Measures released to advance national development zones

Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji elaborated on specific measures to deepen reform and innovation in China's national economic and technological development zones at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Commerce has released a work plan to boost high-quality development in these zones through high-standard opening-up.

Ling, who is also China's deputy international trade representative, said that the national development zones are the first echelon for foreign trade and investment, and are the optional choice for investment in China, serving as an important platform for institutional opening up.

"We encourage foreign investment in biomedicine and high-end manufacturing, support the export of digital services, and build industrial clusters for integrated development of domestic and foreign trade as well as international logistics hubs. We also support the coordinated development of economic and technological development zones and free trade pilot zones, strengthen the construction of merchant teams, and prioritize organizing brand activities. We also provide guidance on implementing the deferred tax policy for reinvestment of profits earned by foreign-invested enterprises," said Ling.

"National-level economic and technological development zones highly concentrate industries and application scenarios for advanced technologies. To enhance innovation-driven capabilities, these zones will support the development of industrial sci-tech innovation platforms, strengthen commercial transformation, promote industry-academia-research cooperation, and foster the integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial development. Support for the quality upgrade and 'digital-physical integration' of the manufacturing sector in these zones includes measures related to the integration of digital and real economies, such as supporting major technological transformations and large-scale equipment renewal, developing service-oriented manufacturing, incubating future industries, and building high-standard digital parks, smart factories, and computing infrastructures," he said.

"We'd explore new types of industrial land, integrate functions of research and development, creativity, design, and pollution-free production, along with related supporting services. In terms of talent, while ensuring services to high-level talent, the development zones will carry out dual-education in collaboration with schools and enterprises, actively cultivating industry-specific skilled labor. We will also encourage the development of green electricity, build carbon peak pilot zones, and promote pollution reduction and carbon emission cuts," he said.

Measures released to advance national development zones

Measures released to advance national development zones

Measures released to advance national development zones

Measures released to advance national development zones

Measures released to advance national development zones

Russia and Ukraine on Sunday accused each other of violating an Orthodox Easter ceasefire, as both sides reported continued hostilities despite a declared 32-hour truce.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that its forces had launched strikes against temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries across 38 locations before the temporary ceasefire took effect.

It also accused Ukrainian forces of violating the ceasefire 1,971 times from 16:00 Saturday Moscow time until 8:00 Sunday.

Ukrainian forces launched three nighttime attacks on Russian troop positions in two settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region, it said, adding that Russian forces also thwarted four attempts to advance on their troop positions in the Sumy and Donetsk regions.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian strikes also targeted border regions, injuring civilians.

On the same day, Ukraine also accused Russia of violating the truce.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that 120 battles took place in the frontline over the past day, with Ukrainian air force, missile troops and artillery units having attacked multiple Russian personnel and equipment assembly areas, command posts, and other targets.

"As of 7:00 a.m. on 12 April, 2,299 ceasefire violations were recorded," said the General Staff on Facebook.

It added that Russia launched dozens of airstrikes and shelled populated areas, positions of Ukrainian troops, and border regions.

Russian troops' shelling in the border region of Sumy has resulted in casualties, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced an Orthodox Easter ceasefire with Ukraine from 16:00 local time Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Ukraine intends to honor the ceasefire and will respond "strictly in kind". He added that the possibility of extending the ceasefire beyond Easter has been communicated to the Russian side.

In an interview with state television released on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will continue its special military operation after the ceasefire expires unless Zelensky "musters the courage" to make peace.

Orthodox Easter is one of the most important religious holidays for Eastern Orthodox Christians. A similar Easter truce declared last year also saw both sides accusing each other of violations, and the ceasefire was not extended following its expiration.

Russia, Ukraine exchange accusations over Easter ceasefire violations