Nanfang Daily: 

According to the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Implementation of New Urbanization, key strategies like the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be enhanced, and the construction of world-class city clusters will be accelerated. As we know, a first-class business environment is essential for building first-class city clusters. Can you summarize the achievements in improving the business environment in various regions last year? What are the best practices for establishing a first-class business environment across different regions? Thank you.

Liu Sushe:

I'll answer your questions. The business environment is the foundation for the survival and development of enterprises and a crucial reflection of regional competitiveness. In recent years, the NDRC has earnestly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, continuously deepening reforms in key areas of the business environment. To further promote the establishment of a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment in key regions, the NDRC has proactively guided these regions to strengthen reforms and innovations in the business environment.

First, the NDRC has enhanced top-level design and made targeted arrangements regarding the characteristics of each region. The NDRC has continuously introduced three-year action plans for business environment improvement in major regions. In 2022, the NDRC released an action plan for the Yangtze River Delta area. Focusing on integrated development, the plan has strengthened systems integration and coordination among various reform measures and further rolled out integration measures in more sectors and fields. So far, a total of 17 reform tasks in five aspects have seen proactive progress. The NDRC also introduced an action plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in 2023. Making the comprehensive alignment with high-standard international market rules as its priority, the plan aims to help the GBA create a unified, efficient, competitive, and orderly market environment, and make the area's government services more standard, convenient, open, and transparent. It also helps to advance the rule of law to facilitate fair, equitable, and sound development, and foster an open market featuring smooth economic circulation and win-win cooperation. The NDRC is currently working on the action plan for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. We will emphasize coordinated development and support the region to further deepen reform, promote innovation, and build synergy among key sectors in a bid to create a top-notch business environment for the region's efficient, coordinated development.

Second, the NDRC has strengthened innovation efforts at the primary level and encouraged local regions to develop more original measures in this regard. The aim of spearheading three-year action plans in these key regions is to make proactive attempts and develop effective innovation measures that meet the expectations of both enterprises and the public and further contribute to the improvement of the business environment nationwide. For example, the Yangtze River Delta region has deepened the reform measure that allows one company to set up branches after registering just once. The region is attempting to apply this reform measure to frequently-used operating business permits. It has also implemented innovative measures that streamline government inspection procedures via digital code and one-time joint inter-departmental administrative inspection. Another example in this regard is that the GBA is currently improving its new-type credit-based oversight mechanism. The GBA is also working to establish an independent review department on fair competition and exploring related concentrated and professional review mechanisms so as to make pilot efforts for rule alignment among the three localities involved.

Third, the NDRC has advanced institutional development and worked to establish long-term mechanisms applicable to other areas. Strengthening the institutional development of the business environment in key areas is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring the applicability of reform measures. The Yangtze River Delta region, namely Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, has established a set of unified institutional arrangements in terms of government procurement, integrated customs working mechanism, and the criteria for law enforcement and judgment involving market supervision. Aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, the GBA also steps up stress tests and redoubled efforts to make more breakthroughs in institutional innovation. The three-year action plan for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will also make arrangements focusing on enhancing coordination mechanisms.

As stressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the improvement of the business environment is an ongoing process, and there is always room for things to become better. In accordance with the arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the NDRC will keep working with related government bodies to continuously improve the business environment in key regions. We will work to provide more convenience and better services for the investment and business activities of all types of business entities and facilitate the implementation of major regional strategies. Thank you.