The people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government; and all ministries and commissions of the State Council and all organizations directly under the State Council:
As the vibrant forces of the development of China's foreign trade, new forms of business and new models are an important trend of the development of international trade. Accelerating the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade is conducive to promoting the high-quality development of trade and fostering new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition, and plays an important role in building a new development pattern. For the purposes of further implementing the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and promoting the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade in a sound, sustainable, innovative manner, with the consent of the State Council, the following opinions are hereby put forward:
I. General requirements
1. Guiding thought. It includes the following: follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era; implement the guiding principles of the Party's 19th National Congress, and the second, third, fourth and fifth plenary sessions of the 19th Party Central Committee in full; act on the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability; ground efforts in the new development stage; apply the new development philosophy; and create a new pattern of development, with the supply-side structural reform as the main task; deepen “reforms to streamline administration and delegate power, improve regulation, and upgrade services” in respect of foreign trade; promote innovation in terms of systems, management, service, forms of business, and models in respect of foreign trade; expand room for the development of foreign trade; improve the operating efficiency of foreign trade; make industrial chains and the supply chains unimpeded; and promote the high-quality development.
2. Basic principles.
Staying committed to encouraging innovation. Efforts shall be made to fully leverage the decisive role of the market in allocating resources, give better play to the role of the government, and further unleash the vitality of market entities. Pilot programs shall be implemented so as to encourage the extensive utilization of new technologies and new tools in respect of foreign trade to promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional forms of business; refine the division of labor for trade to improve the professional competence; promote the integration of and innovation upon forms of business; and keep exploring new forms of business and new models of foreign trade.
Continuing tolerant and prudential regulation. Better coordination shall be ensured in pursuing development and upholding security, and the approach of the regulation in the process of development and the development under regulation shall be adopted. A policy system that adapts to the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade shall be established and improved. More shall be done to improve the standards and systems on information and data, credit system, protection of intellectual property rights and other respects. The responsibilities of platforms shall be scientifically and reasonably defined. Interim and ex post supervision shall be strengthened, the business environment shall be continuously optimized, and fair competition shall be promoted.
Continuing to pursue the policy of opening up and cooperation. Both domestic and international markets and resources shall be coordinated, and a win-win strategy of opening up shall be pursued, to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. The collaboration and interaction between departments, local governments, industries, and enterprises shall be strengthened, to improve the government performance in terms of management and service. Endeavors shall be made to establish the international rules that adapt to and lead the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade so as to promote high-level opening-up.
3. Development goals. By 2025, the systems, mechanisms and policy frameworks for the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade will be better improved; the business environment will become more optimized, and a group of internationally competitive industry-leading enterprises and industrial clusters will be formed; the level of the industrial value chain will become further improved and play a greater role in driving foreign trade and the national economy. By 2035, the development level of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade will be in the forefront of innovative countries; the system of laws and regulations will become more comprehensive; the trade liberalization and facilitation will reach the world's advanced level, to provide powerful momentum for the high-quality development of trade and strong support for basic realization of socialist modernization.
II. Actively supporting the use of new technologies and new tools to facilitate the development of foreign trade
4. Promoting the application of intelligent digital technologies. Digital technologies and digital tools shall be utilized to promote the optimization and improvement of all respects of the whole process of foreign trade. The long-tail effect shall be maximized, fragmented orders shall be integrated, and the channels for obtaining orders shall be expanded. Digital exhibitions, social e-commerce, product crowdfunding, and big data marketing, among others, shall be vigorously developed, and a marketing system featured by online and offline integration and domestic and overseas interaction shall be established. Data in all respects of the foreign trade supply chain shall be integrated, and resource connection and information sharing shall be strengthened. By 2025, the level of digitalization and intelligence of foreign trade enterprises will be significantly improved. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
5. Improving the support policies for the development of cross-border e-commerce. The supervision model for cross-border e-commerce business-to-business (B2B) direct export and cross-border e-commerce export overseas warehouses shall be applied across the country, and the supporting policies shall be improved. The management of return and exchange of goods under cross-border e-commerce import and export shall be facilitated. The list of commodities under cross-border e-commerce retail import shall be optimized. The pilot program of cross-border e-commerce retail of imported medical products shall be steadily implemented. Enterprises shall be directed to effectively utilize the exemption policies for value-added tax on cross-border e-commerce retail export and the measures for assessment and collection of income tax. The guidelines for the protection of intellectual property rights in respect of cross-border e-commerce shall be studied and developed, to direct cross-border e-commerce platforms to prevent intellectual property right risks. By 2025, the policy system for cross-border e-commerce will be further improved, the development environment will be further optimized, and the development level will be further raised. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect; and the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the National Medical Products Administration and the National Intellectual Property Administration shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
