China has entered a new era in which the base of opening-up is transiting from commodities and elements to systems including rules. To build Shandong into a new platform of opening-up, it is critical to strengthen institutional innovation and optimize institutional supply, striving to create a leading platform of open economic system innovation.

Bold attempts, bold breakthroughs and independent reform are encouraged to accelerate the establishment of the institutional system which is in line with internationally common investment and trade rules. In the “Opinions on Deepening Reform to Create a New Platform of Opening-up” (“The Opinions”), Shandong proposes to accelerate the establishment of a high-performance platform for opening-up, explore a new system for local foreign cooperation, create a world-class business environment, and set up a platform for bold attempts and breakthroughs.

Give Play to the Role of “Pathfinders” in Exploring the Way

Currently, Shandong is building China (Shandong) Free Trade Zone at a high level; ensuring that each area in the zone can provide at least three pieces of pilot experience in this year which are replicable and transferable across the country, and 112 pilot tasks will almost be completed by 2022; and planning an “upgraded version” of breakthroughs.

Explore the New System of Local Foreign Cooperation

Facing a new round of global technological revolution and industrial reform, Shandong needs to gather factors and resources from a larger pool, and integrate with the global industrial chain, innovation chain and value chain at a deeper level. To this end, Shandong proposes to explore the new system of local foreign cooperation.

Build a World-class Business Environment

To gain open institutional and governance superiority, Shandong must build a world-class business environment. This year, Shandong has formulated 18 opinions to improve the business environment. Specifically, Shandong will fully promote the service of “Processing All Procedures at One Window”, launch the online platform “Immediate Complaint Processing” for complaints from enterprises, and start the pilot of “One Certificate for One Business” in 20 industries.

By introducing such measures at higher levels for international trade as “Single Window” and “Online Processing for Multinational Business”, Shandong will further liberalize the trade and facilitate investment.

To align with the most developed international rules, highlight its convenient and liberalized investment and trade and international and legalized business environment, and gain open institutional and governance superiority, Shandong will spare no effort to build a new platform of institutional innovation and world-class business environment.