Promoting Deepening Economic System Reform through High-Standard Opening Up

Deepening economic system reform is the focus of further comprehensively deepening reform. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a high-standard socialist market economy system, thereby stimulating the endogenous driving force and innovation vitality of the whole society. The 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed "building a high-standard socialist market economy system." The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC further emphasized the need to "take economic system reform as the driving force" for further comprehensively deepening reform, and placed "focusing on building a high-standard socialist market economy system" at the top of the seven overarching goals for further comprehensively deepening reform. This series of important expositions highlights the great significance of deepening economic system reform and building a high-standard socialist market economy system. Currently, existing literature has conducted useful explorations of deepening economic system reform and building a high-standard socialist market economy system from different perspectives, such as connotation characteristics, practical difficulties, market-oriented reform of factors of production, and Chinese characteristics. However, few studies have been conducted from the perspective of high-standard opening up. In fact, adhering to promoting reform through opening up is a historical experience of the continuous advancement of China's economic system reform. Deepening economic system reform inevitably requires expanding high-standard opening up. In October 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his important instructions on the work of national-level economic and technological development zones, emphasized that in the New Era and new journey, it is necessary to "closely focus on advancing Chinese-path modernization, continuously stimulate innovation vitality and endogenous driving force, actively participate in building the new development paradigm, and promote deeper reform and high-quality development through high-standard opening up." This is not only an important instruction for national-level economic and technological development zones but also a new requirement put forward for all regions across the country. This article will explore the historical experience, practical needs, and future pathways of promoting deepening economic system reform through high-standard opening up, with a view to providing theoretical reference for building a high-standard socialist market economy system.

深化经济体制改革是进一步全面深化改革的重点，要加快构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，激发全社会内生动力和创新活力。党的二十大提出“构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制”。党的二十届三中全会进一步强调，要“以经济体制改革为牵引”进一步全面深化改革，并将“聚焦构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制”排在进一步全面深化改革“七个聚焦”总目标的首位。这一系列重要论述凸显了深化经济体制改革和构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制的重大意义。当前，既有文献从内涵特征、实践难题、要素市场化改革、中国特色等不同视角，对深化经济体制改革和构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制进行了有益探讨，但鲜有文献从高水平对外开放视角展开研究。实际上，坚持以开放促改革，是我国经济体制改革不断推进的历史经验。深化经济体制改革，必然要求扩大高水平对外开放。2024年10月，习近平总书记对国家级经济技术开发区工作作出重要指示强调，新时代新征程，要“紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化，不断激发创新活力和内生动力，积极参与构建新发展格局，以高水平对外开放促进深层次改革、高质量发展”。这既是对国家级经济技术开发区作出的重要指示，也是对全国各地提出的新要求。本文将探讨以高水平对外开放促进深层次经济体制改革的历史经验、现实需要和未来路径，以期为构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制提供理论参考。

Promoting reform through opening up is the historical experience of the continuous advancement of China's economic system reform

以开放促改革是我国经济体制改革不断推进的历史经验

Opening up is an important driving force for China's sustained and rapid economic development. Adhering to promoting reform through opening up is the historical experience of the continuous advancement of China's economic system reform. Over more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China's opening up has generally experienced three major waves: the first wave of opening up initiated by the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC in 1978, the second wave of opening up initiated by joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, and the third wave of opening up initiated by the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012. Correspondingly, China's economic system reform has also generally gone through three major stages: the initial formation, continuous improvement, and accelerated formation of the socialist market economy system. Practice shows that each wave of opening up effectively promoted domestic economic system reform, thereby strongly boosting China's modernization.

对外开放是我国经济持续快速发展的重要动力，坚持以开放促改革是我国经济体制改革不断推进的历史经验。改革开放40多年来，我国对外开放总体经历了三次大的浪潮，即1978年党的十一届三中全会开启的第一次对外开放浪潮、2001年加入世界贸易组织（WTO）开启的第二次对外开放浪潮和2012年党的十八大开启的第三次对外开放浪潮。与之相对应，我国经济体制改革也大体经历了社会主义市场经济体制的初步形成、不断完善、加快形成等三个大的阶段。实践表明，每次对外开放浪潮都有效促进了国内经济体制改革，进而有力助推了我国现代化建设。

The first wave of opening up promoted the initial formation of the socialist market economy system. In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was successfully convened. This initiated the first wave of China's opening up. At this stage, China's opening up was mainly concentrated on geographical expansion. This round of opening up effectively promoted the initial formation of China's socialist market economy system: the establishment and operation of special economic zones and open cities effectively played a demonstrative and leading role in promoting market-oriented reform; at the same time, the expansion of opening up nationwide also promoted the gradual spread of economic system reform across the country.

第一次对外开放浪潮促进了社会主义市场经济体制的初步形成。1978年12月，党的十一届三中全会胜利召开。由此，开启了我国对外开放的第一次浪潮。此阶段，我国对外开放主要集中在地域上的扩大。此轮对外开放有效促进了我国社会主义市场经济体制的初步形成：经济特区和开放城市的设立和运行，有效发挥了促进市场化改革的示范和引领作用；与此同时，对外开放在全国范围的展开，也促进了经济体制改革在全国逐步铺开。

The establishment and operation of special economic zones and open cities effectively played a demonstrative and leading role in promoting reform through opening up. In May 1980, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council agreed to pilot special economic zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, and Xiamen, allowing them to implement special policies and flexible measures for foreign economic activities, making them "experimental fields" for opening up. In May 1984, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council decided to further open 14 coastal port cities, including Tianjin, Shanghai, and Dalian, implementing specific policies and measures to expand local authority and grant certain preferential treatment to foreign investors. In April 1988, the First Session of the Seventh National People's Congress reviewed and approved the resolution on establishing the Hainan Special Economic Zone, deciding to build it into the largest special economic zone in the country. In July 1992, the State Council decided to further open five cities along the Yangtze River, including Chongqing, Yueyang, and Wuhan; four provincial capitals in border and coastal areas, including Harbin and Changchun; and 11 provincial capitals in inland areas, including Taiyuan, Hefei, and Nanchang. In 2000, with the implementation of the Western Development Strategy, opening up was further expanded to the vast western regions. At this point, a comprehensive regional opening-up pattern was basically formed. The establishment and operation of special economic zones and open cities along the coast and rivers greatly broke through the numerous constraints of the traditional economic system, providing successful experience for the whole country to promote reform through opening up through pilot projects.

经济特区和开放城市的设立和运行，有效发挥了以开放促改革的示范和引领作用。1980年5月，中共中央、国务院同意在深圳、珠海、汕头和厦门试办经济特区，允许其对外经济活动实行特殊政策和灵活措施，使其成为对外开放的“试验田”。1984年5月，中共中央、国务院决定进一步开放天津、上海、大连等14个沿海港口城市，在扩大地方权限和给予外商投资者若干优惠方面实行特定政策和举措。1988年4月，第七届全国人民代表大会第一次会议审议通过关于建立海南经济特区的决议，决定将其打造成全国最大的经济特区。1992年7月，国务院决定进一步对外开放重庆、岳阳、武汉等5个长江沿岸城市，哈尔滨、长春等4个边境和沿海地区省会城市，以及太原、合肥、南昌等11个内陆地区省会城市。2000年，伴随着西部大开发战略的实施，对外开放再次扩大至广大西部地区。至此，全方位区域开放格局基本形成。经济特区和沿海沿江等开放城市的设立和运行，极大冲破了传统经济体制的重重束缚，为全国以开放促改革提供了先行先试的成功经验。

At the same time, the promotion and expansion of opening up nationwide also promoted the gradual spread of economic system reform across the country. First, the formulation and implementation of foreign investment laws and regulations based on the "three foreign investment laws" promoted institutional reform in related fields. In July 1979, the Second Session of the Fifth National People's Congress passed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures." In April 1986 and April 1988, the Sixth National People's Congress and the Seventh National People's Congress respectively passed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises" and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures." The foreign investment laws and regulations based on the "three foreign investment laws" introduced the most necessary concepts and institutional frameworks of the market economy. They not only provided effective legal guarantees for China's active utilization of foreign capital but also promoted related institutional reforms and policy adjustments, serving as an important precursor and enlightenment for the market-oriented reform of China's legal system. Second, the implementation of policies such as autonomously reducing tariffs and reducing non-tariff barriers promoted market-oriented reforms in related fields. In order to join the World Trade Organization, China actively promoted opening-up measures in areas such as market access, which also promoted related market-oriented reforms. For example, in terms of autonomously reducing tariffs, from 1993 to 2001, three steps of autonomous tariff reduction were implemented, with the overall tariff level dropping from 43.2% at the end of 1992 to 15.3% at the beginning of 2001, a reduction of 64.6% over eight years.