6. Making solid progress in the construction of cross-border e-commerce integrated experimental zones. The pilot program for integrated experimental zones for cross-border e-commerce (hereinafter referred to as the “integrated experimental zones”) shall be expanded. The pilot program shall be actively implemented, to further improve “two platforms”, i.e., one for online integrated services for cross-border e-commerce and the other for offline industrial parks, as well as the “six systems” for regulation of and services for information sharing, financial services, intelligent logistics, e-commerce credit risks, statistical monitoring, and risk prevention and control, and explore more good experience and practices. Various entities such as cross-border e-commerce platforms, operators, and supporting service providers shall be encouraged to become bigger and stronger, and accelerate the building of their own brands. The mechanisms for examination and evaluation and exit of the integrated experimental zones shall be established, according to which examination and evaluation shall be organized in 2021. By 2025, significant achievements will have been reached in the building of the integrated experimental zones, specifically including establishing a host of cross-border e-commerce offline industrial parks with gathered elements, diversified entities and professional services, forming a development pattern for such parks with distinctive characteristics, and making them an innovation cluster that leads the development of cross-border e-commerce. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect; and the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the State Post Bureau and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
7. Cultivating a group of outstanding overseas warehouse enterprises. Traditional foreign trade, cross-border e-commerce, logistics, and other enterprises, shall be encouraged to participate in the construction of overseas warehouses and improve the digitization and intelligence level of overseas warehouses, so as to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to go global by cooperation, whereby to stimulate the expansion by domestic brands and innovative and creative products of their room for the international market. Support shall be provided for a combined use of build-operate-transfer (BOT), structured financing and other investment and financing methods to diversify investment in the construction of overseas warehouses. The role of embassies and consulates and business organizations based abroad shall be fully leveraged, to provide early guidance services for overseas warehouse enterprises and assist in resolving disputes. By 2025, efforts shall be made to cultivate about 100 overseas warehouse enterprises with outstanding performance in information-based construction, intelligent development, diversified services, localized operation, and other respects. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission shall be responsible according to their respective functions)
8. Improving the overseas warehouse network covering the whole world. Enterprises shall be supported in accelerating the deployment of overseas warehouses in key markets, improving the global service networks, and establishing the transportation and sales channels for Chinese brands. Overseas warehouse enterprises shall be encouraged to connect with online integrated service platforms in the integrated experimental zones and domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms, among others, to match supply and demand information. The policies and measures for express delivery shall be optimized, so as to support overseas warehouse enterprises in establishing a complete logistics system, extending their services to the upstream and downstream of the supply chain, and exploring the construction of an intelligent platform for overseas logistics. Progress shall be made in establishing overseas warehouse standards. By 2025, a new-type foreign trade logistics network covering the whole world featured by coordinated development will be established by relying on overseas warehouses, and a group of internationally influential national and industrial standards will be introduced. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the State Post Bureau shall be responsible according to their respective functions)
III. Continuously promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional foreign trade
9. Improving the digital level of traditional foreign trade. Support shall be provided for traditional foreign trade enterprises in utilizing advanced technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to strengthen research and development, and design, and develop intelligent, personalized, and customized production. Enterprises shall be encouraged to explore and build big data laboratories for new forms of business of foreign trade. Enterprises shall be guided in using digital means to enhance the value of traditional brands. The establishment of incubation institutions and innovation centers shall be encouraged, to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in their business startup and innovation. By 2025, a system will be formed for foreign trade industry chains and supply chains driven by new forms of business, supported by big data, and featured by networked sharing and intelligent collaboration. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
10. Optimizing the policy framework for market procurement trade. The dynamic adjustment mechanism for the pilot areas for market procurement trade shall be improved, and comprehensive evaluation indicators shall be set, to give a better play to the demonstration and leading role of pilot areas. Support shall be provided for all pilot areas in making exploration and innovation in light of local reality, attracting more domestic trade entities to carry out foreign trade, guiding market entities to improve quality, improve technology, optimize services, cultivate brands, and enhance product competitiveness, and amplifying the effect of agglomeration, and driving the development, of surrounding industries. By 2025, efforts shall be made to cultivate around 10 integrated domestic and foreign trade markets with exports exceeding 100 billion yuan, and build a number of well-known brands. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
11. Improving the facilitation level of market procurement trade. The integrated management system for market procurement trade shall be further optimized to achieve traceability, controllable risks, and accountability. Continuous efforts shall be made to implement the pilot policies for, among others, simplified customs declaration and exemption of value-added tax on goods exported by market procurement trade, to optimize the customs clearance process. The pilot scope of the export of pre-packaged food for market procurement trade shall be expanded. For income from market procurement trade that is registered in the comprehensive management system of market procurement trade and whose authenticity is traceable, banks shall be guided to provide more convenient financial services. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
