China yesterday launched a major free-trade zone (FTZ) seen as a testing ground for long-awaited market reforms in the world’s second-largest economy. Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng (高虎城) attended the opening ceremony for the zone, which covers 29km2 in the country’s commercial hub, Shanghai. Reforms in the zone will be closely watched as a test of the country’s ability to make structural changes as it tries to realign its economic model in the face of slowing growth. “The establishment of the Shanghai free-trade zone is a significant move for China to conform to new trends in the global economy and trade, and implement a more active opening-up strategy,” Gao said in a statement. Beijing will allow free yuan convertibility under the capital account on a trial basis, according to a statement released by the State Council on Friday. Market-set interest rates, seen by analysts as a key reform for the Chinese economy, will also be trialed, according to the statement. Restrictions on foreign investment will be eased inside the area, which will also loosen controls on 18 service sectors, ranging from finance and shipping, to cultural services. Several financial firms, including US-based Citibank and China’s “big four” state-owned banks, will open branches in the zone, according to the Oriental Morning Post. International firms including Microsoft Corp and Porsche Automobil Holding SE are involved in investment projects there, the newspaper said. Excitement at the launch has boosted stocks of Shanghai-based firms and spurred a rally in home prices and land costs in areas bordering the zone over the past few weeks, Chinese state media have reported. However, some analysts interviewed by foreign reporters adopted a cautious approach. “It shows that the new government is keen on making reforms,” said Stefan Sack, vice president of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. “We have to see what kind of regulations will really be implemented there.” However, he added that “a free-trade zone in Shanghai alone will not change how business is done in China.” Unlike with previous special economic zones launched by the government, the emphasis in the Shanghai free-trade zone on the service sector, rather than export-oriented manufacturing, has been welcomed baty economists. Beijing has been struggling to shift the domestic economy away from dependence on big-ticket investments and exports, and more toward consumer demand as the key growth engine. US Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai President Kenneth Jarrett said the zone’s plan showed a clear emphasis on the service sector. “It suggests that the government does plan to have the service sector as a major component of what the FTZ will do,” he said. “Our members are eager to find out more, but there is a sense that the zone could offer real opportunities for our member companies.” The project has been pushed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克強), who took office in March. He hopes it will be a model for future reforms nationwide, analysts and government officials have said. Li has called for an expanded role for the private sector and a plenum of the Chinese Communist Party scheduled for November is expected to announce nationwide economic reforms. Yet some analysts say major changes are likely to be cautious and subject to lobbying from interest groups which benefit from the current economic model.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:47:03 +0000
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