Free trade port to commence by 2020

Shenzhen has released a plan to establish a free trade port by the end of 2020, aiming to become a global shipping center in cooperation with neighboring Hong Kong.

The Shekou and Qianhai area in the Guangdong Free Trade Zone, which was established in 2015, is a pilot area of Shenzhen's next round of reform and opening-up. This month, the Institute of Free Trade Zones at Sun Yat-sen University ranked the zone in first place for system innovation, even beating the Shanghai FTZ.

The new free trade port plan is an expansion of the Guangdong FTZ's role, and more convenient clearance, logistics and trade supervising policies are set to be released alongside the port construction. The move is considered a reflection of the city's determination to uphold its pioneer role of reform and opening-up in the past 40 years.