与此同时，对外开放在全国范围的推广和展开，也促进了经济体制改革在全国的逐步铺开。一是以“外资三法”为基础的外商投资法律法规的制定实施，推动了相关领域体制改革。1979年7月，第五届全国人民代表大会第二次会议通过《中华人民共和国中外合资经营企业法》。1986年4月和1988年4月，第六届全国人民代表大会和第七届全国人民代表大会又分别通过《中华人民共和国外资企业法》和《中华人民共和国中外合作经营企业法》。以“外资三法”为基础的外商投资法律法规，引入了市场经济中最为必要的概念和制度框架，不仅为我国积极利用外资提供了有效的法律保障，也推动了相关的体制改革和政策调整，是我国法律体系市场化改革重要的先导和启蒙。二是自主降低关税、减少非关税壁垒等政策的实施，推动了相关领域的市场化改革。为加入世界贸易组织，我国积极推进市场准入等领域的开放举措，也同时促进了相关市场化改革。例如，在自主降低关税方面，1993—2001年，先后实施了三步自主降税，总体关税水平由1992年底的43.2%降至2001年初的15.3%，8年削减幅度达到64.6%。

The second wave of opening up promoted the continuous improvement of the socialist market economy system. On December 11, 2001, China officially became a member of the World Trade Organization. This initiated the second wave of China's opening up. In November 2002, the 16th National Congress of the CPC proposed: "Adapting to the new situation of economic globalization and WTO accession, participate in international economic and technological cooperation and competition on a broader scale, in more fields, and at higher levels, fully utilize both domestic and international markets, optimize resource allocation, expand development space, and promote reform and development through opening up." Thereafter, China's opening up entered a new stage of fully integrating into the world economic system. At this stage, China's opening up comprehensively strengthened alignment with WTO rules, continuously improved the socialist market economy system and related legal systems, and effectively promoted the continuous improvement of China's socialist market economy system.

第二次对外开放浪潮促进了社会主义市场经济体制的不断完善。2001年12月11日，中国正式成为世界贸易组织成员。由此开启了我国对外开放的第二次浪潮。2002年11月，党的十六大提出：“适应经济全球化和加入世贸组织的新形势，在更大范围、更广领域和更高层次上参与国际经济技术合作和竞争，充分利用国际国内两个市场，优化资源配置，拓宽发展空间，以开放促改革促发展。”此后，我国对外开放转入全面融入世界经济体系的新阶段。此阶段，我国对外开放全面加强同世界贸易组织规则对接，不断完善社会主义市场经济体制和相关法律体系，有效促进了我国社会主义市场经济体制的不断完善。

First, it promoted a series of institutional reforms represented by the reform of the foreign trade system. Take the unification of corporate income tax rates for domestic and foreign-funded enterprises as an example. In March 2007, the "Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China" passed by the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress stipulated that, starting from January 1, 2008, domestic and foreign-funded enterprises in China would begin to apply a unified corporate income tax rate, thereby ending the practice of differentiated tax rates for domestic and foreign-funded enterprises that had lasted for more than 20 years. In addition, China fulfilled its commitments to open up the goods trade sector, significantly reducing import tariffs and markedly cutting non-tariff barriers. On January 1, 2010, China's commitments on goods tariff reductions were all fulfilled, with the overall tariff level further decreasing from 15.3% in 2001 to 9.8%.

一是促进了以外贸体制改革为代表的一系列制度改革。以统一内、外资企业所得税税率为例。2007年3月，第十届全国人民代表大会第五次会议通过的《中华人民共和国企业所得税法》规定，自2008年1月1日起，中国的内、外资企业开始适用统一的企业所得税税率，从而结束了长达20多年的内、外资企业税率差异化的做法。此外，我国履行货物贸易领域开放承诺，大幅降低进口关税和显著削减非关税壁垒。2010年1月1日，我国货物降税承诺全部履行完毕，关税总水平由2001年的15.3%进一步降至9.8%。

Second, it promoted the market-oriented and law-based improvement of the business environment. During this phase, China continuously improved the socialist market economy legal system, gradually establishing a market economy legal system that conforms to WTO rules. The revised *Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China* in April 2004 explicitly changed the approval system for foreign trade operation rights to a registration system and deleted requirements regarding operational qualifications. Subsequently, central government departments alone revised more than 2,300 laws, regulations, and departmental rules, covering all aspects such as trade, investment, and intellectual property protection, comprehensively advancing the reform of the foreign-related economic management system and promoting the continuous improvement of the socialist market economy system.

二是促进了营商环境的市场化、法治化改善。在此阶段，我国不断健全社会主义市场经济法律体系，逐步建立符合世贸规则的市场经济法律体系。2004年4月修订的《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》明确将外贸经营权审批制改为登记制，并删除了关于经营资格条件的要求。此后，仅中央部门就集中修订了2300多部法律法规和部门规章，覆盖贸易、投资和知识产权保护等各个方面，全面推进了涉外经济管理体制改革，促进了社会主义市场经济体制的不断完善。

Third, it promoted the shareholding reform of the four major state-owned commercial banks. China Construction Bank was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2005 and on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in September 2007. Bank of China was the first to be successfully listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2006, becoming the first domestic "A+H" listed bank. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China was simultaneously listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange on October 27, 2006. On July 15 and 16, 2010, Agricultural Bank of China was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange respectively. At this point, all four major state-owned commercial banks had completed their shareholding reforms, providing a successful model for the market-oriented reform of China's banking industry.

三是促进四大国有商业银行的股份制改革。中国建设银行于2005年10月、2007年9月分别在香港联合交易所挂牌上市、上海证券交易所挂牌上市。中国银行于2006年率先成功在香港联合交易所和上海证券交易所挂牌上市，成为国内首家“A＋H”上市银行。中国工商银行于2006年10月27日在香港联合交易所和上海证券交易所同步上市。2010年7月15日和16日，中国农业银行分别在上海证券交易所和香港联合交易所挂牌上市。至此，四大国有商业银行全部完成股份制改革，为我国银行业的市场化改革提供了成功示范。

The third wave of opening up promoted the accelerated formation of the socialist market economy system. In November 2012, the 18th National Congress of the CPC was successfully convened. This marked the beginning of the third wave of China's opening up. In November 2013, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee revised the role of the market in resource allocation from a "basic role" to a "decisive role," and China's economic system reform thus entered a new stage of comprehensive deepening. Subsequently, the third wave of opening up, mainly marked by the construction of pilot free trade zones, the building of a high-standard free trade area network, and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, became an important driving force for China's economic system reform to enter a new stage of comprehensive deepening, accelerating the formation of the socialist market economy system.

第三次对外开放浪潮促进了社会主义市场经济体制的加快形成。2012年11月，党的十八大胜利召开。由此，开启了我国对外开放的第三次浪潮。2013年11月，党的十八届三中全会将市场在资源配置中的“基础性作用”修改为“决定性作用”，我国经济体制改革也由此进入全面深化新阶段。此后，以自由贸易试验区建设、高标准自由贸易区网络构建、共建“一带一路”高质量发展为主要标志的第三次对外开放浪潮，成为促进我国经济体制改革进入全面深化新阶段的重要动力，我国社会主义市场经济体制得以加快形成。

First, the construction of pilot free trade zones became the vanguard in promoting deep-seated reform. On September 29, 2013, China's first pilot free trade zone was inaugurated and began operations in Shanghai. On November 1, 2023, the first pilot free trade zone established in the northwestern border region was inaugurated in Xinjiang. By then, after seven expansions, China's pilot free trade zones had reached 22, forming a new pattern covering the east, west, south, north, and center of the country. Since September 2013, each pilot free trade zone has consistently adhered to institutional innovation as its core, comprehensively aligned with high-standard international economic and trade rules, achieved significant breakthroughs in reforms across multiple areas such as trade and investment management systems, financial opening and innovation, government function transformation, and market-oriented allocation of production factors, and introduced many landmark and leading institutional innovation achievements. These efforts explored new pathways for comprehensively deepening reform and effectively played a "leading geese effect" [2]2 "头雁效应" (leading geese effect): A Chinese idiom referring to the leading and exemplary role of the foremost goose in a flying formation, used here to describe the pioneering and demonstrative role of pilot free trade zones in driving broader reforms. in institutional innovation and market-oriented reform. For example, on October 25, 2024, the State Council replicated and promoted 30 pilot measures from the pilot free trade zones for advancing institutional opening up aligned with high international standards.

