CHANGSHA EPITOMIZES 'BRINGING IN AND GOING OUT' WITH MASSIVE GROWTH IN GLOBAL TRADE

OPENING-UP

The development of an open economy is the main aim behind Changsha's creation of an opening-up base. During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), Changsha faced a complex domestic and foreign environment and increased awareness of opening-up with a series of measures such as the "30 Industrial Regulations" and "16 Foreign Investment Regulations". Based on its geographical advantages, Changsha has made breakthroughs in seizing strategic opportunities, with the launch of key projects such as the Changsha area of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Huanghua Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the digital renminbi reform pilot program, and the China-Africa cross-border renminbi center. Changsha has become an open frontier and reached a new high point in the development of the country's open economy.

Changsha in Hunan province is striving to become a global multimodal transport logistics hub, an open center for international trade and a broader platform for companies' "bringing in and going out", local officials said.

On Aug 26, the first Hunan free trade special train of the China-Europe Express departed from the International Railway Port of Kaifu district, Changsha, and exited through Manzhouli Port to arrive in Minsk in 17 days.

The free trade companies that took the first train included Sany Group, Zoomlion, Xiangfeng Tea Group, and many market procurement companies.

Transported goods included communication equipment, construction machinery, household appliances, food and daily necessities. The train was loaded with 100 standard containers, with a cargo weight of 710 metric tons.

"Delivering goods to customers on time is very important for companies," a representative from Zoomlion said. "The opening of the free trade train has not only solved the problem of difficult shipments during the epidemic, but also achieved direct delivery and improved timeliness in transportation. Now our cargo turnover rate has also been greatly improved."

Liang Jingbo, deputy general manager of Central South China International Land Port, said about four trains run between China and Europe every day, and the maximum daily running volume can reach six trains.

"The opening of the Hunan free trade special train will provide goods and services to enterprises in the free trade area. In the future, I also hope that more Hunan free trade enterprise products can take the train to be bought and sold globally," Liang said.

The transport network of the Changsha China-Europe Express trains is continuously expanding with the openings of outbound trains to Russia, Belarus, Budapest, Central Asia, ASEAN and return trains to Germany, Budapest, Central Asia and Russia.

There are more than 10 chemical operation routes, with nine to 12 lines running steadily every week.

The overseas arrival cities have gradually expanded from Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia to Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and ASEAN. The network covers nearly 29 cities in 14 countries.

As of August 22, the total number of Changsha China-Europe Express trains that opened this year is 579. They serve local economic, trade and industrial development, and effectively ensure the smooth flow of foreign trade channels and international supply chains.

"The Changsha-Minsk line will give priority to ensuring the positions of enterprises in the Hunan Free Trade Zone every week. At the end of the month, we will also explore the opening of the test business of the express delivery of trains," said Yang Li, director of the logistics port office of Changsha.

Free trade zone

As a test area for reform and opening-up, the construction of a free trade zone in Changsha has made significant achievements.

The Changsha area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in September last year, and has just celebrated its first anniversary.

Over the past year, the Changsha area of the Hunan Free Trade Zone has achieved fruitful results, with 3,295 newly established enterprises accounting for 73 percent of all newly established enterprises in the zone.

The free trade zone has become a new engine for Changsha's opening to the outside world.

According to the China Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone Overall Plan, the Changsha area has a total area of 79.98 square kilometers, accounting for two-thirds of the total area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone.

It is also the area with the largest volume and the most tasks in the Hunan Free Trade Zone. As an important opening-up platform, the Changsha area of the Hunan Free Trade Zone focuses on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the airport economy, and industries such as high-end equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology, biomedicine, e-commerce and agricultural technology.

On Aug 26, a "one-stop" service center for foreign-invested enterprises in the Changsha area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone was opened.

The center will provide foreign investors with services such as investment consultation, establishment guidelines, coordination services, information reporting guidance and complaint handling to coordinate and solve important concerns about foreign investment in Changsha, and improve the area's sufficiency..

The Changsha area of the Hunan Free Trade Zone also has its own goals: It aims that after three to five years of development, it will become a first-class and internationally competitive environment for business.

China-Africa cooperation

On Sept 26, the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo centering on the China-Africa cooperation will open in Changsha as one of the important landing mechanisms of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The event serves as Changsha's first national, international, and normalized economic and trade platform. The Gaoqiao Market is an important block in the Changsha area of the Hunan Free Trade Zone. It has built a China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and innovation demonstration park.

It is a core area for building a pioneer area for in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, as well as a permanent platform of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.