On July 19, Xiangyang High-tech Zone was identified as one of the five trial areas in Hubei Province to learn from the reform experience of Shanghai Free Trade Zone. In September, Xiangyang High-tech Zone set up Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau, Market Supervision Bureau, Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau, taking the lead in Xiangyang City to learn from Shanghai experience.

“With Xiangyang High-tech Zone selected as test field, Xiangyang will launch the battle to streamline administration and delegate power to the lower levels, transform government function, further consolidate government-market relations, so as to strengthen the decisive role of market in resource allocation, foster the most open commercial environment in overland areas, and catalyzes the reform and open-up in Han River region”, introduced by Wang Junzheng, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, and Secretary of Xiangyang Municipal Party Committee.

“It only takes us less than one month to negotiate and sign contract for the right project, two days to prepare material and get business license. Can you believe we only spend one hour to have all necessary formalities for business license transacted? How amazingly efficient it is! Xiangyang surprises us so much”, acclaimed Fan Youze, Chairman and General Manager of Gold Brick International Trading (Xiangyang) Co., Ltd. with three “amazing” to describe the administrative service provided by Xiangyang High-tech Zone.

Though only operating five days after its establishment, Xiangyang High-tech Zone Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau (Government Affairs Service Center) has accepted 104 applications, among which, 91 have been assessed and concluded, with application conclusion rate as high as 100%.

Take the approval process for industrial construction project as example, revealed Zhou Honglin, Head of Xiangyang High-tech Zone Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau, three to six months are needed for enterprises outside Xiangyang to go through the whole process from submitting various material to starting construction engineering, while only one to two months are needed for those in Xiangyang High-tech Zone.

The accelerated administrative efficiency in Xiangyang High-tech Zone is attributed to the reformed administrative regime. Thanks to the introduction of special seal for administrative examination and approval, the blueprint that “only one seal is needed to stamp for administrative examination and approval” and “only one window is needed to go for transaction of all administrative formalities” has come to reality. In addition to Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau, Xiangyang High-tech Zone also has put Market Supervision Bureau and Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau in place, realizing “one authority in charge of market, and one team for law enforcement”. Meanwhile, Xiangyang High-tech Zone has doubled its efforts to consolidate its social credit system, scientific research innovation platform, financial service platform, and establish one-stop customs clearance mode in which only one declaration and one inspection are required for customs release.

“The fundamental lesson Xiangyang High-tech Zone should learn from Shanghai Free Trade Zone is how to redefine the role of government. We should change before-the-matter examination and approval into in-the-matter management and after-the-matter supervision, from direct intervention in market into guaranteeing fairer and better-organized market environment, from extensive management to refined governance and public services. Through reform and innovation, streamlining administration and delegating power, to make the vitality of main market can be fully played and forcefully drive the economic development of Xiangyang City.