第一，自由贸易试验区建设成为促进深层次改革的开路先锋。2013年9月29日，我国第一个自贸试验区在上海揭牌运行。2023年11月1日，西北沿边地区设立的首个自贸试验区在新疆揭牌成立。至此，我国自贸试验区历经七次扩容达到22个，形成了覆盖东西南北中的新格局。2013年9月以来，各自贸试验区始终坚持以制度创新为核心，全面对接国际高标准经贸规则，在贸易投资管理制度、金融开放创新、政府职能转变、要素市场化配置等多方面改革取得了重要突破，推出了许多标志性、引领性制度创新成果，为全面深化改革探索了新路径，有效发挥了其制度创新和市场化改革的“头雁效应”。例如，2024年10月25日，国务院对30条自贸试验区对接国际高标准推进制度型开放试点措施予以复制推广。

Second, the construction of a high-standard free trade area network promoted reforms in management systems such as market access, customs supervision, and inspection and quarantine. The 18th National Congress of the CPC proposed accelerating the implementation of the free trade area strategy. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee further proposed forming a high-standard free trade area network oriented towards the world. Subsequently, China's free trade area construction entered a new stage of high standards and high-quality development. On August 22, 2024, China and Belarus formally signed a service trade and investment agreement. This is the 13th free trade agreement signed by China since the New Era. By then, China had signed a total of 23 free trade agreements, involving 30 countries and regions. On November 14, 2024, China and Peru signed an upgraded protocol to their free trade agreement. This is the 6th upgraded protocol to a free trade agreement signed by China since the New Era. Most of the free trade agreements and upgraded protocols signed since the New Era are high-standard free trade agreements, which not only promoted bilateral and multilateral trade and investment liberalization and facilitation but also promoted market-oriented reforms in management systems such as domestic market access, customs supervision, and inspection and quarantine.

第二，高标准自贸区网络构建促进了市场准入、海关监管、检验检疫等管理体制改革。党的十八大提出，加快实施自由贸易区战略。党的十八届三中全会进一步提出，形成面向全球的高标准自贸区网络。此后，我国自贸区建设转向高标准、高质量发展新阶段。2024年8月22日，中国与白俄罗斯正式签署服务贸易和投资协定。这是新时代以来我国签署的第13个自贸协定。至此，我国对外签署的自贸协定达到23个，涉及30个国家和地区。2024年11月14日，中国与秘鲁签署自贸协定升级议定书。这是新时代以来我国签署的第6个自贸协定升级议定书。新时代以来签署的自贸协定和自贸协定升级议定书大多为高标准自贸协定，不仅促进了双边和多边贸易投资自由化便利化，而且也促进了国内市场准入、海关监管、检验检疫等管理体制的市场化改革。

Third, the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative promoted the enhancement of market-oriented operational capabilities and market-oriented reforms. Adhering to market operations is one of the principles for jointly building the Belt and Road. In March 2015, the *Vision and Actions on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road*, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce, proposed that jointly building the Belt and Road should adhere to market operations. Subsequently, in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road, China has consistently followed market laws and internationally accepted rules, realizing the interests and demands of participating parties through market-oriented operations. For example, third-party market cooperation is a new model of international economic and trade cooperation explored during the joint construction of the Belt and Road and an innovative move to build an open world economy. As of December 2024, China has signed third-party market cooperation documents with 14 countries, including France and Japan. In advancing third-party market cooperation, the Chinese side adheres to enterprise as the main body, market orientation, commercial principles, and international practices, which can generate imitation and follow-up effects. This has not only promoted the enhancement of China's market-oriented operational capabilities but also promoted the market-oriented reform of China's economic system.

第三，高质量共建“一带一路”促进了市场化运作能力的提升和市场化改革。坚持市场运作是“一带一路”共建原则之一。2015年3月，国家发展改革委、外交部和商务部联合发布的《推动共建丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路的愿景与行动》提出，共建“一带一路”要坚持市场运作。此后，在共建“一带一路”过程中，中国始终遵循市场规律和国际通行规则，通过市场化运作实现参与各方的利益诉求。例如，第三方市场合作是共建“一带一路”过程中探索出的国际经贸合作新模式，是构建开放型世界经济的创新之举。截至2024年12月，中国已与法国、日本等14个国家签署第三方市场合作文件。在推进第三方市场合作过程中，中方坚持企业主体、市场导向、商业原则、国际惯例，可产生模仿跟随效应。这既促进了我国市场化运作能力的提升，也促进了我国经济体制的市场化改革。

High-standard opening up is a practical necessity for promoting deep-seated economic system reform.

高水平对外开放是促进深层次经济体制改革的现实需要

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee that "deepening economic system reform remains the focus of further comprehensively deepening reform, with the main task being to improve the systems and mechanisms conducive to promoting high-quality development and shaping new drivers and advantages for development." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has fully leveraged the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and better played the role of the government. The market system and macro-control system have been continuously improved, and comprehensive deepening of economic system reform has achieved historic accomplishments, injecting strong momentum into promoting high-quality development. Nevertheless, factors currently constraining high-quality development still exist. Advancing Chinese-path modernization through high-quality development still faces some new problems in areas such as innovation-driven development, coordinated development, green development, high-standard opening up, and common prosperity. Therefore, the task of deepening economic system reform remains arduous. Advancing Chinese-path modernization through high-quality development requires using economic system reform as the driving force to further comprehensively deepen reform, removing obstacles, stimulating vitality, and creating new prospects by building a high-standard socialist market economy system.

习近平总书记在党的二十届三中全会上指出，“深化经济体制改革仍是进一步全面深化改革的重点，主要任务是完善有利于推动高质量发展的体制机制，塑造发展新动能新优势”。党的十八大以来，我国充分发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用，更好发挥政府作用，市场体系和宏观调控体系持续健全，全面深化经济体制改革取得历史性成就，为推动高质量发展注入了强劲动力。尽管如此，当前制约高质量发展的因素仍然存在，以高质量发展推进中国式现代化在创新驱动、协调发展、绿色发展、高水平开放、共同富裕等方面仍面临一些新的问题。因此，深化经济体制改革任务仍然艰巨，以高质量发展推进中国式现代化需要以经济体制改革为牵引进一步全面深化改革，通过构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制来破除障碍、激发活力、开创新局。

As stated earlier, adhering to promoting reform through opening up is the historical experience of China's continuous progress in economic system reform. Similarly, high-standard opening up is also a practical necessity for promoting deep-seated economic system reform in the new stage. Promoting high-standard opening up and building a new system for a higher-standard open economy is not only a practical necessity for improving the systems and mechanisms for developing new quality productive forces, but also an inevitable choice for creating new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition, and a practical requirement for promoting the building of an open world economy.

