The Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) in Fujian province has made amazing achievements and innovations in the past several years, said Xu Weize, the newly-appointed head of the PCPZ's administration.

Xu Weize, director of the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, introduces basic information on Pingtan at a press conference of a forum promoting technology innovation on July 7. [Photo/people.com.cn]

Already an experimental zone open to Taiwan for cooperation, Pingtan was included as part of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in April. The two special identities have quickened the pace of Pingtan’s economic development, he said at a press conference on July 7, prior to the opening of a forum on technological innovation.

Xu looked back at historical events in Pingtan over the past five years and noted that the island city has been a trailblazer in many sectors.

Pingtan, following a comprehensive “customs close-off” measure on July 15 in 2014, is now the largest zone in China under special customs supervision and management, with a number of tax policies for both businessmen and residents.

He revealed that more varieties of commodities imported from Taiwan will enjoy tax-exempt status at a local market in Pingtan. Authorities are studying policies that will allow non-local residents to apply for Taiwan entry permits in Pingtan.

One thing that really stood out in Pingtan’s close ties with Taiwan is the progress of cross-Straits traffic, as Haixia, a high-speed ship that runs between Pingtan, Taichung and Taipei has carried about 380,000 people over more than three and a half years. Pingtan is also the first place in Fujian to allow Taiwan vehicles to hit the road, which will boost the FTZ’s development, he said.

The Pingtan FTZ, taking up an area of 43 square kilometers with goals of building a “Common Homeland” and an international tourist destination, has carried out dozens of institutional mechanism reforms since its inauguration on April 21.

Authorities have cut red tape by delegating powers to lower levels, opening up more areas for overseas investors, simplifying business registration procedures and facilitating customs clearance based on Pingtan’s status as a land of investment, said Xu.