Fujian will strengthen its cooperation with more countries and regions during its construction of a free trade zone (FTZ) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2015, according to Fujian Governor Su Shulin.

Su Shulin, Fujian's Governor, delivers an annual government report at the 3rd session of the 12th Fujian Provincial People’s Congress in Fuzhou, Jan 28. [Photo by Hu Meidong/China Daily]

The province will create a sound business investment and allow overseas investors to enter more areas. The service sector in particular will be opened up. And a cross-Straits economic cooperation zone will be set up with free flows of cargo, service and personnel, said Su in the government’s annual work report delivered at the 3rd session of the 12th Fujian Provincial People’s Congress.

A series of overseas programs, such as the China-ASEAN marine cooperation fund and overseas pelagic fishery bases, will be promoted to enhance infrastructure construction, economic and trade cooperation and cultural communications. Fujian will also strive to attract more overseas Chinese, especially entrepreneurs originally from Fujian to contribute to its development.

Meanwhile, the customs clearance in Fujian will become faster to boost trade, with simplified customs and quarantine procedures. Fujian will promote cross-border e-commerce, upgrade some key export bases and cultivate their new competitiveness. It will import more high-tech equipment, key components and energy resources, and will bolster finished automobile imports at Jiangyin Port.

In addition, Fujian will make innovations in the more efficient use of overseas investments. The measures include facilitating the registration and establishment of overseas-funded enterprises, improving the work mechanism and promoting the brand of China International Fair for Investment and Trade.

Fujian made some impressive achievements in trade and investment last year, said Su.

The trade volume between Fujian and ASEAN grew by 3.3 percent from the previous year, while Fujian’s investment in ASEAN countries increased by 93.7 percent. The State Council approved Fujian to set up a free trade zone and a series of relaxed customs clearance procedures. Fujian landed 11 projects from Fortune 500 enterprises. 350 new projects attracted an investment of at least 10 million US dollars each, and 47 of them each had an investment of 100 million US dollars.

The trade between Fujian and Taiwan in 2014 exceeded 12.4 billion US dollars. Some Taiwanese banks have opened branches in Fujian. Ports in Fujian handled throughput of 2.6 million people from Taiwan. The sixth Straits Forum was successfully held. And the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone rolled out more preferential policies to boost trade with Taiwan.