前文已述，坚持以开放促改革，是我国经济体制改革不断取得新进展的历史经验。同样，高水平对外开放也是新阶段促进深层次经济体制改革的现实需要。推进高水平对外开放和建设更高水平开放型经济新体制，既是健全发展新质生产力体制机制的现实需要，也是打造国际经济合作和竞争新优势的必然选择，还是推动建设开放型世界经济的现实要求。

Expanding institutional opening up is a practical necessity for improving the systems and mechanisms for developing new quality productive forces. Developing new quality productive forces requires solidly advancing institutional and mechanism innovation to form new relations of production that correspond to them. To this end, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [3]3 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, is a major meeting of the Chinese Communist Party that typically focuses on economic reform and development strategy. placed “improving the systems and mechanisms for developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions” at the top of the “improving the systems and mechanisms for promoting high-quality development” for comprehensive deployment, emphasizing “strengthening innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies, and strengthening the institutional supply for new fields and new tracks.” To achieve innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies, the Chinese market must possess a strong gravitational pull to gather global high-end production and technological innovation resources. Expanding institutional opening up can further form a stable, transparent, and predictable institutional environment, which is conducive to fully utilizing global innovation resources, advancing independent innovation from a higher starting point, and creating a favorable institutional environment for the development of new quality productive forces. Therefore, expanding institutional opening up is a practical necessity for improving the systems and mechanisms for developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions. Since the New Era, marked by the construction of pilot free trade zones, the building of a high-standard free trade zone network, and the hosting of three major exhibitions including the China International Import Expo, China’s institutional opening up has entered a new stage of steady advancement. However, the implementation of the pilot free trade zone upgrading strategy and the construction of a high-standard free trade zone network still require further advancement of institutional and mechanism innovation.

扩大制度型开放是健全发展新质生产力体制机制的现实需要。发展新质生产力须扎实推进体制机制创新，形成与之相适应的新型生产关系。为此，党的二十届三中全会将“健全因地制宜发展新质生产力体制机制”排在“健全推动经济高质量发展体制机制”的首位进行全面部署，强调“加强关键共性技术、前沿引领技术、现代工程技术、颠覆性技术创新，加强新领域新赛道制度供给”。而要实现关键共性技术、前沿引领技术、现代工程技术、颠覆性技术创新，中国市场必须拥有汇聚全球高端生产和科技创新资源的强大引力。扩大制度型开放可以进一步形成稳定透明可预期的制度环境，有利于充分利用全球创新资源，在更高起点上推进自主创新，为新质生产力发展营造良好制度环境。因此，扩大制度型开放是健全因地制宜发展新质生产力体制机制的现实需要。新时代以来，以自贸试验区建设、高标准自贸区网络构建、中国国际进口博览会等三大展会举办为主要标志，我国制度型开放迈入稳步推进新阶段，但自贸试验区提升战略实施和高标准自贸区网络构建等仍需进一步推进体制机制创新。

First, in the implementation of the pilot free trade zone upgrading strategy, there are still some problems and deficiencies in aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, the autonomy of reform experiments, and systemic integrated reforms, requiring a number of leading reforms. First, compared with high-standard international economic and trade rules, the degree of openness in China’s pilot free trade zones in the financial and other service sectors is still not high enough; there is still room for strengthening “behind-the-border” opening measures such as intellectual property rights, competitive neutrality, regulatory consistency, digital trade, and environmental protection. Second, the autonomy of pilot free trade zones in reform experiments is not yet large enough, and there are not many integrated and systematic institutional innovations. Third, the coordinated development among different pilot free trade zones still needs to break through institutional and mechanism obstacles. For example, the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei pilot free trade zones needs to break down regional segmentation and hidden barriers, solve the institutional and mechanism obstacles in factor flow, industrial linkage, and market unification in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and form efficient factor flow and agglomeration.

第一，自由贸易试验区提升战略实施在对标国际高标准经贸规则、改革试验自主权、系统集成改革等方面仍存在一些问题和不足，需要开展一批引领性改革。一是与国际高标准经贸规则相比，我国自贸试验区在金融等服务业领域开放程度仍然不够高；在知识产权、竞争中立、监管一致性、数字贸易、环境保护等“边境后”开放措施方面仍有待加强。二是自贸试验区的改革试验自主权还不够大，集成性、系统性的制度创新还不多。三是各自贸试验区之间的联动发展仍需突破体制机制障碍。例如，京津冀自贸试验区协同发展需要打破地区分割和隐性壁垒，破解京津冀在要素流动、产业链接和市场统一等方面的体制机制障碍，形成要素高效流动集聚。

Second, the construction of a high-standard free trade zone network still faces problems such as the need to expand its spatial scope and improve its rule standards. First, the spatial scope needs to be expanded. Currently, whether with neighboring countries or with countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, there is still considerable room for expansion in establishing free trade zones. Second, rule standards need to be improved. Currently, the coverage rate of high-standard rules such as labor standards, environmental protection, and e-commerce in the free trade agreements signed by China still needs to be improved.

第二，高标准自贸区网络建设仍然面临着空间范围有待拓展、规则标准有待提高等问题。一是空间范围有待拓展。当前，无论是与周边国家，还是与“一带一路”共建国家，在建立自由贸易区方面还有较大拓展空间。二是规则标准有待提高。当前，我国签署的自贸协定在劳工标准、环境保护和电子商务等高标准规则覆盖率方面还有待提高。

Deepening the reform of the foreign trade and foreign investment system is an inevitable choice for building new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. Currently, the traditional advantages of China’s high-quality economic development have somewhat weakened, while international competition is becoming increasingly fierce, making it urgently necessary to accelerate the enhancement of new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. Deepening the reform of the foreign trade and foreign investment system is an important path for building new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. Since the New Era, China has continuously deepened the reform of the foreign trade and foreign investment system, creating favorable conditions for continuously building new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. However, sustained efforts are still needed in accelerating the integration of domestic and foreign trade, reducing “behind-the-border” barriers, and optimizing the business environment.

深化外贸外资体制改革是打造国际经济合作和竞争新优势的必然选择。当前，我国经济高质量发展的传统优势有所弱化，而国际竞争日趋激烈，迫切需要加快提升国际经济合作和竞争新优势。深化外贸外资体制改革，是打造国际经济合作和竞争新优势的重要路径。新时代以来，我国不断深化外贸外资体制改革，为持续打造国际经济合作和竞争新优势创造了有利条件，但在加快内外贸一体化改革、“边境后”壁垒削减、营商环境优化等方面仍需持续发力。

First, accelerating the reform of the integration of domestic and foreign trade is a long and arduous task. Accelerating the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade is of great significance for building a strong domestic market, maintaining the stability of the industrial and supply chains, and constructing a new development paradigm. Since the New Era, China’s management system for the integration of domestic and foreign trade has gradually improved, and significant progress has been made in the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. However, there are still shortcomings such as insufficiently smooth integrated development at different levels, including domestic and foreign trade enterprises, products, industries, and management systems. From the perspective of domestic and foreign trade enterprises, their business orientations remain relatively separate; from the perspective of domestic and foreign trade products, there are still significant differences in technology, quality, and standards for some products; from the perspective of domestic and foreign trade industries, there are still significant differences in the completeness and key links of the industrial chains; from the perspective of the management system for domestic and foreign trade, many local governments still have a fragmented management system. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade through further comprehensive deepening of reform, resolutely break the “two separate skins” predicament [4]4 “Two separate skins” (两张皮) is a Chinese idiom describing two things that are supposed to be integrated but remain separate and uncoordinated. of mutual separation and poor coordination between domestic and foreign trade, eliminate institutional obstacles, and optimize the environment for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade.

第一，加快内外贸一体化改革任重道远。加快内外贸一体化发展，对建设强大国内市场、维护产业链供应链稳定、构建新发展格局等具有重要意义。新时代以来，我国内外贸一体化的管理体制逐渐健全，内外贸一体化发展取得重要进展，但在内外贸企业、产品、产业、管理体制等不同层面仍存在融合发展不够顺畅等短板。从内外贸企业看，内外贸企业经营指向仍相对分离；从内外贸产品看，部分内外贸产品的技术、质量、标准等仍存在较大差异；从内外贸产业看，内外贸产业链条的完整性及重点环节仍存在较大差异；从内外贸管理体制看，不少地方政府内外贸管理体制仍存在分割现象。因此，须以进一步全面深化改革推动内外贸一体化发展，坚决打破内外贸相互割裂、协同不畅的“两张皮”困局，消除制度性障碍，优化内外贸融合发展环境。

Second, “behind-the-border” barriers still exist in different forms. Since the New Era, China has deeply advanced the implementation of fair competition policies, promoted fair competition among various types of market entities, and effectively reduced “behind-the-border” barriers to factor flow. However, it must also be recognized that various types of “behind-the-border” barriers still exist in different forms. For example, the consistency of regulatory systems and standards with international economic and trade partner countries needs improvement. Another example is that some local governments still have different forms of hidden barriers to market access, such as disguised approvals and local protection. Another example is that some of China’s current rules and systems still have a certain gap with high-standard international rules and systems. Therefore, it is necessary to actively align with high-standard international rules and further reduce “behind-the-border” barriers to factor flow.

