China is likely to set up more free trade zones next year, following the first FTZ in Shanghai in 2013. The Ministry of Commerce also says it would encourage foreign investment in less developed regions.

“Investors have been able to feel drastic changes in the business environment in the free trade zones. And we would like to apply the experience from the free trade zones nationwide in 2017,” said Tang Wenhong, director, Department of Foreign Investment Administration, Ministry of Commerce.

“Meanwhile, we look forward to fast implementation of, and the good results from the third batch of free trade zones, so that foreign investors could develop in the Central and West China, and to the northeast regions.”