上海自贸区的发展The Shanghai free-trade zone has been touted as China's most important attempt at economic reform since the establishment of the country’s first special economic zone in 1980 in Shenzhen.A free-trade zone in Shanghai that China's government has billed as a major step for financial reforms and economic experimentation has formally started.State media reported that a first batch of 25 Chinese and foreign companies were granted licences to register in the zone.The China (Shanghai) pilot free-trade zone is a nearly 11-sq mile district that covers four existing special trade zones in Pudong district, including one at the airport.China's state council formally announced rules for the zone on Friday. They outline goals to upgrade financial services, promote trade and improve governance as well as measures to encourage foreign investment in 18 sectors in the country's tightly regulated service industry. There are also plans to experiment with the convertibility of China's tightly controlled currency, the yuan, and let market forces rather than regulators set interest rates.The zone is expected to serve as a testing ground for such financial experiments before they are rolled out elsewhere in China. No timeline was given for any changes, but rules in the zone will be introduced over a three-year period.At a ceremony marking its opening on Sunday, Gao Hucheng, the commerce minister, said the government hoped it would act as "an experimental field to conduct economic reform" and promote economic development nationwide.The Shanghai zone has been touted as the most important attempt at economic reform since the establishment of the country's first special economic zone in 1980 in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong. That zone allowed in foreign investment aimed at harnessing cheap labour to build a manufacturing industry that became a driving force in helping China eventually become the world's second-biggest economy.The government has pledged to open up 18 service industry sectors to foreign investment, including shipping, law and engineering. Foreign-owned performing arts agencies and medical institutions will be allowed.The sale of video game consoles, which is banned in China, will also be allowed, pending approval from authorities of individual games and systems.Another initiative will permit foreigners to set up joint-venture talent management agencies with local partners.The rules say the opening-up measures will be applicable to companies that are registered in the zone.Foreign companies will also be allowed to provide some internet services, though the official Xinhua news agency reported before the launch that internet restrictions would not be lifted, following a report by a Hong Kong newspaper that banned websites such as Facebook would be unblocked inside the zone.上海自贸区的未来（浦东）Shanghai plans free trade zoneA container terminal at Waigaoqiao Port in Shanghai. The city plans to integrate several free trade areas into a huge free trade zone, with the project being one of the municipal government's major tasks in 2013.Pudong to play crucial role in 10-year blueprintDespite rapid development in the past few years, many die-hard traditionalists inShanghai still bel ieve in the old adage that a bed in Puxi is preferred to a house inPudong.But this "wilderness" has now become the focus of the city's future.And this isn't just related to Disneyland, which, when it is completed in 2015, will be partof Pudo ng New Area's attractiveness.The major driving force is a 10-year plan for Pudong, or the eastern part of Shanghai,that is grand er and bolder than anything that has ever been conceived even by overlyambitious Shanghai offic ials.The plan encompasses an area of 28 square kilometers, including Waigaoqiao FreeTrade Zone, Ya ngshan Free Trade Port Area and Pudong Airport Comprehensive FreeTrade Zone.The area is almost the same size as Macao, and its trade volume topped $100 billionlast year, the highest on the mainland.In this area, a new economic order will be established with its own set of rules forcommerce and finance. Indeed, the Shanghai free trade zone, as it is temporarilycalled, is set to have even more of an impact than other such entities in Shenzhen orTianjin.The project, mapped out at the beginning of this year and approved this week, is thefirst of its kin d in China. Ready for submission to the State Council later this month forthe official seal of appro val, the project is expected to start operation in phases in thesecond half of this year at the earlie st."It is a new national strategy that everything should be secured before the plan reallygets started, " said Wan Zengwei, director of the Pudong Academy of Reform andDevelopment in Shanghai.The free trade zone plan is one of Shanghai municipal government's major tasks for2013, accordi ng to a government work report delivered by Yang Xiong, acting mayor ofShanghai, at the first ses sion of the 14th municipal people's congress.Benefiting from the news about the free trade zone, prices of related stocks rallied whilethe Shan ghai Composite Index dropped 1.11 percent on Tuesday.Shanghai Pudong Road & Bridge Construction Co Ltd was up 4.59 percent, whilePudong-based re al estate developer Golden Bridge rose 4.22 percent.。