第二，“边境后”壁垒仍以不同形式存在。新时代以来，我国深入推进公平竞争政策实施，促进各类市场主体公平竞争，有效减少了要素流动的“边境后”壁垒。但也要看到，各类“边境后”壁垒仍以不同形式存在。例如，国际经贸伙伴国监管体制和标准的一致性有待改进。又如，部分地方政府还存在诸如变相审批、地方保护等不同形式的市场准入隐性壁垒。再如，我国现行部分规则制度与国际高标准规则和制度尚有一定差距。因此，要主动与国际高标准规则接轨，进一步削减要素流动的“边境后”壁垒。

Third, the business environment still needs further optimization. Optimizing the business environment is an effective path for reducing institutional transaction costs and building new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. Since the New Era, China’s reforms in key areas have been deeply advanced, and the national business environment has been continuously optimized. However, there is still a certain gap compared with a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. In terms of a market-oriented business environment, there are still problems such as unsmooth factor flow, low efficiency of resource allocation, and weak microeconomic vitality. In terms of a law-based business environment, it is necessary to continuously improve the level of law-based business environment and constantly improve the legal system for the business environment. In terms of an internationalized business environment, it is still necessary to absorb and learn from the experience of mature international market economy systems and accelerate the alignment of domestic rules and systems with international standards.

第三，营商环境仍需进一步优化。优化营商环境是降低制度性交易成本、打造国际经济合作和竞争新优势的有效路径。新时代以来，我国重点领域改革深入推进，全国营商环境持续优化，但与市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境仍有一定差距。市场化营商环境方面，还存在要素流动不畅、资源配置效率不高、微观经济活力不强等问题。法治化营商环境方面，还需持续提升营商环境法治化水平，不断健全营商环境法律制度体系。国际化营商环境方面，仍需吸收借鉴国际成熟市场经济制度经验，加快国内制度规则与国际接轨。

Improving the mechanisms for high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative is a practical requirement for promoting the building of an open world economy. In recent years, economic globalization has encountered headwinds, and a few countries have engaged in “decoupling and severing supply chains,” “small yards, high fences,” and promoted “reshoring, nearshoring, and friendshoring” diversion. Currently, the uncertainty of the external environment facing China’s development has significantly increased, making it necessary to promote the building of an open world economy and create a more favorable external environment for high-quality development and Chinese-path modernization. The Belt and Road Initiative is a major practice for promoting the building of an open world economy and promoting inclusive and beneficial economic globalization. Strengthening cooperation in new fields such as green development, digital economy, and innovation is an important measure for promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to enter a new stage of high-quality development. In recent years, China and partner countries have made positive progress in promoting the construction of the Green Silk Road, the Innovation Silk Road, and the Digital Silk Road. However, under the new situation, new problems and challenges still arise, requiring further improvement of cooperation mechanisms.

完善推进高质量共建“一带一路”机制是推动建设开放型世界经济的现实要求。近年来，经济全球化遭遇逆流，少数国家搞“脱钩断链”“小院高墙”，推行“回岸、近岸、友岸”三岸分流。当前，我国发展面临的外部环境不确定性明显上升，需要推动建设开放型世界经济，为高质量发展和中国式现代化创造更为有利的外部环境。共建“一带一路”倡议是推动建设开放型世界经济、推动普惠包容的经济全球化的重大实践。加大绿色、数字、创新等新领域合作，是推动共建“一带一路”进入高质量发展新阶段的重要举措。近年来，我国与共建国在推动绿色、创新、数字丝绸之路建设方面取得积极进展，但新形势下仍面临新的问题与挑战，需要进一步完善合作机制。

First, the construction of the Green Silk Road faces multiple constraints. Promoting green development in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative is an important carrier and key content for promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and building a community of life for man and nature. In recent years, green development in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has achieved remarkable results. However, it should also be noted that the current green development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative still faces multiple constraints. First, the general level of economic development in partner countries is not high, and they are in a historical transition period between pursuing development and pursuing ecology, making green development difficult to achieve for them. Second, the overseas green development capabilities of Chinese enterprises cannot fully adapt to the new situation, their awareness of green development is not strong, and their experience in overseas green investment needs to be accumulated. Third, due to factors such as insufficient and unbalanced mechanism supply, a series of difficulties such as insufficient policy support for green development, an unsound platform for green exchange and cooperation, and an imperfect environmental risk prevention and control system urgently need to be overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the mechanisms.

第一，绿色丝绸之路建设面临多重制约。推进共建“一带一路”绿色发展，是推进共建“一带一路”高质量发展、构建人与自然生命共同体的重要载体和关键性内容。近年来，共建“一带一路”绿色发展取得了显著成效。但也应看到，当前共建“一带一路”绿色发展仍面临多重制约。一是共建国家普遍经济发展水平不高，处于求发展与求生态的历史转折期，绿色发展对其而言恐难实现。二是我国企业海外绿色发展能力还不能完全适应新形势，绿色发展意识不强，海外绿色投资经验有待积累。三是受机制供给不充分、不平衡等因素影响，绿色发展政策支撑不足、绿色交流合作平台不健全、环境风险防控体系不完善等一系列困境亟须突破。因此，需要进一步完善机制。

Second, the construction of the Digital Silk Road faces three potential challenges. At present, the Digital Silk Road still confronts three major challenges: First, digital infrastructure remains relatively inadequate. Since most co-building countries are developing nations, the construction of digital facilities such as communication base stations, optical cables, and wires started relatively late, thus constraining the in-depth development of the "Digital Silk Road" construction. Second, data rights confirmation and privacy protection still require further exploration. Cooperation on the "Digital Silk Road" will drive massive data flows and information flows; the effectiveness of data elements will rapidly increase alongside data development and opening in various countries, but this will also spawn a series of security issues. Third, global digital governance has yet to reach more consensus. The rapid development of the digital economy places higher demands on international standards and rules in the digital field, but currently the world has not yet formed a unified framework for international digital governance rules.

第二，数字丝绸之路建设面临三重潜在挑战。当前，数字丝绸之路仍面临三大挑战：一是数字设施依然相对不足。由于共建国家多为发展中国家，通信基站、光缆电缆等数字设施建设起步较晚，因此制约了“数字丝路”建设的纵深发展。二是数据确权与隐私保护仍需深入探索。“数字丝路”合作将会带动海量的数据流和信息流，数据要素效力将伴随各国的数据开发与开放迅速提升，但同时也将催生一系列的安全问题。三是全球数字治理有待达成更多共识。数字经济的快速发展对数字领域国际标准和规则提出了更高要求，但当前全球尚未形成统一的国际数字治理规则框架。

Third, the construction of the Innovation Silk Road faces three constraints. The core connotation of high-quality co-building of the Belt and Road Initiative is to build it into an "Innovation Road." In recent years, important progress has been made in innovation-driven development under the Belt and Road Initiative. However, it must also be recognized that current scientific and technological innovation cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative still faces multiple constraints. First, China's own capacity to lead innovation needs further improvement. At present, China's capacity to lead scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation still has obvious shortcomings: original innovation capacity urgently needs improvement, key core technologies urgently need breakthroughs, the overall effectiveness of the independent innovation system still needs continuous enhancement, and the capacity to lead institutional innovation also remains insufficient. Second, the foundation for scientific and technological development in some co-building countries remains weak. Most co-building countries have insufficient R&D investment, and their scientific and technological infrastructure such as laboratories and research equipment is weak. Some co-building countries have limited educational levels, making it difficult to provide adequate talent support. Third, uncertainty in international scientific and technological cooperation continues to increase. Some Western developed countries have "securitized" and "politicized" scientific and technological innovation, using "de-risking" as a pretext and "decoupling and severing supply chains" as a means to erect "small yards, high fences," increasing uncertainty in international scientific and technological cooperation.