IV. Stepping up efforts to promote the development of foreign trade services toward subdivided professional areas
12. Further supporting the sound development of enterprises that provide comprehensive foreign trade services. The record-filing of tax refund handled on a commission basis in a centralized manner shall be implemented in an effective and detailed manner, to improve the work efficiency. For production enterprises that have gone through the record-filing procedures for tax refund on a commission basis but have not yet conducted on-site inspections on the initial tax refund (exemption) declaration, the efficiency of on-site inspections shall be further improved after receiving the information on the initial tax refund declaration on a commission basis. Enterprises that provide comprehensive foreign trade services (hereinafter referred to as “comprehensive service enterprises”) shall be guided to regulate internal risk management and improve the centralized management and control of risks in commissioned tax refund. The “dual punishment” customs mechanism shall be further implemented and improved. Where a comprehensive service enterprise strictly fulfills its obligation regarding reasonable examination and has committed no intentional or gross negligence, such enterprise and its customers shall assume corresponding responsibilities according to the circumstances. By 2025, the policy environment suitable for the development of comprehensive service enterprises will be further optimized. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
13. Improving the development level of maintenance and repair business. Support shall be increased for enterprises in the integrated bonded areas in carrying out their maintenance and repair business, dynamically adjusting the catalog of maintenance & repair products, and studying the inclusion of medical devices and other products into the catalog. Enterprises in pilot free trade zones shall be supported in carrying out bonded maintenance and repair business in which raw materials are imported from abroad and final products are sold to overseas markets according to the catalog of maintenance and repair products in integrated bonded zones. The provincial people's governments at the places where pilot free trade zones are located shall comprehensively evaluate and independently support the development of maintenance and repair projects, and assume primary responsibilities for the regulation of supported projects and other matters. Exploration and research shall be made for supporting qualified enterprises outside integrated bonded zones in carrying out bonded maintenance and repair of self-produced export products that have high technology content and high added value and satisfy requirements for environmental protection, proceeding steadily by pilot areas, strengthening evaluation, and studying and developing management methods and lists of maintenance and repair products. By 2025, the policy system for bonded maintenance and repair business will be gradually improved. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
14. Steadily promoting the development of offshore trade. Banks shall be encouraged to explore and optimize the examination methods for business authenticity, improve the examination efficiency based on clients' credit classification and business models under the business development principles, provide high-quality financial services for enterprises that carry out true and compliant offshore trade business, and improve the facilitation level of trade settlement. The innovation on offshore trade business in pilot free trade zones shall be further strengthened, and qualified cities and regions with strong competitiveness and management capabilities shall be supported in developing offshore trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
15. Supporting the development and growth of the platform for subdivided foreign trade services. Innovation in the subdivided fields of foreign trade such as marketing, payment, delivery, logistics, and quality control shall be supported. The platform for subdivided foreign trade services shall be encouraged to develop the vertical market in an in-depth manner in all regions and industries, and take the road of “applying special, sophisticated techniques to produce unique and novel products.” Foreign trade enterprises shall be encouraged to build independent stations by themselves, and professional station building platforms shall be supported in optimizing and improving their capacity for service. The application of blockchain technology in subdivided trade areas shall be explored. By 2025, a group of enterprises on the platform for subdivided foreign trade services with strong international influence will be formed. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
V. Optimizing the system for ensuring policy implementation
16. Adopting new forms of regulation. According to the development needs of business forms in foreign trade, relevant laws and regulations shall be researched and improved in a timely manner, and the “observation period” and “transitional period” shall be scientifically set. The “sandbox regulation” model shall be introduced to provide a safe space for adopting new forms of business. The data connection between commerce, customs, taxation, market regulation, postal and other departments shall be promoted. While optimizing services, the regulation of tax evasion, forged and fake commodity, false trading, and other respects shall be strengthened. The statistical system for new forms of business and new models of foreign trade shall be improved. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Post Bureau shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
17. Implementing the fiscal policies. The role of special funds for the development of foreign economy and trade and seed funds for the innovative development of trade in services shall be fully leveraged, and nongovernmental capital shall be guided to support the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade in the form of funds. The tax collection and management, and service measures that promote the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade shall be actively explored and implemented, to improve the relevant tax environment. Enterprises adopting new forms of business and new models of foreign trade shall be supported in declaring tax refund by paperless methods. Enterprises adopting new forms of business and new models of foreign trade that have been identified as high-tech enterprises may enjoy preferential income tax policies for high-tech enterprises in accordance with the provisions. (The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Administration of Taxation shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
