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 is ready to negotiate and settle peacefully all the problems arising in recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday at an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board.

At the meeting, Putin also slammed the West for initiating the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"We, as before, are ready to negotiate and are ready to resolve all the problems that have arisen in recent years peacefully," Putin said.

The Russian leader did not specify the exact nature of these problems but blamed the West for the escalation of the 2022 conflict.

"It wasn't us who started the war in 2022. It was the destructive forces in Ukraine, supported by the West. In essence, the West itself unleashed this war. We are only trying to end it," he asserted.

Noting that the previous U.S. administration had deliberately steered the situation toward armed confrontation, Putin said that Russia is currently engaged in dialogue with the current U.S. administration, and expressed his hope for similar talks with Europe.

On the future development of the Russian military, the president emphasized the necessity of maintaining technological superiority.

He outlined it as a key task that the Russian army must continue to remain at the forefront of technological progress, which necessitates the rapid introduction of robotics, information technology, and new materials into the military, as well as the expanded use of artificial intelligence technologies in control systems and autonomous combat systems.

Putin says Russia ready to negotiate peaceful settlement of all problems arising in recent years