Service industry at the heart of new trade zone

Chengdu’s role in supporting FTZ development

The 120-square-kilometer FTZ, launched on April 1, covers Chengdu Tianfu New Area, Chengdu Qingbaijiang International Railway Port and part of Luzhou city. About 100 sq km of the core and supporting areas of the FTZ are in Chengdu.

The overall plan lays out 159 reform tasks covering 24 areas of the FTZ. Among those, Chengdu is responsible for 155 tasks.

In the next few years, Chengdu will implement measures such as streamlining and delegating power, strengthening supervision, supporting service and financial innovation and applying preferential policies that are being piloted in other FTZs to support its own FTZ development, according to the plan released by Chengdu Administration China (Sichuan) Pilot Trade Free Zone.

Chengdu Tianfu New Area and Chengdu Qingbaijiang International Railway Port will serve different functions during construction of the FTZ.

Chengdu Tianfu New Area will focus on developing a modern service industry, an advanced manufacturing industry, as well as high technology, airport and port service industries. The region will be a gathering place for modern businesses, a leader in the financial industry, a logistics center and an international aviation hub.

The Qingbaijiang International Railway Port area will focus on cultivating the port service and modern service industries. International merchandise transport, international freight forwarding, vehicle imports, and information, technology and exhibition services will be provided in the region.

The local government will spare no efforts to attract global experts to support its FTZ development.

Chengdu was one of the first cities in China to launch a pilot program for work permits for foreigners under the guidance of the central government. This pilot program is intended to streamline application and administration procedures and processes and to attract more high-level foreign experts to China.

The Chengdu Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs issued the first foreigner’s work permit in Sichuan province to a professor from the Southwest Jiaotong University in November 2016, marking the completion of pilot work for the foreigner work process.