Shanghai's Changning district has released a comprehensive action plan to cultivate a world-class business environment grounded in international best practices.

The 2026 initiative places equal emphasis on elevating government services, safeguarding fair competition, strengthening the industrial ecosystem, and advancing social co-governance. Together, these measures aim to build a market-oriented, law-based, and globally competitive environment for enterprises.

I. Providing efficient, convenient government services

The plan sets out eight measures to streamline administrative services. These include advancing "one-stop" services, improving end-to-end services for accessing enterprise-friendly policies, optimizing smart service platforms, enhancing the online and offline service experience, expanding "bring-in" services, strengthening "going global" services, refining the request resolution mechanism, and broadening tax-related services.

Expanding 'bring-in' services

Changning will support local enterprises in obtaining Authorized Economic Operator certification to further facilitate international trade.

Eligible companies will be assisted in accessing municipal facilitation measures for the inspection of first-entry imported consumer goods.

The district will also capitalize on the spillover effects of the China International Import Expo by hosting related events and strengthening communication and cooperation with exhibitors.

In parallel, Changning will enhance the support system for foreign-invested enterprises, fully implement the national treatment policies, and provide greater convenience for expatriates working and living in the district. This includes streamlining business registration procedures for foreign nationals.

II. Ensuring fair market competition

Eight additional measures have been formulated to safeguard a fair and orderly market environment. These encompass strengthening fair competition review, improving the quality and efficiency of enterprise-related inspections, fostering the healthy development of the online market, reinforcing intellectual property protection, regulating profit-driven occupational claims, creating a clean and sound online environment, strengthening diversified dispute resolution, and building a distinctive rule-of-law brand.

Strengthening diversified dispute resolution

Changning will continue to utilize the Hongqiao Zhihe online dispute mediation platform to develop professional commercial mediation services.

Closer coordination between litigation and mediation mechanisms will deliver one-stop commercial dispute resolution services for enterprises.

Case filing and trial time limits will be strictly enforced to improve efficiency in handling commercial cases.

The district will also strengthen targeted litigation and mediation services for foreign-funded enterprises, positioning itself as a preferred destination for resolving international commercial disputes.

III. Building a supportive industrial ecosystem

The initiative outlines 12 measures to reinforce the industrial foundation. These include strengthening spatial support, advancing urban renewal, streamlining financing services, improving human resource services, promoting the application of data elements, enhancing industrial park and office building services, fostering a block-level innovative ecosystem, optimizing the industrial ecosystem, cultivating new consumption scenarios, enhancing headquarters enterprises, improving support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and building business environment brands.

Advancing the headquarters enhancement program

Changning will implement a comprehensive "headquarters enhancement" program for multinational regional headquarters and trade-oriented headquarters, while updating its headquarters cultivation database.

Through a "one enterprise, one plan" approach, dedicated service teams at both district and subdistrict levels will assist headquarters enterprises in clustering upstream and downstream businesses and expanding integrated functions.

The district will also leverage country-specific resources to upgrade regional headquarters of multinational corporations and foreign-funded R&D centers, while strengthening reinvestment services for foreign-invested enterprises.

IV. Encouraging diversified, collaborative social co-governance

Four measures have been mapped out: strengthening government-enterprise communication, enhancing basic-level business services, fostering vibrant communities, and deepening collaborative development.

Strengthening government-enterprise communication

Changning will strengthen regular engagement with enterprises, deepen collaboration with social organizations, and implement the memorandum on government and social organization collaboration.

A two-way policy consultation mechanism will be enhanced among district departments, associations, and enterprises.

The "government-association-bank-enterprise" mechanism will be expanded to diversify communication channels.

The business environment ambassador system will also be refined, with dedicated monitoring and liaison points established for chain and group operations.

Source: Changning district government

Note: The English text is for reference only. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.