CAITEC research team conducts inspection of enterprises within the Ordos Comprehensive Bonded Zone and Ordos High-tech Zone in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/swj.ordos.gov.cn/]

Zhang Dan, director of the Industrial Internationalization Strategy Institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC) under the Ministry of Commerce, led a research team to explore the establishment of a free-trade zone in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Nov 27.

The visit was accompanied by local officials from relevant departments, including Guo Zhouming, deputy director of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Department of Commerce; Liu Xingbo, director of the Foreign Investment Division of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission; and Lin Yan, head of the Current Project Management Office of the Inner Mongolia Branch of the People's Bank of China.

CAITEC research team conducts inspection of enterprises within the Ordos Comprehensive Bonded Zone and Ordos High-tech Zone. [Photo/swj.ordos.gov.cn/]

The research team visited the Ordos Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Ordos High-tech Zone to know about their development and challenges.

Following the visits, a symposium was organized, chaired by Zhang Qiang, deputy secretary-general of the Ordos Municipal People's Government. Representatives from various departments, including the Ordos City Bureau of Commerce, Ordos Customs, and Ordos City Development and Reform Commission, participated. The research team engaged in extensive discussions on the basis, advantages, problems and demands related to the application for the Ordos Free Trade Zone.

Representatives attend a symposium on the Research of the Overall Plan for the China (Inner Mongolia autonomous region) Free Trade Zone in Ordos. [Photo/swj.ordos.gov.cn/]

The research team provided targeted suggestions based on their findings, expressing their commitment to enhancing communication and cooperation to facilitate the smooth progress of the Inner Mongolia Free Trade Zone application.

Guo praised Ordos for its efforts in the application process and encouraged the city to capitalize on its strengths, align with local characteristics and promote the free trade zone application, contributing to the establishment of a high-level open platform for the entire region.