Fujian's two sessions focus on FTZ development
(chinadaily.com.cn), Updated: 2015-02-04
The Fujian Free Trade Zone (FTZ), which was approved in December 2014, has become a focal topic among deputies to the Fujian People’s Congress and CPPCC members during the third session of the 11th Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the third session of the 12th Fujian People's Congress.
Su Shulin, governor of Fujian province, unveiled the priorities of building up the new FTZ in the government work report of 2015. “As Fujian is set to create an international and legalized business environment, a comprehensive and innovative management system is required for the upcoming Fujian FTZ,” Su said.
“We are going to adopt a series of open-minded policies in the FTZ and forge economic ties with Taiwan,” Su added.
“Companies and businesspeople in Taiwan are paying close attention to the Fujian FTZ. I believe that if we offer more favorable policies, investment booms will be provoked in the near future,” said Wong Ruotong, deputy to the Fujian People's Congress and chairmen of Fujian Investment and Development Group.
Chen Zhanhong, deputy to the Fujian People's Congress, deems it necessary to lay down more laws and policies in advance of making attempts to build the Fujian FTZ.
“Regulations and rules are expected in this phase, and they must be based on the facts and features of Fujian,” Chen said.
Ma Lanxin, chief judge of the Fujian Higher People’s Court, pledged that all-around judicial services will be provided to the Fujian FTZ in 2015. Cases concerning Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign affairs will be well handled, while punishments will be meted out to criminals.
Tu Chongyu, CPPCC member of Fujian and chief co-partner of Universal Legal Corp, said that Fujian lays great stress on providing judicial services concerning Taiwan affairs. According to the figures, Fujian accounts for 40 percent of reciprocal judicial assistance cases around China.
Moreover, after the legal foundation is laid, incentives are in need to unleash economic vitality in the Fujian FTZ. Zheng Jiajian, CPPCC member of Fujian and vice-director of the China Association for Promoting Democracy Fujian Committee, suggests that several new trade forms should be used in the Fujian FTZ, including building an international trade settlement center and an international commodities trading hub. Meanwhile, further innovative measures should be taken to facilitate renminbi settlement and tax collection.
A panel of experts from Xiamen Jimei University, on the other hand, called on more flexible policies to attract overseas talent. The authority should lower the threshold for permanent resident permits issuance while a sophisticated information bank should be created to provide more professionals to the Fujian FTZ.
By China Daily Fujian Bureau