Changsha identified as pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce

Changsha, capital of Hunan province, was listed as a pilot zone for comprehensive cross-border e-commerce at a State Council executive meeting on July 13.

The move is an effort by the country to promote opening-up and upgrading of foreign trade.

An official at the bureau of commerce of Changsha pointed out that the city has various advantages in geographical position and transportation. Being identified as a pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce will help push forward reform in foreign trade by streamlining approval and administrative procedures in custom clearance and further boost innovative development of new growth engines. 

In recent years, Changsha has been vigorously promoting e-commerce industry and has made notable progress, welcoming the arrival of around 100 significant enterprises.

An aerial view of Changsha. The city is recognized worldwide for its cultural creativity, innovation and media arts. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The cross-border e-commerce boom enables Changsha residents to have easy access to miscellaneous global products and, on the other hand, facilitates industrial upgrading. 

With its target of developing into a cluster center in Central and Western China, the central Chinese city expects by 2021 to have an annual cross-border e-commerce import and export value of $10 billion, according to a program newly released by the local government.

Twenty-two venues for e-commerce development are Beijing, Hohhot, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Nanjing, Nanchang, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanning, Haikou, Guiyang, Kunming, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xiamen, Tangshan, Wuxi, Weihai, Zhuhai, Dongguan and Yiwu.

A maglev train runs across Changsha, Central China's Hunan province. [Photo/changsha.gov.cn]