Implementation Plan of Shanghai Municipality on Promoting the High-Quality Development of Digital Trade and Trade in Services

With a view to thoroughly implementing the Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Reform and Innovative Development of Digital Trade and the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Promoting the High-Quality Development of Trade in Services Through High-Level Opening-up, this Implementation Plan is hereby formulated to comprehensively promote the reform, opening-up, and innovation of digital trade and trade in services, and build a globally connected international hub for digital trade and a global hub node for trade in services. By 2029, Shanghai aims to achieve a total import and export volume of trade in services reaching $260 billion, including $130 billion in digitally delivered services, accounting for approximately 50% of the total trade in services.

I. Vigorously Developing Digitally Delivered Services

1. Piloting the opening-up of value-added telecommunications services: Leverage the advantages of Lin-gang Special Area and Pudong New Area in digital infrastructure to promote the establishment of wholly foreign-owned Internet data centers, content distribution networks, and app stores. Attract foreign investment to develop Internet access services, online data processing and transaction services, as well as information protection and processing services. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Municipal Communications Administration, Pudong New Area People's Government, and Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee)

2. Expanding digital product trade, with a focus on cultural trade: Advance the "Thousand Sails Going Global" initiative for cultural trade by annually posting the top 10 Shanghai cultural trade brands. Attract overseas games and movies that have not been publicly released in China for trial run or preview in international gaming and film festivals in compliance with relevant regulations and draw international top-tier esports events to Shanghai. (Responsible units: the Publicity Department of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, and the Municipal Sports Bureau)

3. Developing high-end service outsourcing to expand digital trade and trade in services: Implement a "from enterprise to products" regulatory model in the pilot project for biomedical research and development material imports. Strengthen the driving force of the national digital service export base and support the development of multinational shared services centers. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and Pudong New Area People's Government)

4. Promoting the collaborative development of digital technology trade and industry: Build industry-specific clouds such as clouds for trade, industry, and healthcare to facilitate international connectivity. Promote the integration of "design + manufacturing", strengthen international cooperation in artificial intelligence, and deepen the pilot scheme for data product intellectual property registration. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Data Bureau, Office of the Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the Municipal Intellectual Property Administration)

II. Expanding Digital Ordering Trade

5. Optimizing cross-border e-commerce air and sea freight regulatory models: Further advance the pilot program to improve air freight facilitation for cross-border e-commerce goods, including electrified goods, magnetic goods and cosmetics. Enhance cargo handling capabilities at air freight stations for cross-border e-commerce. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Commission of Transport, Shanghai Customs, CAAC East China Regional Administration, Pudong New Area People's Government, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

6. Strengthening financial support for cross-border e-commerce: Innovatively utilize cross-border e-commerce credit insurance products, and simplify foreign exchange procedures for small and micro cross-border e-commerce enterprises. Improve cross-border RMB settlement services. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office, Shanghai Customs, Shanghai Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Financial Affairs Office of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation Shanghai Branch, and relevant district people's governments)

7. Expanding cross-border e-commerce imports: Encourage foreign e-commerce platforms to establish headquarters in Shanghai or the Asia-Pacific region and launch localized platforms in China. Promote bonded imports by enabling "shared warehousing and consolidated shipping" for foreign trade goods in special customs supervision zones. Streamline return processes for direct-purchase cross-border e-commerce goods. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Customs, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee, and relevant district people's governments)

III. Moderately Advancing the Deployment of Digital Infrastructure

8. Accelerating the construction and expansion of advanced network infrastructure: Speed up the development of new information communications infrastructure, including 5G networks and fiber-optic broadband networks. Promote the construction of the Southeast Asia-Japan 2 (SJC2) submarine cable system and support the development of the submarine optical fiber cable landing station in Lin-gang Special Area. Expand the National (Shanghai) New Internet Exchange Center and dedicated international Internet data channels. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Municipal Communications Administration, the Municipal Data Bureau, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, and Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

9. Planning and developing high-performance computing infrastructure: Develop high-capacity cloud computing data center clusters, open computing power platforms and interlinked computing power platforms. Build urban public computing service hubs to provide accessible computing services for SMEs. Establish large-scale commercial computing power. Explore the development of data centers in Hongqiao International Central Business District with international service capabilities and a regional influence in the Yangtze River Delta. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Municipal Communications Administration, the Municipal Data Bureau, and Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

10. Developing high-quality infrastructure such as blockchain and corpus: Build blockchain infrastructure and a Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform to facilitate trustworthy cross-border data flow. Promote the development of high-quality linguistic data. (Responsible units: the Municipal Data Bureau, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology)

IV. Innovating and Enhancing Trade in Services

11. Digitally empower trade in shipping services: Develop smart ports by applying technologies such as blockchain and big data. Strengthen the online verification, circulation, and application of electronic documents like bills of lading, letters of credit, crew certificates, and port clearance certificates. Expand the Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network to create a global hub for trade and logistics information exchanges. Introduce safety and punctuality forecast indexes for international container ships entering and leaving ports. Promote data sharing and digital transformation in air cargo. Establish a public service platform for air cargo information that integrates the entire logistics chain. Use information technologies to enhance shipping finance, insurance and legal services — and strengthen key shipping service hubs in areas like the North Bund, Hongqiao Linkong, Lin-gang Special Area, and the Lujiazui-World Expo area. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Transport, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Office of the Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Data Bureau, Pudong New Area People's Government, Hongkou District People's Government, Changning District People's Government, CAAC East China Regional Administration, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, and Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

