On October 15-16, the national meeting for high-quality FTZ development was held on-site in Suzhou, Jiangsu. Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen attended and addressed the meeting.

The meeting stresses that it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the important instructions on FTZ development by General Secretary Xi Jinping, further improve political stance, regard the development of FTZ as important practices for strengthening commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence, and the Two Upholds, unify thinking and action with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, make all efforts for the high-quality development of FTZs and be a model in fostering a new development pattern with the domestic circulation as the mainstay and with domestic and international development reinforcing each other.

Wang Shouwen pointed out that, for more than seven years, the FTZs have made pioneering efforts and innovated boldly, with remarkable results in deepening reform, opening wider to the outside world and serving the national strategy. They have accumulated useful experience for building a new open economic system. Since the beginning of this year, facing the impact of COVID-19 and the difficult and complicated economic conditions at home and abroad, the FTZs have made overall plans to promote epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, and taken multiple measures to solve the difficulties for enterprises in employment, epidemic prevention and financing, which played an important role in keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable.

Wang Shouwen stressed that, facing the new situation and new tasks, FTZs should bear in mind the original intention of their development, strengthen responsibility, forge ahead, be brave in making breakthroughs, strengthen research and exploration to take the lead in forming a new development pattern, have greater autonomy in reform, and strengthen the stress testing for opening up. They should pay close attention to the implementation of pilot reform tasks, continue to promote institutional innovation, replication and promotion, conscientiously hold the bottom line for risks, provide good support by offering statistics, publicity and training, so as to make greater contributions to keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable, and build FTZs into new highlands of reforms and opening up.

The representatives of commerce departments of relevant provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, administrative agencies of FTZs, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Transport, People's Bank of China, State Administration for Market Regulation, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and other departments participated in the meeting.