第三，创新丝绸之路建设面临三重制约。高质量共建“一带一路”的核心内涵是将其建设成“创新之路”。近年来，共建“一带一路”创新发展取得了重要进展。但也要看到，当前开展“一带一路”科技创新合作仍面临着多重制约。一是中国自身创新引领能力有待进一步提升。目前，中国科技创新和制度创新引领能力尚存明显短板，原始创新能力亟待提高、关键核心技术亟待突破，自主创新体系整体效能还需持续提高，制度创新引领能力也还不足。二是部分共建国家科技发展基础仍然薄弱。共建国家大多研发投入不足，实验室、科研设备等科技基础设施薄弱。部分共建国家教育水平有限，难以提供足够的人才支持。三是国际科技合作不确定性持续增加。部分西方发达国家将科技创新“泛安全化”“泛政治化”，以“去风险”为借口，以“脱钩断链”为手段筑起“小院高墙”，增加了国际科技合作不确定性。

Key Pathways for Promoting Deepening Economic System Reform through High-Standard Opening Up

以高水平对外开放促进深层次经济体制改革的重点路径

Adhering to promoting reform through opening up is the historical experience of China's continuous advancement of economic system reform; high-standard opening up is the practical need for promoting deepening economic system reform in the new stage; handling the relationship between the government and the market has always been the core issue of economic system reform. Since the New Era, our Party has adhered to the reform direction of the socialist market economy, advancing market-oriented reform in breadth and depth, providing institutional and mechanism guarantees for high-quality development. Nevertheless, "the relationship between the government and the market has not yet been fully straightened out." In the future, it is necessary to further straighten out the relationship between the government and the market, better combine a well-functioning government with an efficient market, further promote high-standard opening up, promote deepening economic system reform through high-standard opening up, and provide new impetus for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

坚持以开放促改革是我国经济体制改革不断推进的历史经验，高水平对外开放是新阶段促进深层次经济体制改革的现实需要，处理好政府和市场关系始终是经济体制改革的核心问题。新时代以来，我们党坚持社会主义市场经济改革方向，从广度和深度上推进市场化改革，为高质量发展提供了体制机制保障。尽管如此，“政府和市场的关系尚未完全理顺”。未来，要进一步理顺政府和市场的关系，将有为政府和有效市场更好结合，进一步推进高水平对外开放，以高水平对外开放促进深层次经济体制改革，为推进中国式现代化提供新的动力。

Steadily expand institutional opening up to create a favorable institutional environment for boosting the development of new quality productive forces. Steadily expanding high-standard institutional opening up is an important focus for promoting deepening reform and high-quality development through high-standard opening up. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC placed "steadily expanding institutional opening up" at the top of "improving the systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up" for comprehensive deployment. The essence of institutional opening up is to let the market play a more important role in allocating the cross-border flow of goods and factors. On the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to further promote market-oriented reform in relevant fields and create a favorable institutional environment conducive to the development of new quality productive forces through measures such as deeply implementing the strategy of upgrading pilot free trade zones and expanding the high-standard free trade agreement network oriented toward the world.

稳步扩大制度型开放，为助推新质生产力发展营造良好制度环境。稳步扩大高水平制度型开放，是以高水平开放促进深层次改革、高质量发展的重要着力点。党的二十届三中全会将“稳步扩大制度型开放”排在“完善高水平对外开放体制机制”的首位进行全面部署。制度型开放的本质，是让市场在配置商品和要素跨境流动中发挥更重要作用。新时代新征程，需要通过深入实施自由贸易试验区提升战略、扩大面向全球的高标准自贸区网络等，进一步促进相关领域市场化改革，营造有利于新质生产力发展的良好制度环境。

First, deeply implement the strategy of upgrading pilot free trade zones to further promote market-oriented reform in relevant fields. First, coordinate the construction of various open platforms such as pilot free trade zones, Hainan Free Trade Port, key border-area development and opening-up pilot zones, and inland open economy pilot zones, grant them more autonomy in institutional innovation, and create new heights of institutional opening up. Second, in qualified pilot free trade zones and the free trade port, pilot the alignment with international high-standard economic and trade rules to advance institutional opening up, promote the release of policy dividends on a larger scale, and further strengthen the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform, exploring more replicable and scalable successful experiences for comprehensively deepening reform. Third, support each pilot free trade zone in further deepening differentiated exploration, focusing on key areas such as the digital economy, biomedicine, and equipment manufacturing, to promote the integrated and innovative development of the entire industrial chain, forming more institutionalized innovation achievements for developing new quality productive forces.

第一，深入实施自由贸易试验区提升战略，进一步促进相关领域市场化改革。一是统筹推进自贸试验区和海南自贸港、沿边重点开发开放试验区、内陆开放型经济试验区等各类开放平台建设，赋予其更多制度创新自主权，打造制度型开放新高地。二是在有条件的自贸试验区和自贸港，试点对接国际高标准经贸规则推进制度型开放，推动在更大范围释放政策红利，并进一步加强改革的系统性、整体性、协同性，为全面深化改革探索更多可复制可推广的成功经验。三是支持各自贸试验区进一步深化差别化探索，围绕数字经济、生物医药、装备制造等重点领域，推动全产业链集成创新发展，为发展新质生产力形成更多制度化的创新成果。

Second, expand the high-standard free trade agreement network oriented toward the world to further promote management system reform in relevant fields. Focusing on the three aspects of "expansion, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement," further deepen the construction of free trade agreements with trading partners and expand the high-standard free trade agreement network oriented toward the world. In terms of expansion, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and coordination of economic and trade policies with South Asian countries, improve free trade agreement arrangements with South Asian countries, and further release the potential for trade and investment cooperation; initiate feasibility studies for the construction of a China-UK free trade area, and promote the negotiation and signing of free trade agreements with more willing countries. In terms of quality improvement, further raise the level of market access openness, actively participate in rule-making in emerging fields such as the digital economy, environmental protection, and industrial and supply chains, establish compliance mechanisms aligned with internationally accepted rules, and further promote management system reform in areas such as market access, customs supervision, and inspection and quarantine. In terms of efficiency enhancement, further implement with high quality already signed free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), help enterprises make good and full use of preferential policies under free trade agreements, and further release the economic effects of opening up.

第二，扩大面向全球的高标准自贸区网络，进一步促进相关领域管理体制改革。围绕“扩围、提质、增效”三个方面，进一步深入开展与贸易伙伴的自贸区建设，扩大面向全球的高标准自贸区网络。扩围方面，加强与南亚国家发展战略对接和经贸政策的协调，完善与南亚国家自贸协定安排，进一步释放贸易和投资合作潜力；启动中国—英国自贸区建设可行性研究，推动与更多有意愿的国家商签自贸协定。提质方面，进一步提高市场准入开放水平，积极参与数字经济、环境保护、产业链供应链等新兴领域的规则制定，建立同国际通行规则衔接的合规机制，进一步促进市场准入、海关监管、检验检疫等管理体制改革。增效方面，进一步高质量实施《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》（RCEP）等已经签署的自贸协定，帮助企业用好用足自贸协定优惠政策，进一步释放对外开放的经济效应。

Third, expand autonomous opening up and unilateral opening up to the least developed countries to enhance the linkage effect of both domestic and international markets and resources. On the one hand, expand autonomous opening up and market access, and attract and utilize foreign investment with greater intensity. While continuing to expand opening up in the manufacturing, extractive, and agricultural sectors, orderly expand opening up in commodity markets, service markets, capital markets, and labor markets through measures such as reasonably shortening the negative list for foreign investment access and launching pilot programs to relax foreign investment access in the field of scientific and technological innovation. On the other hand, expand unilateral opening up to the least developed countries to better benefit the people of all countries. Expanding unilateral opening up to the least developed countries is a new requirement put forward by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC and a concrete action by China to promote the building of an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind. In the future, this new requirement must be implemented well, so that the achievements of Chinese-path modernization benefit more countries and people.