12. Accelerating the development of trade in financial insurance services: Enhance the Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). Attract domestic and foreign companies to issue Panda Bonds (RMB-denominated bonds by non-Chinese issuers) and Belt and Road Bonds (sustainable development bonds for countries according to the Belt and Road Initiative). Encourage qualified overseas traders to directly engage in trading internationalized commodities such as crude oil, low-sulfur fuel, international oil and copper options. Establish an international reinsurance functional zone in Lin-gang Special Area and build Shanghai International Reinsurance Registration and Trading Center. (Responsible units: Financial Affairs Office of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office, Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, Shanghai Securities Regulatory Bureau, and Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee)

13. Develop service trade systems for the aviation industry: Explore business formats such as aircraft leasing, consignments and sharing. Establish an aviation asset trading platform that covers the full lifecycle — trading, maintenance, modification, and disposal — of aviation assets, including aircraft, aircraft engines, simulators, etc. Improve the regulatory framework for trade in services. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Customs, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office, Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, and Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee)

14. Promoting green trade in services: Facilitate the import of technologies and services in energy-saving, carbon reduction, environmental protection, ecological restoration, etc. that are urgently needed in China. Encourage the export of green energy-saving technologies and services. Utilize the Green Technology Bank platform to strengthen international cooperation. Promote the development of the carbon emission trading market and develop a broader array of carbon finance products. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, and the Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment)

V. Strengthening Enterprise Development and Regional Infrastructure

15. Enhancing the capacities of leading enterprises: Update the Shanghai Catalogue for the Promotion of Trade in Services annually to clarify development directions. Increase support for tech-advanced service enterprises, encouraging the use of digital technologies, AI, and other innovative services. Support businesses in contributing to the development and promotion of international standards for digital trade and trade in services. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, and the Municipal Tax Service)

16. Developing Shanghai Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) cooperation zone: Promote pragmatic cooperation in areas such as electronic bills of lading, e-invoices, electronic ports, e-payments and e-commerce for SMEs. Make Lin-gang Special Area the core area for DEPA cooperation, advancing international cooperation in digital trade. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, and the Municipal Data Bureau)

17. Establishing a pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation: Expand institutional opening-up in e-commerce and engage in industry connections, local cooperation and capacity building with partner countries. Promote new business formats such as electronic ordering, live-streaming e-commerce and cultural e-commerce. Establish such joint brands as the "Silk Road E-Commerce" national pavilion and "Silk Road Selection", and create platforms for think tank alliances, collaborative study and portal websites. Participate in the Global Aid for Trade Initiative. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Customs, Pudong New Area People's Government, Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, and Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

18. Creating an international data economy industrial park: Develop a new international data economy industrial park in Lin-gang Special Area, piloting collaborative innovation in business. Enhance the service efficiency of Lin-gang Special Area Cross-border Data Service Center and refine its investment attraction model. (Responsible units: Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, Office of the Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the Municipal Data Bureau)

19. Enhancing the scale effect of service trade clusters: A Service Trade Cluster characterized by a headquarters economy will be established in Pudong New Area; a core hub for high-end shipping services will be developed in Hongkou District; Yangshupu Digital Trade Valley will be built in Yangpu District. Each district will accelerate the growth of digital trade and trade in services, tailored to its unique resources and industries. Special customs supervision zones, such as Jinqiao and Caohejing Comprehensive Bonded Zones, will shift their focus towards digital trade and trade in services. A plan to support SMEs in trade in services will be rolled out, encouraging districts to establish innovation incubators, to improve export credit insurance for trade in service and to connect with the national service trade innovation development fund. (Responsible units: all district people's governments, and China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation Shanghai Branch)

VI. Promoting the Smooth Flow of Trade Elements

20. Facilitating and regulating Cross-border Data Flow: Formulate a negative list and operational guidelines for cross-border data flow in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, including Lin-gang Special Area. Facilitate businesses' access to international Internet services. (Responsible units: Office of the Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Municipal Data Bureau, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Pudong New Area People's Government (Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration), and Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee)

21. Facilitating the cross-border movement of natural persons: Accelerate the development of the Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, and expand international training in medical devices, aviation, and other areas. Optimize the application process for the APEC Business Travel Card. Introduce port-visa pre-acceptance services for foreigners, and launch pilot programs for electronic port visas. Create direct service platforms for overseas talents. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Bureau of Public Security, Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Customs, Pudong New Area People's Government, and Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee)

22. Optimizing cross-border capital flow management: Support the application of fund pooling services for the centralized management of cross-border funds in digital trade and trade in services. Launch pilot projects of integrated solutions for international electronic invoices and cross-border electronic payments. Support the development of digital RMB global settlement centers within banking systems. (Responsible units: the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, and Financial Affairs Office of the Municipal Committee of the CPC)

23. Leveraging trade fairs to promote business: Continue hosting major events like the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, the Pujiang Innovation Forum, the North Bund Forum, the China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair, and the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference (ChinaJoy). Support businesses to participate in well-known international exhibitions. Further leverage the promotional impact of the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the Global Digital Trade Expo. (Responsible units: the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, the Municipal Commission of Transport, the Municipal Intellectual Property Administration, the Publicity Department of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, the Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, and the Municipal Council for the Promotion of International Trade)

The work on the high-quality development of digital trade and trade in services will be led by Shanghai Municipal Leading Group for the International Trade Center Construction. All member units of the Leading Group and other units involved should implement their tasks according to their respective responsibilities, ensuring the effective implementation of each task.