Inland Shanxi makes efforts to expand high-level opening up from four aspects

On October 17, the Communication Department of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party and the Shanxi Provincial Government Information Office held a press conference as part of the series on “Promoting High-Quality Development and Deepening Comprehensive Transformation.” According to the press release, Shanxi Province is set to enhance its high-level openness through four key areas: strengthening the support for open platforms, enhancing the competitiveness of open entities, increasing the capacity of open channels, and improving the attractiveness of the open environment.

During the press conference, which took place in Taiyuan, Gao Yuqing reported that the Shanxi Provincial Department of Commerce has been actively seizing major strategic opportunities such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the rise of the central region. By leveraging its geographical location, resources, and industrial advantages, the province has continuously optimized its regulatory environment and improved its policy framework. As a result, Shanxi’s foreign trade and foreign investment have stabilized while increasing in quality, and there has been significant progress in the development of port facilities, leading to positive outcomes in high-level openness.

Official statistics reveal that from January to August this year, Shanxi’s imports and exports with Belt and Road countries reached 54.31 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 21%. The province now operates 15 regular China-Europe freight train routes, connecting to 48 cities across 16 countries.

In the first eight months, Shanxi’s total imports and exports amounted to 117.24 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.2%, placing it ninth nationally. The international service trade reached a total of 1.29 billion USD, showing an increase of 13.11%. Notably, new contracts for foreign engineering projects surged to 2.47 billion USD, marking a staggering 297.11% rise, second nationwide.

When asked how Shanxi plans to expand its high-level openness, Li Guorong, the spokesperson and Deputy Director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, elaborated on the province’s strategic initiatives. To bolster support for open platforms, Shanxi will expedite the construction of the Wusu Comprehensive Bonded Zone and aim to develop distinctive industrial clusters such as bonded maintenance and aviation manufacturing, capitalizing on the “separation of management and transport” reform. The province also plans to support three bonded logistics centers—Datong International Land Port, Jincheng Lanhua, and Houma Fanglue—in expanding their bonded logistics and warehousing capabilities. Additionally, it will accelerate the development of the Taiyuan National Processing Trade Industrial Park and enhance the connectivity mechanism for industrial transfers with eastern regions.

To enhance the competitiveness of open entities, Shanxi will support infrastructure development in cross-border e-commerce pilot zones located in Taiyuan, Datong, and Yuncheng, and attract more cross-border e-commerce entities and comprehensive foreign trade service enterprises. The province also aims to shift existing overseas warehouses from self-use models to public service-oriented operations. Efforts will be made to expand service trade scales in areas such as air freight and mobile phone maintenance, along with travel services, to continue reinforcing new forms of foreign trade.

Regarding the enhancement of open channel capacity, Shanxi plans to improve the radiating capabilities of its three air ports: Taiyuan, Datong, and Yuncheng. The province will actively launch international routes to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America while expanding all-cargo routes. There is also a push for the market-oriented operation of China-Europe freight trains, aiming to increase the frequency of these services and create a comprehensive coverage strategy. Furthermore, plans are in place to upgrade the Taiyuan International Mail Exchange Bureau by the end of 2024, along with implementing policies that reduce logistics and transportation costs for intermodal rail-sea transport.

To enhance the attractiveness of its open environment, Shanxi will continually broaden the comprehensive functions of its international trade “single window,” solidify gains in efficiency and cost reduction in the import-export process, and consistently improve customs clearance efficiency and reduce costs. The province is also seeking to implement a 144-hour visa-free transit policy to facilitate foreign travelers and enhance its entry and exit policies. Additionally, Shanxi will increase financial support for import and export credit and expand and improve the trade foreign exchange facilitation policies.