You Are Pakistan

By Che Bin, Li Yanan, People’s Daily

Located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Kashgar sits on a lush oasis nourished by the Yarkant River, which flows from the Karakoram Mountains. Since ancient times, traders and travelers crossing the Pamir Plateau have stopped here to rest, trade, and connect. This made Kashgar a key hub along the ancient Silk Road and one of Xinjiang’s earliest international trading posts. Historical figures such as Zhang Qian, Xuanzang, Faxian, and Marco Polo all left their footprints in this storied land.

Today, Kashgar stands as China’s gateway to the west, an international corridor leading to Central, West, and South Asia, and the starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Departing from downtown Kashgar and heading south along the Karakoram Highway, known as the “China-Pakistan Friendship Road,” one can reach Taxkorgan Tajik autonomous county after a 300-kilometer drive.

Just north of Taxkorgan lies the Ruins of Stone City, a site with more than 2,000 years of history. When Buddhist monk Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty (618-907) returned from his journey to India, he passed through the site and later described the ancient stronghold in his travelogue “The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions.” Weathered by time, the ruins still stands with quiet grandeur.

In downtown Kashgar lies the ancient city of Kashgar, which dates back over 2,100 years. Known as a “living city of antiquity,” it begins each day with a ceremonial opening: at sunrise, dancers emerge from its streets, greeting visitors with cheerful music and vibrant performances.

Wandering through the ancient city, one encounters 99 alleys that twist and turn, lined with earth-toned buildings decorated with flower pots, intricate wood carvings, colorful domes, and overhanging eaves. As families expand, new generations add floors to their homes, creating a unique and compact architectural landscape with hanging houses and enclosed passageways. Over time, more than 20,000 residences have formed a dense, labyrinthine urban layout – one of the largest inhabited clusters of earthen buildings in the world.

In the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Italian traveler Marco Polo described Kashgar in his travel notes as a city with beautiful gardens, orchards, vineyards, and merchants from every corner of the world.

In August last year, Italian hiking enthusiast Vienna Cammarota visited Kashgar. Before her trip to China, she had read about the city in The Travels of Marco Polo. Upon arrival, she was thrilled to discover that Kashgar was not only a vital hub on the ancient Silk Road but also a place brimming with vitality today.

“The streets are lively by day and poetic at night,” she said. “There’s a constant hum of voices and the air is filled with the aromas of spices, freshly baked bread, and sizzling barbecue.”

In the ancient city of Kashgar, there is a cafe named Dili & Diya, run by a young local man, Dilxat Tursun, and his Tanzanian wife Hadiya.

Hadiya attributed her opportunity to live and study in China to the Belt and Road Initiative. She met Dilxat Tursun while both were students in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian province. In May 2020, the couple returned to Dilxat Tursun’s hometown Kashgar.

“The moment I arrived in Kashgar, I fell in love with it,” Hadiya said. “The city has a rich history, and the people are warm and hospitable. In my hometown of Zanzibar, there’s also a Stone City, which feels quite similar to Kashgar. That connection made me feel even closer to this place.”

Their cafe features hand-crafted pottery cups from Kashgar and wall decorations from Africa. “Tanzanian coffee beans are well-known in the Chinese market,” said Dilxat Tursun. “So in March 2023, we opened this cafe together. Hadiya taught me how to grind beans and brew rich, flavorful coffee. Our lattes are made with local milk and Tanzanian coffee beans, a fusion that reflects the East-meets-West charm of Kashgar ancient city.”

“With China’s visa-free policy expanding its coverage, we’re seeing more and more international visitors at our cafe,” he added.

As the business grows, securing a steady supply of coffee beans has become a top priority. “When we first started, we would bring beans back with us during family visits to Tanzania. Now, they’re shipped via a more stable route – from Africa to Europe, then to Kashgar by China-Europe freight trains,” he explained.

At the end of last year, construction began on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway. Dilxat Tursun was among the first to celebrate the news. “This railway starts in Kashgar. We hope for its swift completion and operation, which would make coffee bean transport even easier. More importantly, I believe this project will open up more trade opportunities and improve daily life for people in the countries along the route,” he said.

