The State Council approved a plan on June 8 to deepen pilot projects for the innovative development of the service trade, as proposed by the Ministry of Commerce.

The projects will be carried out in 13 cities and provincial regions such as Beijing, Hainan province, and Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province, as well as four state-level districts such as Xiongan New Area.

The pilot projects will last two years from July 1 this year to June 30, 2020.

According to the plan, the projects are aimed at improving management systems, boosting two-way opening of the service trade, fostering major market participants and exploring development models. The initiative is also expected to draw up more convenient measures for trade, optimize supporting policies, establish a statistical method, and innovate market supervision.

The State Council urged local governments of the pilot projects to take responsibility by implementing plans, coordinating and providing guarantee measures. Governments of related provinces and municipalities should strengthen guidance and policy support for the projects.

The joint ministerial conference system on service trade development of the State Council, with the Ministry of Commerce taking the lead, is asked to promote the efforts, with an emphasis on evaluating practice results and popularizing successful experiences.