The entrance of the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo provided to ftz.xm.gov.cn]

Since its establishment in 2015, the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Free Trade Zone in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, has been a driving force for reform and innovation. Evolving from an "experimental field" to a "demonstration window" on its 43.78 square kilometers of land.

In 2024, the Xiamen FTZ contributed 12.4 percent of the city's GDP, 35.5 percent of its foreign trade, and 30.6 percent of its actual foreign investment, significantly propelling the high-quality development of the region.

Over the past decade, a series of reform and opening-up measures, along with institutional innovations, have been launched from Xiamen FTZ. Of the 167 pilot reforms of free trade zones recommended for replication nationwide by the State Council, China's cabinet, 31 initiatives originated from the Xiamen FTZ.

"Institutional innovation is the core competitiveness of a free trade zone," said Weng Xiaolan, deputy director of the Xiamen FTZ Administration Committee. Since its inception, Xiamen FTZ has steadfastly adhered to institutional innovation as its guiding principle, being bold enough to experiment and explore, and carry out reforms to align with international rules, Weng revealed.

In terms of trade facilitation, Xiamen FTZ has led the nation in promoting integrated reforms to reduce costs and enhance efficiency at ports.

For investment liberalization, it has progressively eased market access restrictions, streamlined approval procedures, and attracted a plethora of domestic and foreign enterprises.

In the area of financial openness and innovation, Xiamen FTZ actively explores new models such as cross-border finance and offshore trade, providing diversified financial services to enterprises.

The Taiwan Busiensses Service Center at the Xiamen FTZ. [Photo provided to ftz.xm.gov.cn]