Shanghai Weekly Bulletin is an information service presented by the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in collaboration with Wolters Kluwer to foreign-funded enterprises, foreign-related institutions as well as people from overseas living in Shanghai. Covering major national and Shanghai foreign-related news, event information, policy Q&A and interpretations in the past week, it keeps you up-to-date with the latest foreign-related policies and developments in Shanghai.
If you have any comments or suggestions for Shanghai Weekly Bulletin, please feel free to send an email to shanghai_weekly@shanghai.gov.cn. Thank you!
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Laws and Regulations
【National】
Seven Authorities Release the New Edition of the Catalogue of Encouraged Imported Services
Three Authorities Issue Document to Promote High-quality Development of Low-altitude Aviation Insurance
Release of Typical Civil and Commercial Cases of 2025
【Shanghai】
Shanghai’s 15th Five-year Planning Program Outline Released
2026 Yangtze River Delta Regional Credit Cooperation Work Plan Announced
Shanghai High People’s Court Releases 2026 Action Plan for Optimizing Law-based Business Environment
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Q&A
Q1. An official from the Financial Regulatory Office of the CPC Shanghai Committee answered media questions at a municipal government press conference regarding the theme of Shanghai’s 15th Five-Year Plan: “It can be seen that improving the quality and efficiency of financial services for the real economy is an important component of the 15th Five-year Plan. What best practices has Shanghai adopted to inject financial vitality into enterprise development? During the 15th Five-year Plan period, what measures will be taken to further enhance financial services for the real economy?”
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Expert Perspective
China’s New Mineral Resources Law: Opening a New Era of Strategic Opportunities in Mining Investment for Foreign Investors
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One Week in Shanghai
【Latest News】
Shanghai Receives a Total of 21.6721 Million Tourist Trips During the Spring Festival Holiday
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce Releases the 2025 List of Recognized Trade-oriented Headquarters
Shanghai Completes the Country’s First Online Cross-border Identity Authentication for a Singapore Enterprise
“Shanghai Echoes” Video Series Launched Across All Online Platforms
Hongqiao Branch of Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center Adds Consular Authentication and Additional Certificate Processing Services
【Corporate Activities】
ZEISS Greater China Headquarters Campus Breaks Ground in Pudong
Höganäs’ New Plant in Qingpu Completed and Put into Operation
【Forums and Exhibitions】
Appliance and Electronics World Expo to Be Held in Shanghai from March 12 to 15
Invitation Extended for the First Overseas Investment Fair
【Culture & Art】
“Galloping Wonders — Year of the Horse Science & Culture Special Exhibition” Grandly Opens
Shanghai Auto Culture Festival 2026 to be Held in March
Laws and Regulations
National
1.Seven Authorities Release the New Edition of the Catalogue of Encouraged Imported Services
[Keywords: Services import]
Recently, MOFCOM and six other authorities released a revised edition of the Catalogue of Encouraged Imported Services. The document continues to support four categories, namely, “R&D and design services”, “energy conservation and environmental protection services”, “environmental services”, and “consulting services”, while adding two new categories, i.e., “other professional services” and “medical and health services”. It also refines certain sub-categories and improves deions of the services.
Source:MOFCOM
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2026/art_8690f1441d074007a697c0f034f75a36.html
2.Three Authorities Issue Document to Promote High-quality Development of Low-altitude Aviation Insurance
[Keywords: Low-altitude aviation insurance]
Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Promoting High-quality Development of Low-altitude Aviation Insurance. The document puts forward nine specific measures from four dimensions, i.e., policy framework, institutional arrangements, products and services, and foundational capabilities.
Source:NDRC
3. Release of Typical Civil and Commercial Cases of 2025
[Keywords: Typical civil and commercial cases]
On February 24, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released five typical civil and commercial cases for 2025, covering, among others, applications for corporate liquidation, performance of equity transfer contracts, and disputes over liability for false statements in securities.
Shanghai
1. Shanghai’s 15th Five-year Planning Program Outline Released
[Keywords: Outline, 15th Five-Year Plan]
The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of Shanghai was recently released. The document sets out 20 key indicators and proposes key tasks and measures across 13 areas. It specifies that, by 2030, the core functions of the “Five Centers” will be further enhanced and the city’s overall global standing will continue to advance; by 2035, the functions of the “Five Centers” will be fully upgraded, with key development indicators reaching internationally leading levels, and Shanghai will have essentially developed into a socialist, modern, international metropolis with global influence.