By Zhang Danhua, People’s Daily

As one of the world’s most renowned ancient capitals, Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province boasts a history spanning more than 3,100 years and serves as the capital for 13 dynasties for more than 1,100 years. The city is home to an abundance of cultural relics, ranking among China’s most archaeologically rich urban areas with unparalleled density of underground heritage.

In the midst of its bustling modernization, a unique blend of archaeology and infrastructure has emerged at Xianyang International Airport, where a groundbreaking museum now brings the relics of antiquity into the flow of modern life.

The story begins with the third-phase expansion of the airport, launched in 2020. As construction began, the Shaanxi provincial institute of archaeology, working in collaboration with China West Airport Group (CWAG), started excavating the site. What followed was nothing short of an archaeological treasure trove: more than 6,800 relic sites, over 4,000 ancient tombs, and more than 22,000 artifacts have been unearthed.

“On the very first day, a cluster of Northern Zhou Dynasty (557-581) tombs was discovered. This was quickly followed by tombs from the State of Qin during the Warring States period (475-221 BC) and aristocratic burials from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD),” recalled Qi Quanhai, a member of the airport construction command center. “Our investigation team worked tirelessly during that time.”

In the most artifact-rich areas, over 300 tombs were discovered per square kilometer, turning what was supposed to be a routine infrastructure project into a living dialogue with history.

Faced with the urgent need to rescue thousands of tombs, the airport’s construction team and the Shaanxi provincial institute of archaeology developed an innovative “zoned prioritization” excavation approach, allowing critical construction areas to proceed while temporarily halting work elsewhere. Each zone was handed over for construction immediately after archaeological work was completed.

“Archaeologists and construction teams shared real-time location data to coordinate efforts. This close collaboration allowed both archaeological rescue and construction to move forward together,” said Qi.

By synchronizing construction and archaeology in real time, this approach ensured the project stayed on schedule while preserving invaluable cultural heritage, such as a camel figurine bearing cargo.

Among the most significant finds was the 2022 uncovering of the tomb of Yuwen Jue, founding emperor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Located near the airport’s west interchange road (north), the planned road network of the Airport New City (south), and the third-phase expansion zone (east), the discovery attracted widespread public attention.

With bustling commercial activity and logistics development on one side, and a tomb of immense historical value on the other, the tomb raised an interesting dilemma: how to balance development with preservation? After consulting with experts in archaeology, history, architecture, and cultural heritage, the decision was made to preserve the tomb in situ, covering it with a protective structure and building a heritage park above it. LED screens and digital installations now educate visitors about its archaeological and historical significance.

“This approach not only enhances cultural value but also creates a win-win outcome for cultural preservation and economic development,” said Ma Zhifeng, an official with the administrative office of the Airport New City.

The “archaeology-first” principle guided the entire project. For example, Xi’an’s intercity rail line underwent multiple design revisions to avoid disturbing both a Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) pottery workshop and the ruins of ancient Xianyang city – the former capital of the dynasty. Construction was suspended nearly 100 times due to cultural discoveries, yet workers consistently demonstrated deep respect for the relics beneath their feet, a quiet tribute to the legacy of the past.

The excavation site quickly became a cultural sensation online, with over 100,000 comments surging for an on-site museum to showcase the discovered artifacts. The call was answered with the creation of the CWAG Museum of Heritage inside the airport’s Terminal 5, the world’s first in-situ archaeological museum housed within an airport terminal.

Situated in the heart of Terminal 5, the museum draws on the rich cultural history of Xi’an and showcases artifacts unearthed during the airport’s expansion. Designed in the architectural style of the Tang dynasty (618-907), the museum creates an immersive experience where each piece tells a localized story of the region’s past.

Since its opening on February 26, the museum has welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors and hosted over 1,300 volunteer-guided tours. In partnership with universities, the museum offers immersive programs for international students, streams virtual tours, and features “Pei Fuzhou” – a real-time interactive 3D digital guide. With its combination of ancient relics and modern technology, the museum has become a cultural hub within a bustling transportation hub.

