Shanghai pilot to steer growth of free trade zones

Test results to determine fate of other projects, says NDRC official

Ongoing experiments at the pilot free trade zone in Shanghai will determine whether China will extend the FTZ experiment to other regions, a top official of the country's top economic planner said on Tuesday.

"Many Chinese cities have proposed free trade zones, but whether or not they will get the nod depends on the findings from the Shanghai project. The FTZ in Shanghai is an experiment ... we need to see and assess its test results," said Fan Hengshan, vice-general secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission.