Seven new FTZs will accelerate opening-up

China will launch seven more free trade zones starting on Saturday, including several in inland areas for the first time, a move that is expected to accelerate the country's opening-up and boost the Belt and Road Initiative, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday.

The inland FTZs will be opened in Henan, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Hubei provinces, as well as in Chongqing. The two new coastal FTZs will be in Liaoning and Zhejiang provinces.

The seven bring the country's total number of FTZs to 11.