“Modern airports are no longer just places for planes to take off and land. They are becoming cultural spaces in their own right,” said Lin Bin, deputy general manager of CWAG.

By Hu Jian, He Linping, People’s Daily

One in five smart phones, one in four anime merchandise items, and one in five sweaters worldwide are made in Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in south China’s Guangdong province.

The economic pulse of Dongguan has long been synchronized with global industrial and supply chain dynamics.

In the first four months of this year, Dongguan recorded 486.35 billion yuan ($67.73 billion) in foreign trade, up 19.4% year on year. Exports alone reached 291.6 billion yuan, an 11.9% increase.

Dongguan has demonstrated notable resilience in navigating global market challenges, as evidenced by the performance of its manufacturing sector and companies like VIVO.

At VIVO’s quality testing laboratory in Dongguan, every new smartphone model undergoes a comprehensive series of rigorous assessments before move into mass production. Devices endure repeated 1-meter drop tests from 26 angles, undergo 150,000 power button actuations, and withstand 1,000 compression cycles under simulated real-world conditions. 

In 2024, VIVO achieved global shipments exceeding over 97 million units, securing fourth position in worldwide market share by Q1 2025. The company maintains robust market resilience despite external challenges.

Vivo collaborates with nearly 400 supply chain partners across display, imaging, electronics, structural components, and semiconductors, with 25%of these partnerships have endured for over a decade. Multiple suppliers have achieved public listings during their collaboration with VIVO.  This ecosystem reflects mutually beneficial growth between the manufacturer and its partners.

Currently serving over 500 million users across more than 60 countries and regions, VIVO emphasizes users-centric innovation. “Our commitment to customer-focused R&D investment provides the foundation to navigate market uncertainties, both domestically and internationally,” said the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Hu Baishan.

VIVO’s story reflects the evolution of Dongguan’s mobile phone and electronics industry. Since the city produced its first mobile phone in 1995, it has grown into a global production center, now accounting for 1/5 of the world’s total output.

In Dongguan’s Binhaiwan New Area, construction is in full swing on an “AI Island,” which will integrate technology R&D, product manufacturing, and data services. “We aim to establish a national AI application demonstration zone within 6 years, generating an industrial output of 60 billion yuan,” said Luo Bin, an official with Binhaiwan New Area.

“In an uncertain global market, the key lies in focusing on making great products,” said an official with Dongguan’s bureau of industry and information technology. According to the official, the city is selecting key sectors with strong foundations and broad applications to systematically promote initiatives ranging from robotics product development to technological innovation and market integration.

But resilience doesn’t mean there’s no challenge. “Unilateral tariff hikes imposed by the United States led to the sudden cancellation of over 1,000 of our overseas orders. Now that tariffs have been adjusted, customers are resuming shipments, but costs remain high,” said Wang Zhen, chairman of a Dongguan-based toy and baby product manufacturer.

“Trade with the United States used to account for 20% of our exports, so we seized this opportunity to accelerate our transformation,” Wang said, holding up a toy resembling a mythical Baku – a dream-eating creature with a short trunk and a horn. “We’ve developed a full line of Baku-themed toys, with over 150 products now exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, and Japan, generating annual export sales of more than 10 million yuan.”

Adaptability has been critical. The company has enhanced its brand identity with culturally creative products and refined its marketing strategies by exploring integrated domestic and foreign sales. When Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com launched a 200-billion-yuan program this April to help exporters pivot to the domestic market, the company secured a 50-million-yuan domestic sales contract through the initiative.

Diversifying international markets is a shared priority among Dongguan enterprises. In the first 4 months of this year, Dongguan’s trade with Belt and Road partner countries grew 28.8% year on year, trade with ASEAN nations 45.4%, and trade with the five Central Asian countries 56.3%.

In March, in Dongguan’s Chashan township, where a toy and baby product manufacturer is based, the local government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with technology firms and industry associations to build an intelligent industry cluster that combines AI and toys. Just a month later, the first batch of locally developed AI-powered toys hit the market.

According to an official with Chashan township, no matter how global markets shift, Dongguan will remain committed to moving its industries up the value chain, thus enhancing technology, branding, and service capabilities to drive high-quality growth.