第三，扩大自主开放和对最不发达国家单边开放，增强国内国际两个市场两种资源的联动效应。一方面，扩大自主开放和市场准入，更大力度吸引和利用外资。在继续扩大制造业、采掘业、农业领域对外开放的同时，通过合理缩减外商投资准入负面清单、开展放宽科技创新领域外商投资准入试点等措施，有序扩大商品市场、服务市场、资本市场、劳务市场等对外开放。另一方面，扩大对最不发达国家单边开放，更好惠及各国人民。扩大对最不发达国家单边开放，是党的二十届三中全会提出的新要求，是我国推动共建开放型世界经济和构建人类命运共同体的具体行动。未来必须落实好这一新要求，让中国式现代化发展成果惠及更多国家和民众。

Deepen the reform of the foreign trade system to accelerate the construction of a strong trading nation. Deepening the reform of the foreign trade system is an important pathway for promoting deepening economic system reform through high-standard opening up. On the new journey, it is necessary to address the shortcomings and weaknesses of the current foreign trade system, accelerate the construction of a strong trading nation from aspects such as accelerating the integration reform of domestic and foreign trade, reducing "behind-the-border" barriers that constrain factor flows, and innovatively developing digital trade.

深化外贸体制改革，加快推进贸易强国建设。深化外贸体制改革，是以高水平开放促进深层次经济体制改革的重要路径。新征程上，要针对当前外贸体制方面的短板与弱项，从加快内外贸一体化改革、减少制约要素流动的“边境后”壁垒、创新发展数字贸易等方面，加快推进贸易强国建设。

First, accelerate the integration reform of domestic and foreign trade to optimize the environment for the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade. First, promote the integration and convergence of domestic and foreign trade rules and systems by facilitating the alignment of standards, inspection and certification, and supervision between domestic and foreign trade, and promoting the same production lines, same standards, and same quality for domestic and foreign trade products. Second, promote the connection of market channels for domestic and foreign trade. On the one hand, support foreign trade enterprises in expanding the domestic market by organizing a series of activities for high-quality foreign trade products to expand domestic sales and encouraging the use of centralized procurement and other methods; on the other hand, support domestic trade enterprises in exploring international markets by strengthening business training for new foreign trade business forms and models such as cross-border e-commerce and offshore trade. In addition, leverage the role of exhibitions such as the Canton Fair, the China International Import Expo, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the Global Digital Trade Expo to facilitate the connection of supply and demand in domestic and international markets.

第一，加快内外贸一体化改革，优化内外贸融合发展环境。一是通过促进内外贸标准、检验认证、监管衔接，推进内外贸产品同线同标同质等，促进内外贸规则制度衔接融合。二是促进内外贸市场渠道对接。一方面，通过组织开展外贸优品拓内销系列活动、鼓励采用集中采购等形式，支持外贸企业拓展国内市场；另一方面，通过加强跨境电商、离岸贸易等外贸新业态新模式业务培训，支持内贸企业开拓国际市场。此外，发挥好广交会、进博会、消博会、数贸会等展会作用，促进国内国际市场供采对接。

Second, reduce “behind-the-border” barriers to factor flows and innovate mechanisms for the development of trade in services. First, continuously improve the supply of institutions in the field of market regulation, and persistently strengthen the unification of basic market system rules. By perfecting a unified system for the protection of property rights and maintaining a unified system for fair competition, explore institutional arrangements and policy supply that are compatible with the regulatory requirements of a mature market economy, thereby creating a stable, orderly, safe, and reliable market environment for all types of market entities, and thus providing a fair and orderly competitive environment for the free flow of factors such as talent, capital, and technology. Second, deeply implement the fair competition policy and persistently break down hidden barriers to market access. Accelerate the cleanup and abolition of various regulations and practices in various regions that contain local protectionism and market segmentation, and strictly conduct fair competition reviews of newly introduced policies to avoid problems such as “the big door being open while the small door remains closed.” [8]8 “The big door being open while the small door remains closed” is a Chinese idiom referring to a situation where formal market access is granted but practical, often bureaucratic, obstacles prevent actual entry.

第二，减少要素流动的“边境后”壁垒，创新服务贸易发展机制。一是不断完善市场监管领域制度供给，持续强化市场基础制度规则统一。通过完善统一的产权保护制度、维护统一的公平竞争制度等，探索与成熟市场经济监管要求相适应的制度安排和政策供给，为各类市场主体营造平稳有序、安全可靠的市场环境，从而为人才、资金、技术等要素自由流动提供一个公平有序的竞争环境。二是深入实施公平竞争政策，持续破除市场准入的隐性壁垒。加快清理和废除各地区含有地方保护、市场分割等的各种规定和做法，对新出台政策严格开展公平竞争审查，避免出现“大门开了小门不开”等问题。

Third, construct an institutional and policy framework to innovate and develop digital trade. First, formulate rules for cross-border data flows and establish a network security guarantee system. Under the premise of ensuring data security and personal privacy, formulate rules for cross-border data flows, promote the free flow of data, and break down data barriers. Strengthen network security legislation, improve the network security review system, and ensure the safe and reliable operation of digital trade. Second, strengthen international cooperation in the digital economy field, actively promote the process of joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, and establish and improve the digital trade governance system. Third, accelerate the cultivation of leading enterprises and “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises [9]9 “Specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” (专精特新) enterprises are a category of small and medium-sized enterprises in China that focus on a niche market, possess advanced technology, and have strong innovation capabilities. in the digital trade field, enhancing their market layout capabilities and international competitiveness.

第三，构建制度和政策框架，创新发展数字贸易。一是制定数据跨境流动规则，建立网络安全保障体系。在保障数据安全和个人隐私的前提下，制定数据跨境流动规则，促进数据自由流动，打破数据壁垒。加强网络安全立法，完善网络安全审查制度，保障数字贸易安全可靠运行。二是加强数字经济领域国际合作，积极推动加入《数字经济伙伴关系协定》进程，建立健全数字贸易治理体系。三是加快培育数字贸易领域的领军企业和“专精特新”企业，提升企业市场布局能力和国际竞争力。

Deepen the reform of the foreign investment management system to attract high-quality global resources and factors to take root in the Chinese market. Foreign investment is an important link connecting the domestic and international dual circulations, a vital force in smoothing the links of production, circulation, and consumption, and an important force participating in the construction of Chinese-path modernization. Creating a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment is an important path to attract high-quality global resources and factors to take root in the Chinese market. On the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to address the shortcomings and weaknesses of the current business environment, further deepen the reform of the foreign investment management system, and accelerate the creation of a world-class business environment.

深化外商投资管理体制改革，吸引全球优质资源要素深耕中国市场。外商投资是连接国内国际双循环的重要纽带，是畅通生产、流通、消费各环节的重要力量，是参与中国式现代化建设的重要力量。营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，是吸引全球优质资源要素深耕中国市场的重要路径。新时代新征程，要针对当前营商环境的短板与弱项，进一步深化外商投资管理体制改革，加快打造国际一流的营商环境。

First, accelerate the construction of a unified national market and create a market-oriented business environment with fair competition. Fair competition is not only a basic principle of the market economy and an objective requirement for building a unified national market, but also a long-term theme of China’s enterprise development policy, reflecting the general trend of changes in global economic and trade rules. Therefore, it is necessary to promote a better combination of an effective market and a competent government, accelerate the construction of a unified national market, and create a market-oriented business environment with fair competition. On the one hand, by improving market mechanisms such as pricing, competition, and supply and demand, deepen market-oriented reforms of factors such as labor, capital, and land, fully leverage the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, and further stimulate the creativity and market vitality of the whole society; on the other hand, accelerate the construction of an efficient, standardized, fair, competitive, and fully open unified national market, better play the role of the government, improve the efficiency of resource allocation, further release market potential, and provide strong support for building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development.

