Expert from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics: Enhancing the Energy Level of Hongqiao International Open Hub Should Focus on "Four Advancements" Innovation | Core | International
Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission issued several policy measures to further enhance the level of the Hongqiao International Open Hub, further proposing 24 specific measures around the upgrading of the "one core, two belts" function. This is a major policy upgrade following the implementation of the overall plan for the construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub in 2021.
As an important carrier area responsible for the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, and the construction of the Shanghai International Trade Center, the Hongqiao International Open Hub's gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 2.3 trillion yuan in 2020 to 2.69 trillion yuan in 2022, accounting for less than 2% of the total economic output in the three provinces and cities of the Yangtze River Delta.
At the same time, 100 of the 104 key tasks proposed in the Overall Plan for the Construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub have been implemented, and 26 of the 29 policy measures have been implemented.
However, compared to the goal of "basically completed by 2025 and fully completed by 2035", there are still shortcomings in the construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub.
For example, as the "core" of the Hongqiao International Central Business District, it has outstanding advantages in the construction of comprehensive transportation hubs, but its functions are still insufficient in financial service hubs, technological innovation hubs, and nodes for opening up to the outside world.
For example, the construction of the "two belts" reflects the three core functions of "big transportation", "big exhibition", and "big business", and has achieved a series of achievements in kinetic energy building, functional aggregation, institutional innovation, and leading radiation. However, how to form a gradient industrial network, open innovation network around the core business district, and more effectively allocate regional high-end resource elements still needs further improvement.
On the new journey, how to organically integrate and compete with the "one core" and "two belts", and form regional synergy to further leverage the spillover effects of knowledge, technology, and capital, there are new deployments in the "Several Policy Measures for Promoting the Further Upgrading of the Hongqiao International Open Hub".
Specifically, it embodies several characteristics:
One is to elevate the connotation of hub functions, highlight the platform functions of hubs more, and emphasize the construction of open, technological, industrial, and innovative platforms under the background of regional integrated development.
The second is the upgrading of service functions, with a focus on promoting the upgrading and transformation of goods trade to service trade and digital trade, and promoting the development of advanced formats.
The third is to upgrade the hub connectivity mechanism, shifting from relying on transportation conditions for regional integration to connecting industrial and technological networks, and more effectively leveraging the function of factor allocation.
The fourth is the advancement of regional gradient development, further highlighting the integration between different urban areas and advantageous industries, promoting the radiating development of the "two belts" to the surrounding areas, highlighting the node positions of Suzhou and Jiaxing, and highlighting the functions of cities such as Hefei and Wuhu in the hub.
In addition, there are some outstanding highlights. For example, there is a forward-looking policy layout in the "hard core" technology fields such as innovation in digital RMB functions and application scenarios, intelligent connected vehicle license plate networking testing, data center construction, pharmaceutical research and development, and medical services, further highlighting the improvement and upgrading of hub "big science and technology innovation" service capabilities.
In promoting integrated development and high-quality integration, more emphasis is placed on the transformation of policies from "hard factors" to "soft factors". Especially, the construction and development of new economic elements such as rules, talent, data, and intellectual property have been elevated to new heights.
At the same time, pay attention to the in-depth promotion of institutional openness in the field. A series of practical institutional arrangements have been made in the fields of financial services, digital finance, data trade, intellectual property, etc.
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China made important arrangements for promoting high-level opening-up to the outside world, emphasizing the steady expansion of institutional openness in areas such as rules, regulations, management, and standards. In the situation where opening forces reform, it is necessary to seriously consider how to do a good job in "international opening" for the Hongqiao International Open Hub.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. How to leverage the advantages of pilot free trade zones and steadily expand institutional openness is of great significance for the construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub.
Firstly, expand institutional openness. We can draw on the experience of constructing pilot free trade zones to promote the implementation of innovative open policies in the Hongqiao Central Business District, and gradually promote the "two belts". Suggest docking with high standard international business districts and conducting open stress tests to further expand the scope of openness.
Secondly, unleash the dividends of opening up and do a good job in the "dual zone linkage" inside and outside the hub. Specifically, it includes two levels of content: first, the linkage between Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and Hongqiao Business District, including policy transplantation, replication, dissemination, and innovation; The second is the linkage between different regional development zones to enhance the overall level of openness in the Yangtze River Delta.
Thirdly, leverage the spillover effects of the CIIE. Relying on the iconic brand of the CIIE, endowing it with richer connotations and forms, not only "bringing in", but also "going out", relying on the flow of people, information, and funds of the CIIE, promoting the deepening development of openness.
Furthermore, we need to form innovative synergy in policies. One is to form effective institutional arrangements around "development" and "openness", achieve policy synergy, and guard against the "synthesis fallacy" between different policies; The second is to make enterprises the main body and better leverage the market mechanism for resource allocation; The third is to strike a balance between regional policy differentiation and synergy, highlight hub characteristics, bridge institutional differences, and fill the innovation gap.