By Tian Xianjin, You Yi, Song Zhaojun, People’s Daily

From cranberries grown in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province to caviar produced in Sichuan province in the southwest, and from Australian red claw crayfish bred in southwest China’s Chongqing to king prawn cultivated in northwest China’s Gansu province, an increasing number of high-end ingredients originally from the West are now evolving into new specialties of Chinese counties.

These former imports are not only capturing local appetites, but also becoming full-fledged industries that are revitalizing regional economies and shaping new agricultural identities.

French foie gras finds a foothold in Anhui

At Anhui Renjun Poultry Farming Co., Ltd., the air is thick with the honking of geese – hundreds of them clustered inside bustling workshops.

“Every part of the Landes goose is valuable, but the liver is especially prized as a gourmet ingredient in French cuisine,” said Zhu Renjun, the company’s manager.

Native to the Landes region in southwestern France, the Landes goose now thrives in Huoqiu county, east China’s Anhui province. Home to over 140 foie gras producers, Huoqiu produces over 5 million geese annually and more than 5,000 tons of foie gras.

Huoqiu has a long tradition of goose farming, particularly the local Wanxi white goose. With the growing demand for foie gras, local farmers introduced the Landes goose for breeding, and the industry expanded rapidly. Today, foie gras has become a regional hallmark.

Zhu is now focused on expanding the market share of Huoqiu’s foie gras. “Right now, we mainly sell to hotels and online consumers. To reach a broader customer base and boost market presence, we need to break into brick-and-mortar supermarket chains,” he said.

To meet that goal, the company is upgrading its production lines. “Supermarkets demand strict quality assurance. We’re planning to install more surveillance cameras and digitize our operations for real-time monitoring. Cold storage will also need a major upgrade,” Zhu explained. “The total investment will likely run into several million yuan (1 million yuan is approximately $139,400.70), but it’s well worth for access to a much larger market.”

Caviar from the mountains of Sichuan

Nestled at the foot of snow-capped Erlang Mountain, more than 100 circular fish ponds glint in the sunlight – each home to sturgeons bred in Ya’an, Sichuan province. Spring-fed streams and clean, cold water make the area ideal for cultivating this ancient fish.

“Sturgeons thrive in water temperatures between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius. Ya’an offers abundant cold-water resources with excellent water quality and high oxygen content, making it perfect for caviar farming,” said Li Jun, chairman of Sichuan Runzhao Fisheries Co., Ltd.

After learning sturgeon farming techniques, Li established his aquaculture base in a modern agricultural park of Tianquan county in Ya’an in 2012. But it takes patience: a sturgeon requires at least eight years to mature from fry to an egg-bearing adult, and harvesting its roe involves 17 meticulous steps – all completed within 15 minutes.

To acquire processing expertise, Li invited foreign specialists for hands-on training. Local experts from research institutes and universities also lent their support.

Over a decade later, Ya’an’s caviar industry has carved out a solid reputation. Exports now reach more than 30 countries and regions, with strong brand recognition abroad.

Li still vividly recalls the early setbacks, when foreign buyers turned away from his product. But through relentless quality improvements, in-person outreach, technical certifications, site visits, and even blind taste tests, his company gradually won over European customers. So far, the company has registered caviar trademarks in 17 countries and regions.

King prawns in China’s northwest

In Greenhouse No. 4 of Fengsen New Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. in Yanuan township, Linze county, Gansu province, deputy general manager Ma Guibin inspects rows of aquaculture tanks. In a few days, a new batch of king prawn larvae will arrive from the hatchery and begin their months-long journey to market size.

Popular for their delicate texture, mild flavor, and high market appeal, king prawns have traditionally been farmed along China’s coastal regions, where cultivation techniques are developed. However, they can only survive minutes out of water, and even with cold chain logistics, they typically remain viable for no more than five hours. This made it difficult for consumers in China’s western regions to enjoy them fresh – until recently.

