China News Service, Beijing, March 1 (Reporter Li Xiaoyu) From the official closure of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone to the approval of the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone construction plan, China has taken many new measures to expand opening up this year.
After sorting out these measures, we found that making it more convenient for foreigners to work and live in China is currently a focus of expanding high-level opening up to the outside world.
For example, in response to the inconvenience of foreigners paying in China, the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone will support overseas bank cards, mobile payments, cash payments and other methods to provide convenient payment services and consumption experience.
Overseas people who leave the country after shopping in the zone can go through departure tax refund procedures in accordance with regulations.
In terms of entry and exit, foreigners taking international or regional flights from Pudong International Airport to the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone do not need a Chinese visa and only need to undergo international travel document verification.
In addition, overseas personnel in the international side-entry zone can apply for port visas in the zone to facilitate business inspections and other activities in the country.
Chen Zhenchong, director of the Free Trade Department of the General Administration of Customs of China, said that facilitating international business exchanges is the core function of the zone.
Meet the needs of overseas personnel for short-term business activities and provide convenience for them to carry out business meetings, business negotiations and other activities.
At the beginning of this year, China launched five measures to facilitate foreigners coming to China, including relaxing the conditions for foreigners to apply for port visas and simplifying the application materials for visa documents for foreigners in China.
According to officials, this move is intended to actively respond to the actual needs of foreigners and stabilize the development expectations of foreigners coming to China for exchanges and exchanges.
Effective benefits and enterprises are another focus.
For example, the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone has deleted the list of goods that are not eligible for tax refund. Enterprises can comprehensively apply the "second-tier" deemed export tax refund policy and the "first-tier" tax exemption (bonded) policy based on their own actual conditions to maximize the policy dividends. .
In addition, there is no storage period for bonded storage of goods in the zone, and bonded goods can also be freely circulated among enterprises operating bonded business.
Some companies say that after the customs is closed, they can directly import equipment from abroad, instead of continuing the previous model of purchasing equipment from foreign trade companies, which can save tariffs.
Analysts believe that these measures are a reflection of China's emphasis on practical results and "human touch" in its opening-up, which will enable Chinese and foreign companies to continue to have the confidence to increase investment.
Zhang Xiaotao, dean of the School of International Economics and Trade at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service that in international economic exchanges, in addition to the flow of goods and factors, what is more important is the flow of people.
Only by facilitating the movement of people can we increase business opportunities and enhance cultural exchanges, thereby providing support for the steady growth of China's foreign trade and absorption of foreign investment.
According to Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the Academic Committee of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, whether it is to clear up the “blocking points” for foreign business personnel to come to China, or to pilot various opening pilots such as free trade pilot zones, and expand institutional opening. , all help to improve China’s business environment and boost investor confidence.
(over)