In February 2024, the State Council approved the establishment of the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone (SIBCZ) in China, and on the 28th, the General Plan for the Construction of the SIBCZ was released to the public, thus kicking off the construction of the zone. What kind of area is this? Why set up this special area? What are the highlights of the program is worth paying attention to?

　　The program shows that the business cooperation zone is located in Pudong New Area, the planning area of about 0.88 square kilometers, with G1503 expressway as the boundary, divided into two blocks, including the east side of the area for the block one, is the first to start the area; the west side of the area for the block two, the two blocks through the closed channel connection.

　　Compared with common special types of zones such as pilot free trade zones, comprehensive bonded zones and bonded logistics parks, the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone that came out this time is considered a new special type of zone.

　　"It is not a simple copy of a current domestic special type of region, but a reference, integration and innovation of the functions of various international and domestic regions." At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the 29th, Sun Yuning, deputy director general of the General Administration of Customs, said that in summary, it is on the basis of the comprehensive bonded zones, customs supervision zones and ports limited to the regional management system, superimposed on the facilitation of entry and exit of people's policies and measures to "liberalize the first line, the second line of control," the system of expanding the system from the goods to the natural person.

　　The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of 2023 made a clear deployment on expanding the high level of opening up to the outside world, proposing that the blockage of foreigners coming to China for business, study and tourism be effectively resolved. As a new platform for opening up to the outside world at a higher level, why did the business cooperation zone land on the layout of Shanghai?

　　Hua Yuan, vice mayor of Shanghai, said that Shanghai is China's reform and opening up the front line and the depth of the international metropolis linked to the world, the implementation of this system has the advantage of location conditions, system innovation to ensure that the market demand support.

　　From the point of view of site selection, the business cooperation zone is close to the Pudong International Airport and Shanghai East Railway Station two major transportation hubs. The annual passenger throughput of the Pudong International Airport exceeds 70 million, and the annual passenger flow of the Shanghai East Railway Station, which will be completed and open to traffic in 2027, is expected to reach 60 million, which can better support the business cooperation zone in gathering global factors and allocating global resources.

　　In terms of conditions, Shanghai is the location of the country's first Pilot Free Trade Zone, and Pudong New Area is pushing forward the construction of the leading area for socialist modernization, and has already achieved a large number of systemic innovations in the open economy. The business cooperation zone has the functions of a comprehensive bonded zone, a customs supervision zone and a port-limited zone, and has the advantageous conditions for the integrated innovation of the facilitation management system.

From the demand point of view, as one of the most favored investment preferred by foreign investors, Shanghai currently has a total of 75,000 foreign-funded enterprises, 58,000 foreign trade subjects, the port trade volume of more than 3% of the world, through the Shanghai ports of entry and exit of foreigners also ranked first in the country, foreign trade and foreign-funded enterprises have a large number of business negotiations, conferences and exhibitions, international training and other cross-border interaction needs.

　　The reporter found that "international business exchanges" has become a major keyword in the overall program: "a new platform for facilitating international business exchanges" is one of the three core orientations of the business cooperation zone, and "facilitating international business exchanges" is one of the three core functions of the business cooperation zone. "New platform for facilitating international business exchanges" is one of the three core positions of the Business Cooperation Zone, and "facilitating international business exchanges" is one of the three core functions of ......

　　With the goal of facilitating international business exchanges, among the management measures to be taken by the program, it is a major point to note that no verification of Chinese visas and other entry permits is required for foreigners entering the zone from Pudong International Airport on international (regional) flights with valid invitations filed by the comprehensive management agency of the business cooperation zone.

　　According to the National Immigration Administration of the border inspection management department responsible for Gong Yao, foreign personnel to take international or regional flights from Pudong International Airport into the business cooperation zone will not need a Chinese visa, the immigration management department with the business cooperation zone integrated management organization for the record of a valid invitation to carry out only the verification of international travel documents.

　　In addition, foreigners entering the zone from the international side can stay in the zone for 30 days to carry out business activities, and can apply for an extension as needed. These foreign personnel can also apply for port visas in the zone to facilitate business visits and other activities in the country, and the immigration authorities will provide corresponding facilities in accordance with the law.

　　Combined with the functional positioning, the business cooperation zone has also made specific arrangements for the tax system, supporting services, such as giving some of the goods from abroad into the zone tax-free policy, the business cooperation zone for the construction of the infrastructure materials needed and the operation of the equipment required for the implementation of the list management of imports of equipment, instruments, etc., according to the procedures for approval after the exemption of import tariffs and import taxes, the list of non-commodities taxed according to the rules; to encourage domestic and foreign colleges and universities, research institutes, encourage domestic and foreign universities, research institutes, multinational companies, industry associations, etc. to carry out international training activities in the zone; support a variety of methods such as overseas bank cards, mobile payments, cash payments, etc.; and provide a variety of commercial, catering, recreational, cultural, sports and other venues, facilities and equipment to meet the needs of businesspeople and accompanying personnel.

　　The overall program also specifies the timetable for the construction of the business cooperation zone: by 2025, the business cooperation zone will complete the closed acceptance of the first start-up area, and the basic functions of the business cooperation zone will be put into operation. By 2028, the whole area of the business cooperation zone will be closed for operation. By 2030, the full completion of the business cooperation zone.

　　Hua Yuan said, Shanghai has set up the Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone construction and operation of the main body, the recent will also set up the relevant comprehensive management organization, the relevant planning and construction is being pushed forward in full swing. "The next step is that we will seize the time in accordance with the time nodes specified in the overall program, and promote the regional planning, construction and operation management with high quality and high quality."