China launches pilot program to expand opening-up in value-added telecom services

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Wednesday launched a pilot program to expand opening-up in value-added telecom services in four designated areas in Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Shenzhen.

The pilot program will allow foreign investors to operate wholly-owned businesses such as internet data centers and engage in online data processing and transaction processing in the designated areas. They can also gain greater access to China's cloud computing service and computing power service markets.

The pilot areas are Beijing's national comprehensive demonstration zone for expanding opening-up in the service sector; Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the pioneer area for socialist modernization in Shanghai; Hainan Free Trade Port; and Shenzhen pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

With the pilot program, China aims to actively align itself with high-standard international economic and trade rules, further diversify market supply, boost innovation vitality, and share the benefits of its digital economy with the rest of the world.