inspection General Station, China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

VI. Effectively Expand the Scale of Imports. Through border port joint epidemic prevention and control mechanisms, as well as multilateral and bilateral mechanisms in rail transport and trade, meet enterprises’ needs for deep processing. Fully leverage the platform effect of comprehensive bonded zones in aggregating export-oriented processing industries to conduct bonded warehousing and bonded processing, attract enterprises to establish operations, and expand bonded logistics imports. Utilize high-level open platforms such as the China International Import Expo to expand the scale of imports of consumer goods, advanced equipment, and other products.(Lead Units: People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities; Cooperating Units: Department of Commerce and Foreign Affairs of the Autonomous Region, Urumqi Customs, China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd.)

VII. Accelerate the Development of Cross-Border E-Commerce at Border Ports. Continue to advance the implementation of action plans for the Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones in Urumqi, the Kashgar Prefecture, and Alashankou City (hereinafter referred to as “Pilot Zones”), and improve the systems for monthly data collection and quarterly progress meetings for the Pilot Zones. Further optimize regulatory models and support the integration of cross-border e-commerce with digital freight trains, China-Europe truck transport, cargo charter flights, and border trade to unleash the synergistic effects of policy measures.Strengthen policy guidance to promote the coordinated development of port-based cross-border e-commerce in Khorgos, Tacheng, Jimunai, and other areas. (Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Department of Transportation of the Autonomous Region, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Tax Bureau, Civil Aviation Administration of China Xinjiang Bureau, China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

VIII. Actively explore and develop new forms and models of foreign trade. Guide local authorities to continuously learn from and draw on innovative practices in other provinces and cities, actively apply for pilot programs for market procurement trade, and promote the development of the “border trade + market procurement” trade model. Encourage the development of new forms of barter trade. Implement evaluation and exit mechanisms to dynamically adjust the list of used vehicle export enterprises, actively apply for the second batch of used vehicle export pilot programs, and expand the scale of exports.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Finance, Market Supervision Administration of the Autonomous Region; Urumqi Customs; Xinjiang Tax Bureau; People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Branch; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

IX. Deepen the Integrated Development of Trade and Industry. Guide prefectures and cities with strong industrial foundations to actively apply for designation as National Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading Bases, and increase the share of imports and exports from the 8 existing National Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading Bases within the region. Fully leverage the policy advantages and trade facilitation measures of comprehensive bonded zones, harness their role in industrial clustering and driving growth, enhance industrial carrying capacity, and increase the share of imports and exports from comprehensive bonded zones within the region.Leverage platforms such as the Bortala National Processing Trade Industrial Park to attract the transfer of processing trade industries and increase the share of processing trade in the region. (Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission of the Autonomous Region, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

X. Promote the Innovative Development of Border Trade. Balance epidemic prevention and control with the innovative development of border trade. All localities should study and draw on the experiences and practices of other border provinces and regions in innovatively developing border trade under normalized epidemic prevention and control conditions, and expedite the reopening of border residents’ mutual market trade zones. All departments should utilize intelligent technologies to optimize and innovate the regulatory model for border residents’ mutual market trade and improve related services.Support the Baketu Port in leveraging the pilot program for on-site processing of imported goods to expand and strengthen the on-site processing industry, and actively promote the application process for the second batch of pilot projects for on-site processing of imported goods in border residents’ mutual market trade. (Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Tax Bureau, People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Branch, and local (prefecture, city) people’s governments (administrative offices))

XI. Continuously Optimize the Business Environment for Foreign Trade. Explore the establishment of a business environment supervisor system in selected prefectures (autonomous prefectures, cities), and gradually establish and improve this system across the entire region, with the business environment at ports and in the foreign trade sector as key areas of supervision.Carry out efforts to streamline and standardize charges at ports of entry and ensure their public disclosure. Optimize epidemic prevention measures, prevent monopolistic practices, reduce the burden on enterprises, shorten customs clearance times, minimize vehicle queues, and ensure smooth channels for feedback and complaints. Continuously work to lower business costs for foreign trade enterprises and strive to create a business environment characterized by high efficiency, low costs, and excellent service.(Lead Agency: Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission; Cooperating Agencies: Autonomous Region Foreign Affairs Office, Department of Commerce, Autonomous Region Market Supervision Administration, Urumqi Customs, People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Branch, and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