18. Increasing financial support. Government-bank-enterprise cooperation shall be deepened. An “easy credit loan platform” (a national integrated credit service platform which is intended to facilitate small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) financing) and other models shall be actively promoted. Financial institutions, non-bank payment institutions, credit rating agencies, and foreign trade service platforms, among others, shall be encouraged to strengthen cooperation, to provide convenient financial services for enterprises adopting new forms of business and new models of foreign trade with real trading background. Qualified enterprises adopting new business types and new models of foreign trade shall be encouraged to raise funds through listing, issuance of bonds, and other methods. The construction of a blockchain platform for trade finance shall be accelerated. The export credit insurance institutions shall increase their support for overseas warehouses and other new forms of business and new models of foreign trade, and give a full play to their role in protecting against risks and promoting financing. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Export-Import Bank of China, and China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
19. Facilitating the management of trade payment and settlement. The pilot program for facilitation of foreign exchange receipts and payments in trade shall be deepened, to support more qualified banks and payment institutions in providing settlement services for enterprises adopting new forms of business and new models of foreign trade in compliance with laws and regulations. The development and research of safe and convenient cross-border payment products shall be encouraged, and non-bank payment institutions shall be supported in their efforts to “go abroad.” Foreign institutions shall be encouraged to participate in the development and competition of China's payment service market. (The People's Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
VI. Creating a favorable environment
20. Maintaining a sound foreign trade order. The regulation of anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition shall be strengthened, with a focus on preventing and stopping business monopolies and unfair competition in respect of new forms of business of foreign trade, so as to protect fair competition and guard against unregulated expansion of capital. Ways shall be actively explored to establish a credit assessment system for enterprises adopting new forms of business and new models of foreign trade. The establishment of a traceability system for important products shall be encouraged. Support shall be provided in developing national, industrial and local standards in respect of new forms of business of foreign trade, and industry associations shall be encouraged to develop relevant group standards. (The Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration for Regulation shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
21. Promoting the construction of new-type foreign trade infrastructure. Support shall be provided in constructing integrated online service platforms and digital public service platforms, among others, in respect of foreign trade. Telecommunications enterprises shall be encouraged to provide dedicated Internet data channels for foreign trade enterprises to carry out digital marketing. The layout of international mail exchange bureaus (exchange stations) and the international express handling centers shall be improved. Special trains for China Railway Express shall be launched, to meet the transportation needs for the development of new forms of business types and new models of foreign trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Post Bureau, and China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
22. Strengthening the establishment of industry organizations and the cultivation of professional talents. The establishment of relevant industry organizations in respect of new forms of business of foreign trade shall be promoted in accordance with the law, and the standards and self-regulation conventions for industry services shall be introduced. Ordinary universities and vocational colleges shall be encouraged to set up relevant majors. Ordinary colleges and universities as well as vocational colleges shall be guided to cooperate with enterprises in cultivating management talents and high-quality technical and skilled talents that meet the development needs of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Minister of Education, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
23. Deepening international exchanges and cooperation. Active participation shall be made in multilateral and bilateral negotiations with the World Trade Organization and the Universal Postal Union, to promote the formulation of international standards for electronic signatures, electronic contracts, and electronic documents, among others. Efforts shall be stepped up in international cooperation with respect to the protection of intellectual property rights, transnational logistics, and other fields, and participation shall be made in formulating international rules and standards for new forms of business and new models of foreign trade. Intergovernmental cooperation with relevant countries in related fields shall be strengthened, to promote two-way opening up. Hard work shall be done to develop E-commerce on the Silk Road and strengthen economic and trade cooperation along the “Belt and Road”. The interaction and connection of the new forms of business and new models of foreign trade in China with foreign distribution industries shall be promoted. All localities, entities implementing the pilot program, and enterprises shall be encouraged to carry out international exchange and cooperation. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and all local people's governments and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
VII. Effectively organizing implementation
24. Strengthening organization and leadership. Full play shall be given to the role of the State Council in promoting the inter-ministerial joint meeting system for high-quality trade development, to strengthen inter-departmental interaction and coordination between central and local departments, and resolve major problems in a coordinated manner. All regions and relevant departments shall ensure full implementation according to the division of functions and duties, cooperate closely, introduce relevant measures in a timely manner, and continue to boldly explore new ways for practice. The Ministry of Commerce shall strengthen work guidance in conjunction with relevant departments to ensure that various measures are fully implemented. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and all local people's governments and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
25. Effectively conducting publicity and promotion. Good experience and practices shall be continuously summarized and promoted. Efforts shall be intensified to lead public opinions, and publicize and introduce the performance of the development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade. An enabling environment shall be created that encourages innovation, that is full of vitality, that is featured by fair competition, and that is regulated and orderly, so as to promote the sound, sustainable, innovative development of new forms of business and new models of foreign trade. (The Ministry of Commerce shall take the lead in this respect, and all local people's governments and all relevant entities shall be responsible in this respect according to their respective functions)
General Office of the State Council
July 2, 2021