Linze county sits in the heart of the Hexi Corridor, part of the ancient Silk Road and stretching over a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometers in Gansu. Yanuan township offers favorable conditions for prawn farming: low-lying terrain, ample groundwater, and extensive saline-alkali land unsuitable for crops but ideal for aquaculture.

In 2022, thanks to local investment incentives, Ma and his partners launched the first phase of a land-based, recirculating aquaculture system. Last year, the company introduced digital technology to further boost efficiency.

Today, the company runs eight greenhouse facilities and produces 60 tons of king prawns annually, along with another 10 tons of high-value aquatic species. The venture generates four million yuan in economic benefits.

Building on that success, Yanuan township has recently launched a fishery-tourism complex that combines aquaculture, tourism, and ecological sustainability. Visitors now flock to the facility not only to learn about the prawn-farming process, but also to enjoy the taste of prawns harvested just minutes before.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

On June 11, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), announcing a series of important new measures to expand China’s cooperation and openness toward Africa.

His remarks provide fresh momentum for China and Africa to pursue modernization together, and reinforce both sides’ efforts to enhance solidarity among the Global South and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Amid a complex and evolving international landscape, China-Africa cooperation stands out for its clarity of direction and strength of certainty. Last September, during the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Xi and African leaders unanimously agreed to promote the six-point proposition on the joint endeavor to advance modernization, and to jointly implement the 10 partnership actions for modernization, leading China-Africa relations into a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.

Since then, both sides have worked closely to align their efforts and translate the strategic consensus of their leaders into concrete actions for high-quality cooperation. China has made an additional investment of over 13.3 billion yuan ($1.85 billion), and provided funding of over 150 billion yuan to Africa. In the first five months of this year, China’s imports and exports with Africa reached 963 billion yuan, up by 12.4% year on year and hitting a record high for the same period of the year in history.

As partners on the path to modernization, China and Africa are working hand in hand, and China is firmly committed to supporting Africa’s development through mutually beneficial cooperation. China is ready to implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries which have diplomatic relations with China, and provide more convenience for the least developed countries in Africa to export to China. China will also work with Africa to jointly implement the 10 partnership actions for modernization. These initiatives present new opportunities for Africa’s economic transformation.

African countries have expressed strong recognition of the opportunities presented by the Chinese market and China’s commitment to deeper engagement. Many African countries have welcomed China’s move to grant 100% zero-tariff treatment, viewing it as a significant step that will unlock new development opportunities across the continent. As Kenya’s Daily Nation noted, China has provided global public goods and fulfilled its role as a responsible major country, winning broad support across the African continent.

Openness and cooperation are the right path, and mutual benefit and win-win outcomes meet the aspiration of the people. As unilateralism, protectionism, and economic coercion become increasingly rampant, developing countries, including those in Africa, face mounting challenges in pursuing economic and social progress. In the face of such headwinds, China remains a reliable partner, consistently working to leverage its vast market to inject new momentum into the development of Global South partners.

Through its modernization initiatives, China provides substantive support for Africa’s developmental transformation. From Namibian chili sauce and Beninese pineapples to Tanzanian sapphires and Lesotho wool blankets, more than 800 African products were displayed at the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which opened on June 12 and was joined by 53 African countries and nearly 4,700 Chinese and African enterprises.

Since the FOCAC Beijing Summit, 22 new agricultural products from African countries, including soybeans from Zambia and peanuts from Nigeria, have gained market access to China. This increased import of African goods not only meets the growing and diversified demand of Chinese consumers, but also helps Africa boost its economy and improve livelihoods.

The joint pursuit of modernization by China and Africa will enhance solidarity and cooperation across the Global South and create a brighter future for global peace and development.

At the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the FOCAC, the two sides issued the China-Africa Changsha Declaration On Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, calling on the international community to uphold true multilateralism in accordance with the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.

The declaration affirms that China and Africa resolutely oppose any party reaching a deal of compromise at the expense of the interests of other countries.

In an era marked by profound global change, when China and Africa stand shoulder to shoulder, the prospects for the Global South’s development are brighter, and international fairness and justice are more assured.

