At present, China has established and operated 22 pilot free trade zones, including 6 in the western region, located in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. These western pilot free trade zones with inland and border characteristics have not only become growth poles for regional development, pushing the western region to the forefront of reform and opening up, but also promoting coordinated regional economic development by aligning with national strategies. For example, in 2024, Shaanxi will explore and form 72 innovative cases, with 3 cases replicated and promoted nationwide and 23 cases replicated and promoted throughout the province; 12200 new enterprises were established in the pilot free trade zone, accounting for 70% of the province's import and export value; The actual use of foreign investment in the economic and technological development zones of the province increased by 65% year-on-year; The cloud cabin system of the China Europe freight train (Xi'an) has been launched and put into operation, reducing the time for enterprise customs declaration and document preparation from 5 hours to less than 5 minutes.

It can be seen that the pilot free trade zone has become the forefront of opening up to the outside world and the main battlefield for high-quality development in the western region. The western region can fully utilize the opportunity of implementing the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone and take measures in the following aspects to further improve the level of openness.

One is to actively explore the dual path of regional synergy and open platform construction in the western region. On the one hand, we will strengthen cooperation with regions such as Beijing Tianjin Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, and Yellow River Basin, and explore regional cooperation mechanisms that gradually participate in the world market system, international factor circulation, and global industrial division of labor; Deepen cooperation with research institutions and high-tech enterprises in eastern coastal areas such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, innovate regional economic cooperation models, and promote industrial transfer and complementary advantages through co building industrial parks and cooperative projects; By leveraging cooperation with the eastern coastal regions, we aim to stimulate the vitality of the private economy and promote its high-quality development. On the other hand, we will work together to strengthen the open platform, consolidate and expand the achievements of the China Central Asia Xi'an Summit, implement relevant policies and measures, and steadily expand institutional openness; Further expand the influence of brand conferences and exhibitions such as the Silk Road Expo, the Western China Expo, and the Eurasian Economic Forum, and comprehensively cultivate deeply bound urban strategic cooperation partners.

Secondly, the western region is accelerating efforts to promote the formation of a comprehensive open pattern of land, sea, and domestic linkage, as well as mutual assistance between the east and the west. We will deepen the implementation of infrastructure networking, supplement networks, and strengthen chains, strengthen the construction of national logistics hubs such as land ports and airports, as well as aviation and railway ports, accelerate the formation of high-speed rail networks, accelerate the construction of international logistics hubs, and accelerate the construction of a modern logistics system consisting of "channels+hubs+networks". Further promote the high-quality, market-oriented, and sustainable operation of China Europe freight trains, strengthen the joint organizational and operational model with the eastern coastal areas, and facilitate the connection of freight trains with local resources; Promote cooperation with countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road" and enhance the radiation level of the China EU train assembly center. Strengthen cooperation with eastern ports such as Shanghai Port and Tianjin Port, achieve sea rail intermodal transportation and seamless integration, and provide logistics support for the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Realize the integration of the east-west Eurasian land sea trade corridor and the north-south western land sea new corridor, coordinate the construction of the land and air Silk Roads, and promote the construction of a new development pattern with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international dual circulation mutually promoting each other.

The third is to optimize the division of labor in the opening functions of each pilot trade zone in the western region, and create distinctive open highlands. Deepen institutional innovation in their respective pilot trade zones, promote the construction of open and cooperative parks, and enhance the level of reform and opening up in key areas. Strengthen the economic development characteristics and functions of each pilot trade zone, improve operational efficiency, optimize the construction and management boundaries of administrative and functional zones, clarify the division of responsibilities, jointly build high-level open platforms, and shape new advantages for participating in international competition. Through the interconnection of transportation infrastructure, the free trade pilot zone ensures convenient and smooth flow of people, logistics, capital, and information, comprehensively enhancing the ability to gather elements in the central urban areas of surrounding cities, the level of integration between industry and city, and the radiation driving effect. Accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system that emphasizes both internal and external needs, form a strong open industrial cluster, build an internationally competitive industrial base, and create distinctive financial clusters and regional financial centers. Improve the innovation and development system, leverage the role of the innovation driven platform in the pilot free trade zone, and build an innovation highland in the western region.

Fourthly, the western region will implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone and accelerate pioneering and integrated exploration. Expand institutional opening-up, continuously improve the level of investment and trade facilitation, deepen the "streamlining administration, delegating powers, and improving services" reform, enhance the level of opening-up to the outside world, business environment, and innovation driven capabilities. Proactively aligning with international high standard economic and trade rules such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). Build a talent highland for the development of service areas, take the lead in establishing and improving a high-level talent evaluation mechanism in the pilot free trade zone, simplify the evaluation and recognition procedures for high-level talents, improve the visa and residence policies for qualified foreign high-level talents, promote the two-way flow of domestic and foreign professional talents, and open up a green channel for foreign high-level talents to work in the western region.

The fifth is to strengthen cooperation between the western region and Hainan Free Trade Port, and explore coordinated development. Proactively connecting with Hainan Free Trade Port, strengthening policy coordination, attempting institutional "bundling", becoming a collaborative innovation zone for Hainan Free Trade Port in promoting the flow of goods and factors, and jointly exploring more flexible and efficient laws, regulations, regulatory models, and management systems. In addition, we will jointly promote open and innovative development in key industries such as tourism, modern services, and high-tech industries. In terms of financial services for the real economy, we will explore the construction of international trading venues for energy, shipping, property rights, equity, etc. We will also explore mechanisms that balance facilitating data flow and ensuring security in terms of data security, and strengthen resource sharing and complementary advantages.

(The author is an assistant dean and associate professor at the School of Management, Xi'an University of Technology)

Source: China Trade News