2. 2026 Yangtze River Delta Regional Credit Cooperation Work Plan Announced
[Keywords: Yangtze River Delta region credit cooperation]
Recently, the credit authorities of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, and Anhui Province jointly formulated the 2026 Yangtze River Delta Regional Credit Cooperation Work Plan. The document puts forward 18 tasks across three areas. Focusing on the fields of culture, tourism, market regulation, food and drug safety, transportation, and several priority regions, the document aims to promote mutual recognition and sharing of credit information and coordinated regulation, further foster an honest and trustworthy credit environment, and support the sustained and healthy development of business entities in the Yangtze River Delta region.
3. Shanghai High People’s Court Releases 2026 Action Plan for Optimizing Law-based Business Environment
[Keywords: Law-based business climate]
Recently, the Shanghai High People’s Court released the Action Plan (2026) for Law-based Business Environment Development of Shanghai Courts. Centering on three main themes, namely, “improving mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes, strengthening judicial safeguards for market order, and enhancing the effectiveness of bankruptcy trial reforms” and underpinned by “digital empowerment and collaborative synergy”, the document establishes five major sections, 17 initiatives, and 53 specific tasks for building a law-based business environment.
Q&A
An official from the Financial Regulatory Office of the CPC Shanghai Committee answered media questions at a municipal government press conference regarding the theme of Shanghai’s 15th Five-Year Plan:
Q
“It can be seen that improving the quality and efficiency of financial services for the real economy is an important component of the 15th Five-year Plan. What best practices has Shanghai adopted to inject financial vitality into enterprise development? During the 15th Five-year Plan period, what measures will be taken to further enhance financial services for the real economy?”
A
Finance serves as the lifeblood of the national economy, and serving the real economy is the inherent duty of the finance industry. Since the start of the 14th Five-year Plan period, the city’s financial system has remained committed to the fundamental mission of serving the real economy and has focused on advancing the development of the “five key financial pillars” (namely, sci-tech finance, green finance, inclusive finance, elderly care finance, and digital finance). As a result, the quality and efficiency of financial services for the real economy have been continuously improved. Last year, the city’s finance industry recorded an added value of RMB 897.966 billion, accounting for 15.8% of the city’s GDP. This represents a year-on-year increase of 9.7% and contributes 1.6 percentage points to the city’s overall economic growth.
Overall, there are four main approaches:
First, the financial policy framework has been further improved. Shanghai has introduced a number of policies and measures such as the “32 Measures” on equity investment, the upgraded “Pujiang Light” initiative, the action plan for mergers and acquisitions and restructuring, several measures to support financing for SMEs, and the action plan for building a fintech center.
Second, mechanisms for financial services provision have been continuously enhanced.Shanghai has established pilot zones for sci-tech finance reform and various clusters for equity investment, mergers and acquisitions, and fintech. It has launched the inclusive finance advisor system, issued local standards on green financial leasing and a transition finance catalogue, and promoted the implementation of coordination mechanisms for supporting financing of micro and small enterprises.
Third, financial products and services have become more diverse. Shanghai has rolled out products and services such as Shanghai Sci-Tech Credit Loans, transition finance loans, commercial pension plans, and real estate trust registration, and has launched over two million application scenarios for digital RMB.
Fourth, the efficiency of financial services provision has been continuously improved. By leveraging big data, financial institutions can create accurate “profiles” of SMEs and significantly reduce the processing time.
During the 15th Five-year Plan period, we will further enhance high-quality financial services for major strategies, priority fields, and underserved areas, and direct more financial resources toward supporting expansion of domestic demand, sci-tech innovation, green development, SME financing, and people’s livelihoods. Our work will focus on five aspects, namely, advancing the development of the “five key financial pillars”:
First, accelerate the establishment of a full-cycle, diversified, and seamless sci-tech finance services framework.We will work with financial regulators to promote the development of the STAR Market and a “technology board” in the bond market, support the development of market-based M&A funds and venture capital funds, enrich technology credit products, and support innovation in sci-tech insurance.
Second, provide high-quality financial supply to support the comprehensive green transition of economic and social development. We will expand the functions of Shanghai’s green finance service platform, make good use of carbon emission reduction instruments, optimize the green finance standards system, and promote the development of green and transition bonds.
Third, improve a multi-tiered, wide-coverage, and sustainable inclusive finance system.We will increase support for first-time and rollover loans, strengthen financing matchmaking for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and support the use of technologies such as blockchain to enhance financing support for upstream and downstream businesses in supply chains.
Fourth, improve the elderly care finance system commensurate with the degree of population aging.We will support the design and investment management of products with elderly care functions, such as savings, wealth management, funds, trusts, and insurance, accelerate the development of “third-pillar” pension insurance, and enhance the age-friendliness of financial services provision.