XII. Adopt a multi-pronged approach to expand international markets. Leverage the seven local economic and trade cooperation mechanisms already established between our region and neighboring countries (regions) to strengthen external publicity for the development of the core zone, optimize meeting agendas, and effectively address concerns and requests. Organize a series of online economic and trade promotion activities and enhance cooperation with domestic and international business associations and trade promotion organizations.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Foreign Affairs Office, Department of Transportation, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the Autonomous Region; Xinjiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade; Urumqi Customs; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

XIII. Better Leverage the Role of Export Credit Insurance. Continuously expand the scale of short-term export credit insurance. Establish a rapid response mechanism for the export credit insurance needs of foreign trade enterprises. Establish a regular risk tracking and early warning mechanism to closely monitor information on key countries, industries, and buyers in Xinjiang’s surrounding regions; strengthen analysis and assessment to promptly grasp demand structures, market potential, and risk information; and regularly publish relevant information on various media platforms. On the basis of verifiable trade authenticity, proceed with loss assessment and claims settlement in advance to ensure enterprises receive timely risk compensation.(Lead Agency: Sinosure Xinjiang Branch; Cooperating Agencies: Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Commerce, Xinjiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Sub-branch)

XIV. Further strengthen financial support for small, medium, and micro foreign trade enterprises. Organize various forms of “government-bank-enterprise” matching activities, compile a list of foreign trade enterprises in urgent need of funds, and provide them with priority support.Actively promote the application of the Cross-Border Financial Blockchain Service Platform. Intensify efforts to promote the “Government-Finance-Insurance” initiative, actively guide banks and small, medium, and micro foreign trade enterprises to conduct online policy-backed financing through channels such as the “Single Window” for international trade, and continue to explore business models such as “Credit Insurance Loans” to increase the scale of financing backed by credit insurance policies.(Lead Units: People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures (autonomous prefectures), cities; Cooperating Units: Department of Finance and Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Branch; Xinjiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau; China Exim Bank Xinjiang Branch; Sinosure Xinjiang Branch)

XV. Accelerate efforts to enhance foreign trade enterprises’ capacity to manage exchange rate risks. Implement the “Exchange Rate, Banking, and Enterprise Benefits—Special Campaign on Financial and Foreign Exchange Services for Enterprise Exchange Rate Risk Management” and the “Finance Benefits the Real Economy, Hundreds of Banks Reach Thousands of Enterprises” initiative to provide targeted services helping enterprises mitigate risks associated with RMB exchange rate fluctuations, and guide enterprises in using foreign exchange derivatives for reasonable risk hedging. Establish a fast-track channel for “first-time users” and continue to expand the coverage of enterprises using exchange rate hedging products.Accelerate the pilot program for trade foreign exchange receipts and payments facilitation for high-quality enterprises to enhance the level of foreign exchange management services. (Lead Agency: People’s Bank of China Urumqi Central Branch; Cooperating Agencies: Xinjiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

XVI. Continuously optimize the environment for cross-border RMB settlement. Strengthen publicity and interpretation of cross-border RMB policies for market entities, guide banking institutions to enhance “one-on-one” guidance for enterprises, and optimize products and services for the cross-border use of the RMB. Deepen the pilot program for facilitating cross-border RMB settlement for high-quality enterprises, streamline business processes, and improve the efficiency of enterprises’ cross-border RMB settlement. Increase support for export credit insurance in cross-border RMB settlement transactions.(Lead Agency: Urumqi Central Branch of the People’s Bank of China; Cooperating Agencies: Xinjiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, Sinosure Xinjiang Branch, and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

XVII. Strengthen the responsibility of prefectures, cities, and industrial parks for attracting foreign investment. Timely issue targets for attracting foreign-invested enterprises and actual utilization of foreign capital to local prefectures, cities, and industrial parks; actively explore combined online and offline investment promotion efforts under routine epidemic prevention and control conditions to ensure the completion of annual targets and tasks.Make full use of major economic and trade platforms such as the China International Investment and Trade Fair, the China International Import Expo, and the China-Eurasia Expo. Strengthen investment promotion led by top officials and supply chain-focused investment promotion to attract a batch of projects that extend, complement, and strengthen industrial chains. Encourage investment promotion activities in coastal regions, actively attract investment from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as countries along the “Belt and Road” route, to invest in Xinjiang, and implement targeted investment promotion for key industries and projects.Localities may provide financial support based on the actual results of investment promotion efforts. (Lead Units: People’s Governments [Administrative Offices] of all localities [prefectures, cities]; Cooperating Units: Department of Commerce, Development and Reform Commission, and Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region)

