On October 11, the People's Government of Sichuan Province officially issued the Implementation Plan for China (Nanchong) Comprehensive Cross-border E-commerce Pilot Zone and the Implementation Plan for China (Meishan) Comprehensive Cross-border E-commerce Pilot Zone. According to the Plans, the two Zones will work to pilot technical standards, business processes, supervision models and informatization in transactions, payment, logistics, customs clearance, tax refund, and foreign exchange settlement of cross-border e-commerce, so as to provide innovation experience that can be repeated and promoted for the healthy development of cross-border e-commerce industry, and accelerate the transformation and upgrading of foreign trade.  

Cross-border e-commerce is considered one of the ways to boost foreign trade. At the beginning of this year, the State Council approved the establishment of comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones in 27 cities and regions, including Nanchong and Meishan. 

According to the Plans, the development efforts of Nanchong and Meishan have both similarities and different focuses. 

The main tasks of Nanchong include the following three aspects: accelerating the development of an online and offline comprehensive service platform for cross-border e-commerce, building six major systems for cross-border e-commerce supervision and services, and implementing six major innovations of cross-border e-commerce pilot. After 2-4 years of efforts in reform and innovation, Nanchong will build a framework for a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zone and foster a synergy of cross-border e-commerce with the real economy, other new types of foreign trade, and trade in service. China (Nanchong) Comprehensive Cross-border E-commerce Pilot Zone will be built into an industrial development hub of cross-border e-commerce that serves northeast Sichuan, facilitates the development of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and is committed to giving full play to the leading role of a platform, market agglomeration, efficient government services and a complete industrial ecosystem. By 2025, cross-border e-commerce will exceed 2 billion yuan. 

Meishan's main tasks cover 13 aspects, such as developing an online public service platform, an offline comprehensive support platform, an information sharing system, a financial service system, a smart logistics system, an e-commerce credit system, a statistical and monitoring system, as well as a risk prevention and control system, fostering and strengthening market entities, promoting innovation in business and regulatory models, and accelerating the strategic planning of the overseas warehouse network and the development of a talent support system. After 3-5 years of efforts in reform and innovation, Meishan will build a cross-border e-commerce public service platform and an offline industrial park, and foster a cross-border e-commerce development pattern featuring online and offline integration, prosperous imports and exports, and efficient circulation of domestic and foreign factors. Relying on Chengdu and Chongqing, the two consumption center cities, the city will build an import products distribution center of cross-border e-commerce in southwest China. Thanks to Meishan International Railway Port, it will build an export hub of characteristic products in the region. By 2025, its annual cross-border e-commerce will reach 1.5 billion yuan.