Manufacturers and foreign-trade companies in Shanghai are encouraged to focus on technology, branding, quality and services to upgrade China's export capability, according to initiatives embodied in the blueprint of the Shanghai free trade zone.

The plan, issued by the State Council on Friday, said that the manufacturing industry should move up the value chain more quickly in face of global competition.

"The concept of the FTZ will also focus on financial trading and modern service sectors, which will encourage manufacturers to offer more value-added products and speed up the transformation and upgrading of companies," said Lin Weici, president of Shanghai NewLAN Co Ltd.