Xi'an area of Shaanxi FTZ achieves reform, innovation

The Information Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Government held the second news conference on April 16 to honor the reform and innovation achievements of the China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) on the third anniversary of its construction.

At the news conference, Li Qungang, member of the Party group of the Xi'an commerce bureau and full-time deputy director of the Xi'an management committee of the Shaanxi FTZ, gave a briefing on the reforms and innovation in the Xi'an area of the Shaanxi FTZ.

Over the past three years, officials said the Xi'an area has presided over 247 innovations in terms of government functional transformation, investment field reforms, trade transformation and upgrading and financial service opening.

Of the total innovations, nine were praised by the State Council and government ministries. Some 20 were replicated and promoted elsewhere in the province and five were selected as a "Best Practice Case" in the Shaanxi FTZ.

The Xi'an area also accelerated the construction of an international, market-oriented and rule-of-law business environment, achieving fair competition among various market players.

It implemented a "package-style" service for new taxpayers and reduced the tax processing time by more than 50 percent.