On November 21-22, MOFCOM held a symposium on promoting the opening-up level of the national economic and technological development zones in western China (hereinafter referred to as the national economic development zone) in Guiyang. The main task of the meeting is to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, and thoroughly implement the requirements of the 19th CPC National Congress on increasing the opening up of the western region, practice the new development concept, adhere to the general tone of steady progress, summarize and exchange the achievements and experience of the opening up of the national economic development zones in western China, study and improve the level of opening-up, improve the quality of foreign capital utilization, and drive the opening up and high-quality development of the entire western regions.
The meeting pointed out that the national economic and technological development zones in the west have grown into an economic growth pole and the leaders in opening up of the west, and have shown many highlights in deepening reform, expanding opening up, and promoting innovation. MOFCOM issued special policies, strengthened investment promotion, implemented innovation and upgrading projects in the development zones, promoted pilot reform experiments, strengthened exchanges and mutual evaluation, and supported the opening up of national economic development zones in the western region.
The meeting stressed that at present, China's economy has shifted from a high-speed growth stage to a high-quality development one, and the external environment has undergone profound changes. The national economic development zones should unify thoughts and understandings into central decision-making, and resolutely implement the requirements of stabilizing employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, and stable expectations to accelerate the innovation improvement and high-quality development.
The meeting requested that the national economic development zones in the west should speed up the conversion of new and old kinetic drivers and foster new strength and advantages in international competition and cooperation. They should strengthen cooperation with the national economic development zones in the eastern and central regions, expand investment channels, and actively undertake high value-added processing trade and service outsourcing to improve the level of internal and external opening up. They should seriously replicate experience of reform pilot zones such as the Pilot Free Trade Zones, deepen the reform and innovation of the system and mechanism, stimulate the vitality of the foreign economy, and create a world-class business environment.
Attending were the representatives from commercial departments in 12 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) including Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and 49 national economic development zones.