No matter how the international landscape may shift, the core principle of China-Africa cooperation of mutual benefit and common development will remain unchanged. China is ready to work with Africa to fully implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, using the “golden key” of solidarity and cooperation to unlock a future of shared progress, jointly pursue the dream of modernization, and write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

By Li Jie

Across diverse sectors ranging from tourism and transportation to healthcare, finance, and telecommunications, China is steadily advancing the opening-up of its service sector, unlocking new opportunities for consumer access, foreign investment, and regional growth.

Recently, the Chinese government released a work plan that aims to expand the nation’s comprehensive pilot programs to more cities to accelerate the opening-up of the service sector, which outlines new efforts to accelerate and deepen reform in designated pilot regions.

The plan includes 155 pilot tasks across 14 key areas, such as the opening of telecommunications and other digital industries, improved access and service capacity in healthcare and elderly care. These tasks will be implemented simultaneously in all 11 existing pilot provinces and cities, with nine additional cities such as Dalian, Ningbo, and Xiamen permitted to carry out comprehensive pilot programs.

Since 2015, China’s State Council has authorized 11 provinces and cities to carry out pilot program, establishing an innovative “1+4+6” governance framework: Beijing serves as the Chinese national demonstration zone, four municipalities (Tianjin, Shanghai, Hainan, and Chongqing) act as regional models, and six provincial capitals (Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Chengdu) implement extended reform measures.

In 2024, these pilot regions attracted 293.2 billion yuan ($40.83 billion) in service sector foreign direct investment(FDI), accounting for roughly half of the national total FDI in that category.

“The pilot programs have consistently lowered market entry thresholds, expanded institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management and standards, and fostered a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. This has created diverse application scenarios and a stable, open policy environment for investment and operations,” said Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative.

Nie Pingxiang, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Commerce, noted that with all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector now removed, the services sector has become the primary focus of China’s high-level opening up.

Against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism globally, China’s push to expand voluntary opening-up in an orderly manner represents its concrete efforts to inject more certainty and stability into the world.

Zhu Bing, director general of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration of China’s Ministry of Commerce, highlighted several defining features of the newly released plan, underscoring its emphasis on innovation, institutional reform, and region-specific implementation.

First of all, the plan emphasizes innovation as a driver for developing new quality productive forces. For instance, based on commercial space launch sites, the plan supports the development of integrated industrial chains – encompassing rockets, satellites, and data services – that bring together R&D, assembly and testing, data applications, and trade in services, while expanding new “aerospace plus” business models.

The plan also supports pilot projects in smart mobility, including initiatives for “vehicle-road-cloud” integration – an approach that connects vehicles, infrastructure, and digital platforms – as well as large-scale infrastructure for networked control systems. These projects aim to spur breakthroughs in next-generation mobility and speed their path to commercialization.

Equally central to the plan is a push for institutional opening-up. Drawing on high-standard international economic and trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, the plan calls for tailoring international rules to domestic industries while advancing proactive rule-making in areas where China can take the lead. The ultimate goal is to align Chinese domestic standards more closely with global benchmarks.

More importantly, the plan is notably pragmatic, adopting a problem-oriented approach that reflects the on-the-ground concerns of businesses and investors. Many of its 155 pilot tasks respond directly to real-world operational challenges. These include streamlining reinvestment procedures for foreign-funded enterprises by eliminating the need for foreign exchange registration, allowing qualified foreign professionals in finance and green sectors to work in designated zones, and expanding the functionality and acceptance of permanent residence identification for foreigners living in China.

Regional differentiation is another hallmark of the plan. Pilot reforms are encouraged to align with each locality’s comparative strengths and development priorities, offering room for experimentation at multiple levels.

Shanghai, for instance, is piloting citywide electronic port visa system, with the goal of eventual nationwide rollout. In Hainan, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone is integrating medical care, research, pharmaceuticals, industry, and urban development, with a particular focus on expedited access to international treatments for cancer and rare diseases. In Chongqing, new programs are helping multinationals improve cross-border financing through the integration of domestic and foreign currency cash pools.

According to Nie, this new round of pilot programs marks a deeper phase in China’s services opening-up and offers a clearer blueprint for continued liberalization.