Original Title: Notice from the Office of the Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government on Issuing the “Implementation Plan for Supporting the High-Quality Development of the Shaoxing Comprehensive Bonded Zone”
To the People’s Governments of All Districts, Counties (Cities), and All Departments and Units of the Municipal Government:
The "Implementation Plan for Supporting the High-Quality Development of the Shaoxing Comprehensive Bonded Zone" has been approved by the Municipal Government. It is hereby issued to you for earnest implementation.
Office of the Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government
November 24, 2023
Implementation Plan for Supporting the High-Quality Development of the Shaoxing Comprehensive Bonded Zone
To implement the spirit of the “Several Opinions of the State Council on Promoting High-Level Opening-up and High-Quality Development of Comprehensive Bonded Zones” (State Council Document [2019] No. 3) and the “Implementation Opinions of the General Office of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government on Promoting High-Level Opening-up and High-Quality Development of Comprehensive Bonded Zones Across the Province” (Zhejiang Provincial Government Office Document [2023] No. 3),vigorously implement the “Sweet Potato Economy” capacity-building and upgrading “No. 1 Opening-up Project,” better leverage the leading role of the Shaoxing Comprehensive Bonded Zone (hereinafter referred to as the “Comprehensive Bonded Zone”) in promoting the dual circulation of the domestic and international economies, and build a benchmark platform for enhanced openness, the following implementation plan is hereby formulated.
I. Improving Development Mechanisms
(1) Coordinate Integrated Development Across the Entire Region. Support import and export enterprises throughout the city in registering and conducting business within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and encourage all districts, counties (cities) to attract and establish industrial projects within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone. The number of projects attracted and established by each district, county (city) within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, as well as the volume of import and export business conducted through the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, shall serve as key criteria for evaluations and awards.
Lead Agency: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Cooperating Agencies: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Shaoxing Customs, and governments of all districts, counties (cities)
(2) Promote coordinated development of platforms. Coordinate the synergistic development of the Comprehensive Bonded Zone with platforms such as national-level economic and technological development zones, high-tech industrial development zones, comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, market procurement trade pilot zones, and the Shaoxing Innovation Zone of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, to achieve complementary advantages and create synergistic effects.
Lead Agency: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Cooperating Agencies: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Yuecheng District Government, Keqiao District Government
II. Strengthening Investment Promotion
(3) Guide Accelerated Industrial Clustering. Focusing on integrated circuits, biomedicine, and high-end equipment as the primary industrial directions, we will coordinate the city’s investment promotion resources to attract major export-oriented, high-tech, and high-value-added manufacturing and production-oriented service projects to the Comprehensive Bonded Zone. We will support enterprises that meet the criteria outlined in the “Guidelines for Projects Suitable for the Comprehensive Bonded Zone” to establish operations there. We will encourage newly attracted city-wide projects of the “both ends outside” type that align with the Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s industrial orientation to locate within the zone.
Lead Agency: Municipal Investment Promotion Center; Cooperating Agencies: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Yuecheng District Government
(4) Establish an R&D and Innovation Center. Encourage the introduction of cross-border R&D and production projects with leading international technological standards, and build global offshore R&D and production bases for integrated circuits and biopharmaceuticals. Support third-party inspection, testing, and certification agencies in providing import and export inspection and certification services within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and guide enterprises within the zone to strengthen patent applications. Strengthen collaboration between the Comprehensive Bonded Zone and maker spaces, science and technology parks, and technology enterprises, and promote the establishment of provincial-level or higher R&D and innovation institutions within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
Lead Agencies: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Shaoxing Customs
(5) Boosting Trade Volume. Support the Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s Imported Goods Experience Center in accelerating the expansion of branch centers (subsidiaries) through a “1+X” model, establish an Imported Goods Pavilion for RCEP countries, and expand the import of high-quality goods. Under applicable regulations, guide enterprises within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone to participate in the “Consumption Promotion Month” campaign and encourage them to apply for designation as employee wellness and recreation bases.
Lead Agency: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, Municipal Bureau of Commerce
III. Innovating Operational Mechanisms
(6) Supporting the Integration of Domestic and Foreign Trade. Encourage processing and manufacturing enterprises within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone to undertake commissioned processing from entities outside the zone but within the country, and support enterprises within the zone in conducting outsourced processing operations. Advance the pilot program for general VAT taxpayer status to provide policy safeguards for enterprises in the zone to tap into both international and domestic markets. For domestically sold goods produced within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, explore the implementation of streamlined quality and safety inspection and supervision measures.
Lead Agency: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Cooperating Agencies: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Municipal Taxation Bureau, Shaoxing Customs
(7) Promote the Implementation of Innovative Practices. Support the Comprehensive Bonded Zone in driving innovation and leading through openness; replicate and promote advanced practices from pilot free trade zones and other comprehensive bonded zones; and take the lead in piloting initiatives in areas such as trade facilitation, market regulation, and customs supervision.
Lead Agency: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Shaoxing Customs
IV. Optimizing the Business Environment
(8) Innovate Financial and Foreign Exchange Services. Encourage financial institutions to innovate support methods and develop targeted financial products. Facilitate connections between various industrial development funds and venture capital institutions with enterprises within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone to meet enterprises’ diversified financing needs. Support enterprises within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone in conducting new forms of offshore international trade, financial leasing, and other related businesses.
Lead Agency: People’s Bank of China, Shaoxing Branch; Cooperating Agencies: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee
(9) Optimizing Smart Regulatory Services.Support the development of the “Digital Comprehensive Bonded Zone,” utilize intelligent regulatory tools, innovate regulatory models, implement automated data comparison and seamless, rapid clearance at checkpoints, and optimize the classification management of bonded and non-bonded goods. For goods and items entering the zone from within the country that are subject to simplified management, implement a streamlined entry and exit management model for the Comprehensive Bonded Zone. Support information sharing among the Comprehensive Bonded Zone management authority and relevant agencies—including customs, market regulation, taxation, and foreign exchange—to provide enterprises with streamlined regulatory services.
Lead Agency: Shaoxing Customs; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Binhai New Area Administrative Committee, Municipal Tax Bureau, and People’s Bank of China Shaoxing Branch
(10) Continuously optimize the development environment. Encourage the introduction of professional, market-oriented management teams with extensive experience in comprehensive bonded zone operations to enhance the professional management and operational service levels of the facilities. Improve the construction of supporting infrastructure—including road transportation, commercial facilities, and daily living amenities—within and around the comprehensive bonded zone to provide “one-stop” services for enterprises within the zone.
Lead Agency: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Shaoxing Customs, Yuecheng District Government
V. Strengthening Work Guarantees
(11) Strengthen Resource Support. Provide full support for the construction of Phase II of the Comprehensive Bonded Zone; ensure land availability; optimize the installation of perimeter fencing to increase the coverage rate; and ensure the timely completion of the full-area customs closure inspection. Increase credit investment and financing support for construction projects within the Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
Lead Agency: Binhai New Area Administrative Committee; Cooperating Agencies: Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Municipal Financial Affairs Office, Shaoxing Customs
This Implementation Plan shall take effect on January 1, 2024.
Source: Municipal Government Office (Research Office, Bureau of Administrative Affairs)
