State Council issues support policy for export-oriented zones

The State Council, or China's Cabinet, on Friday released a guideline on the development of export-oriented zones in an effort to restructure export manufacturing.

The guideline aims to integrate export-oriented zones and improve their policies and services in order to attract more domestic processing trade enterprises to the zones, according to a guideline posted on the central government's website.

Efforts should be made to gradually integrate existing zones, such as cross-border industrial zones and bonded ports, into comprehensive bonded zones, the guideline said.

New zones should, in principle, be named as comprehensive bonded zones, it said.

Local governments should control the number of zones and set up new zones according to real need while focusing on optimizing existed zones, the guideline said.

Authorities should improve the management system, it said, adding that efforts should be made to simplify customs clearance process, crack down on smuggling and tax evasion and ensure safety to create a favorable production environment.

Support should also be given to introducing businesses related to research and development, design, brand-building, core component manufacturing and logistics into the zones, the guideline said.

China currently has six types of export-oriented zones, including tax-protected zones, export processing zones, bonded logistics zones, cross-border industrial zones, bonded ports and comprehensive bonded zones, according to the guideline.