Fifth, promote the high-quality development of digital finance. We will advance the steady development of digital RMB, support the growth of the Digital Currency International Operations Center in Shanghai, promote the digital transformation of financial institutions, and attract and cluster fintech market entities. In addition, we will strengthen financial cooperation, exchanges, and synergy in the Yangtze River Delta region.
Expert Perspective
China’s New Mineral Resources Law: Opening a New Era of Strategic Opportunities in Mining Investment for Foreign Investors
By Yang Guisheng, Zhu Qi, Wang Yonghui, and Shi Ranran [Beijing Dentons Law Offices]
[Continued from the previous issue]
IV. Preferential Policies for Foreign Investment in the Mining Sector
With respect to foreign investment in the mineral resources sector, the New Mineral Resources Law does not make direct provisions. Instead, it is primarily governed by national industrial policies such as the Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2024 Edition).
According to the Foreign Investment Law, China adopts a management model of “Pre-establishment National Treatment plus Negative List” for foreign investment. To date, the main negative access lists for foreign investment issued by China include:
Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2024 Edition);
Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access in Pilot Free Trade Zones (Negative List) (2021 Edition);
Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access in the Hainan Free Trade Port (Negative List) (2020 Edition).
According to the above negative access lists, foreign investors wishing to make capital investment in China’s mining sector should first avoid prohibited areas on the negative access list, such as rare earths, radioactive mineral resources, and the exploration, mining, and beneficiation of tungsten. For restricted areas, foreign investment must meet special requirements concerning equity ratio and qualifications of senior management, among others. Areas not included on the negative access list are governed under the principle of equal treatment for domestic and foreign capital.
For areas not included on the negative access list, foreign investors may also pay close attention to the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (2022 Edition). In the mining sector, encouraged industries for foreign investment include:
exploration and development of petroleum and natural gas (including shale gas and coalbed methane) across China
exploration, mining, and beneficiation of mineral types in short supply in China (such as potash salts and chromite)
investment in exploration and mining of seabed minerals in Hainan Province
investment in exploration, mining, and beneficiation of offshore and lacustrine shale oil and gas in upstream petroleum and natural gas blocks in Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province (especially the Sichuan Basin) where mineral rights have not yet been granted.
It is evident that, in the mineral resources sector, there are very few types of minerals or areas where foreign investment is prohibited or restricted. On the contrary, the state encourages foreign investment in this sector.
[To be continued]
One Week in Shanghai
Latest News
1. Shanghai Receives a Total of 21.6721 Million Tourist Trips During the Spring Festival Holiday
[Keywords: Spring Festival, Tourists]
During the Spring Festival holiday, Shanghai received a total of 21.6721 million tourist trips, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.36% (on a comparable basis, same below). Total consumption across all tourism sectors in Shanghai, including food, accommodation, transport, tourism activities, shopping, and entertainment, reached RMB 25.614 billion, up 20.90% year-on-year. The average room occupancy rate of local hotels and guesthouses was 50.60%, an increase of 3.10 percentage points year-on-year.
Source: International Services Shanghai
2. Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce Releases the 2025 List of Recognized Trade-oriented Headquarters
[Keywords: Trade-oriented headquarters]
Recently, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce released the 2025 list of recognized trade-oriented headquarters, with 32 enterprises selected. These include foreign-funded enterprises such as SIBUR International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., DHL Global Forwarding (China) Co., Ltd., and Dyson Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
3. Shanghai Completes the Country’s First Online Cross-border Identity Authentication for a Singapore Enterprise
[Keywords: Singapore, Cross-border identity authentication]
Recently, empowered by Shanghai–Singapore cross-border digital identity authentication, the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation and the Shanghai Municipal Data Bureau joined hands with the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) etc., to successfully establish a cross-border data channel. This initiative marks the launch of China’s first application scenario for full-process online registration of foreign-funded enterprises based on cross-border digital identity authentication. Powered by cutting-edge technologies such as distributed digital identity, verifiable credentials, and blockchain, this application scenario enables enterprises to complete every step of cross-border registration entirely online.
4. “Shanghai Echoes” Video Series Launched Across All Online Platforms
[Keywords: Shanghai Echoes]
On February 27, the “Shanghai Echoes” video series was launched across all online platforms. The series vividly presents whole-process people’s democracy as seen from the perspective of overseas residents.
5. Hongqiao Branch of Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center Adds Consular Authentication and Additional Certificate Processing Services
[Keywords: Foreign affairs service]
Recently, the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center issued a notice stating that, starting from March 2, the Hongqiao branch of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center will add consular authentication and additional certificate processing services.
Corporate Activities
1. ZEISS Greater China Headquarters Campus Breaks Ground in Pudong
[Keyword: ZEISS]