第一，加快构建全国统一大市场，营造公平竞争的市场化营商环境。公平竞争既是市场经济的基本原则、建设全国统一大市场的客观要求，也是我国企业发展政策的长期性主题，体现了全球经贸规则变化的大潮流。因此，要推动有效市场和有为政府更好结合，加快构建全国统一大市场，营造公平竞争的市场化营商环境。一方面，通过完善价格、竞争、供求等市场机制，深化劳动力、资本、土地等要素市场化改革，充分发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用，进一步激发全社会创造力和市场活力；另一方面，加快构建高效规范、公平竞争、充分开放的全国统一大市场，更好发挥政府作用，提高资源配置效率，进一步释放市场潜力，为构建新发展格局、推动高质量发展提供有力支撑。

Second, deeply advance the construction of the rule of law and create an open and transparent law-based business environment. First, continuously improve the level of law-based business environment, constantly improve the legal system for the business environment, accelerate the completion of the revision and abolition of regulations and policy documents inconsistent with the requirements of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations on Optimizing the Business Environment, and continuously improve the mechanism for policy formulation and implementation. Second, strengthen the transparency of law enforcement by disclosing law enforcement information, improving law enforcement records, strengthening public participation, reinforcing internal supervision, strengthening the training of law enforcement personnel, and establishing a unified law enforcement information platform.

第二，深入推进法治建设，营造公开透明的法治化营商环境。一是持续提升营商环境法治化水平，不断健全营商环境法律制度体系，加快完成与《中华人民共和国外商投资法》《优化营商环境条例》等要求不一致的法规政策文件修订废止工作，不断完善政策制定实施机制。二是通过公开执法信息、完善执法记录、加强公众参与、强化内部监督、加强执法人员培训，建立统一的执法信息平台等，加强执法透明度。

Third, expand market access and create an open and inclusive internationalized business environment. First, expand market access, reasonably shorten the negative list for foreign investment access, and promote the orderly expansion of opening up in fields such as telecommunications, the internet, education, culture, and medical care. Second, align with international high-standard intellectual property rules, improve intellectual property protection regulations, and strengthen the construction of a trade secret protection system. Third, improve service guarantees, increase efforts to attract foreign investment, expand the catalogue of encouraged foreign investment industries, and improve the convenience systems for the entry, residence, medical care, payment, and other aspects of daily life for foreign personnel.

第三，扩大市场准入，营造开放包容的国际化营商环境。一是扩大市场准入，合理缩减外资准入负面清单，推动电信、互联网、教育、文化、医疗等领域有序扩大开放。二是对接国际高标准知识产权规则，完善知识产权保护规定，加强商业秘密保护制度建设。三是完善服务保障，加大吸引外商投资力度，扩大鼓励外商投资产业目录，完善境外人员入境居住、医疗、支付等生活便利制度。

Improve the mechanism for promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and promote the building of an open world economy. Against the backdrop of globalization encountering headwinds and the global governance system facing unprecedented challenges, high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has become a key force in promoting global development and promoting the building of an open world economy. Facing the requirements of the new stage, it is necessary to adhere to the coordinated promotion principle of “enterprise as the main body, market operation, government guidance, and international rules,” and from aspects such as scientific and technological innovation, green development, and the digital economy, improve the mechanism for promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, ensure the steady and sustained progress of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote the building of an open world economy.

完善推进高质量共建“一带一路”机制，推动建设开放型世界经济。在全球化遭遇逆风、全球治理体系面临前所未有的挑战背景下，高质量共建“一带一路”已成为推动全球发展、推动建设开放型世界经济的关键力量。面对新阶段新要求，应坚持“企业主体、市场运作、政府引导、国际规则”的协调推进原则，从科技创新、绿色发展、数字经济等方面，完善推进高质量共建“一带一路”机制，确保共建“一带一路”行稳致远，推动建设开放型世界经济。

First, form a dual-wheel drive of an effective market and a competent government, and improve the mechanism for promoting scientific and technological innovation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. On the one hand, the government should mainly play a role in the general direction of scientific and technological development, investment in joint construction research and development, and the construction of transnational cooperation platforms. It is necessary to fully leverage the advantages of the new nationwide system for mobilizing resources, [10]10 The “new nationwide system for mobilizing resources” (新型举国体制) refers to a state-led mechanism for concentrating resources to achieve breakthroughs in key strategic areas, particularly science and technology, adapted from the earlier planned-economy model. and with key government support, achieve breakthroughs in a number of frontier fields where the direction is already clear and technology is mature, thereby significantly enhancing China’s original scientific and technological innovation capabilities. On the other hand, private institutions should play an active role in specific R&D organization, the transformation and implementation of scientific and technological achievements, and the exploration of forms of international cooperation. Fully leverage the independence, autonomy, and innovative spirit of various innovation entities in industry, academia, and research, and create the broadest space for free innovation for scientific and technological innovation and inventors.

第一，形成有效市场与有为政府双轮驱动，完善推动共建“一带一路”科技创新机制。一方面，政府主要在科技发展大方向、共建技术研发投入、跨国合作平台建设等方面发挥作用。要充分发挥新型举国体制优势，在政府重点支持下，在一批业已方向明确、技术成熟的前沿领域获得突破，进而显著提升中国原创性科技创新能力。另一方面，民间机构应在具体研发组织、科技成果转化与实施、国际合作形式探索等方面发挥积极作用。充分发挥产学研各类创新主体的独立性、自主性和创新精神，为科技创新和发明者创造最广阔的自由创新空间。

Second, adhere to government guidance and enterprise as the main body, and improve the mechanism for promoting green development in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. On the one hand, actively leverage the guiding role of the government and coordinate the improvement of the green development support and guarantee system. In key areas such as green infrastructure, green transportation, green ecology, green energy, and green finance, implement the “Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road” and jointly seek green development. Through policy tools such as fiscal subsidies, tax incentives, and green finance, promote the research, development, and application of green technologies. On the other hand, adhere to market-oriented operation and leverage the main role of enterprises. Enterprises participating in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative should actively assume the responsibility for green development, integrate environmental protection concepts into the entire process of project planning, construction, and operation; they should strengthen the research, development, and application of green technologies, promote the innovation and dissemination of technologies such as energy conservation, emission reduction, and the circular economy, and enhance the green competitiveness of projects.

第二，坚持政府引导、企业主体，完善推进共建“一带一路”绿色发展机制。一方面，积极发挥政府引导作用，统筹完善绿色发展支撑保障体系。在绿色基建、绿色交通、绿色生态、绿色能源、绿色金融等重点领域，落实好《“一带一路”绿色投资原则》，共谋绿色发展。通过财政补贴、税收优惠、绿色金融等政策工具，推动绿色技术研发和应用。另一方面，坚持市场化运作，发挥企业主体作用。参与共建“一带一路”企业应主动承担绿色发展责任，将环保理念融入项目规划、建设和运营的全过程；应加强绿色技术的研发和应用，推动节能减排、循环经济等技术的创新和推广，提升项目的绿色竞争力。

Third, adhere to government guidance and enterprise as the main body, and improve the mechanism for the digital economy in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. On the one hand, actively leverage the guiding role of the government and accelerate the cultivation of new business forms and models for cooperation in the digital field. Actively promote the interconnection of digital infrastructure, and accelerate cooperation in fields such as cross-border e-commerce, smart cities, the Internet of Things, and 5G. At the same time, strive to bridge the digital divide, so that the dividends of digital economy development truly benefit the people of all countries. On the other hand, leverage the main role of enterprises and research institutions, and adhere to market-oriented operation. Encourage enterprises participating in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, especially technology enterprises, to carry out technological innovation and business model innovation, enhance the international competitiveness of the digital economy, and at the same time promote cooperation among participating enterprises in fields such as digital infrastructure, e-commerce, smart cities, and artificial intelligence, forming a complete digital economy industry chain.

第三，坚持政府引导、企业主体，完善共建“一带一路”数字经济机制。一方面，积极发挥政府引导作用，加快培育数字领域合作新业态新模式。积极推进数字基础设施互联互通，加快推进跨境电商、智慧城市、物联网、5G等领域合作。同时着力弥合数字鸿沟，让数字经济发展红利切实惠及各国人民。另一方面，发挥企业和研究机构的主体作用，坚持市场化运作。鼓励参与共建“一带一路”的企业特别是科技企业开展技术创新、商业模式创新，提升数字经济的国际竞争力，同时推动参与共建企业在数字基础设施、电子商务、智慧城市、人工智能等领域的合作，形成完整的数字经济产业链。

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Beijing Municipal Party Committee Party School.)

（作者系北京市委党校中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心研究员）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