XVIII. Fully implement laws and regulations on foreign investment. Deepen publicity and interpretation of laws and regulations such as the Foreign Investment Law and its implementing regulations. All localities must expedite the review and revision of laws, regulations, and normative documents that conflict with the Foreign Investment Law, and further enhance the transparency of the formulation of normative documents regarding foreign investment. Implement the foreign investment information reporting system and strengthen supervision during and after the fact.Issue the "Measures for Handling Complaints from Foreign-Invested Enterprises" to further improve the complaint-handling mechanism for foreign-invested enterprises and strengthen guidance, coordination, and supervision of complaint-handling work across the region. (Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Department of Justice of the Autonomous Region, Development and Reform Commission, and People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all localities (prefectures, cities))

XIX. Actively Promote the Accelerated Implementation of Foreign Investment Projects. All localities must strengthen their primary responsibility for project implementation, clarify objectives and tasks, establish work ledgers, and include eligible foreign investment projects—particularly key foreign investment projects—within the scope of priority service and support. Closely track the progress of project negotiations, signing, and implementation, and increase support in areas such as land use, energy consumption, and funding to effectively advance project implementation and construction.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and Department of Natural Resources of the Autonomous Region; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, cities, and autonomous prefectures)

20. Steadily improve the quality and level of foreign investment utilization. Seize the opportunity presented by the implementation of the RCEP to promote industrial upgrading. Keep abreast of new trends in international and domestic industrial relocation, leverage the mechanism of commercial assistance to Xinjiang, and strive to attract a batch of foreign investment projects with high technological content and strong leading and driving capabilities. Properly carry out the confirmation of foreign investment projects in the encouraged category to ensure that foreign-invested enterprises enjoy relevant tax preferential policies in accordance with the law.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Autonomous Region; Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Tax Bureau; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, cities, and autonomous prefectures)

XXI. Focus on Strengthening Efforts to Attract Investment in the Manufacturing Sector. Implement the new national “Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List)” and the “Catalogue of Industries Encouraging Foreign Investment.” Encourage localities to introduce policies for utilizing foreign capital in manufacturing. Provide tailored support on a “one-enterprise-one-policy” basis for existing foreign-funded manufacturing projects.Steadily increase the proportion of actual foreign investment in the region’s manufacturing sector. Actively attract foreign-funded R&D centers, advance the certification process for such centers, and ensure that eligible foreign-funded R&D centers enjoy import tax policies supporting scientific and technological innovation in accordance with regulations. (Lead Agency: Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission; Cooperating Agencies: Autonomous Region Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Commerce, Department of Finance, Xinjiang Tax Bureau, Urumqi Customs, and People’s Governments [Administrative Offices] of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

XXII. Strengthen Services and Safeguards for Foreign-Invested Enterprises. Ensure equal treatment of domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in government procurement activities, and guarantee that foreign-invested enterprises participate in government procurement and bidding activities through fair competition in accordance with the law. Compile and update the Foreign Investment Guide to enhance the transparency of the foreign investment environment. Strengthen intellectual property protection and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises.Actively publicize and promote special loan policies from institutions such as the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, and support eligible foreign-invested enterprises in applying for various preferential loans. While strictly preventing the importation of the pandemic from abroad, guide and assist foreign-invested enterprises (projects) in handling the invitation procedures for foreign employees to enter Xinjiang and the “fast-track” procedures in accordance with laws and regulations.(Lead Agency: Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region; Cooperating Agencies: Development and Reform Commission, Department of Finance, Foreign Affairs Office, Department of Science and Technology, Public Security Department of the Autonomous Region; Market Supervision Administration of the Autonomous Region; Administrative Service and Public Resource Trading Center of the Autonomous Region; Xinjiang Tax Bureau; China Development Bank Xinjiang Branch; China Export-Import Bank Xinjiang Branch; People’s Governments (Administrative Offices) of all prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities)

General Office of the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region        

July 25, 2022