Core Viewpoint - The establishment of the Shanghai Offshore Economic Function Zone is a strategic move in response to the profound adjustments in the global financial landscape, aiming to enhance Shanghai's international financial center capabilities and facilitate the internationalization of the Renminbi from "trade settlement" to "reserve currency" [1] Institutional Innovation - The core competitiveness of the Shanghai Offshore Economic Function Zone lies in a regulatory framework that aligns with international practices while incorporating Chinese characteristics, emphasizing "transparent rules + precise regulation" [2] - The zone will implement a "boundary management" approach, allowing foreign capital to flow freely while ensuring that offshore activities do not disrupt the onshore financial system [2] Business Environment Innovation - The average approval time for foreign financial institutions to set up offshore business departments in China is currently 187 days, significantly longer than the 4-week standard in Dubai. The zone aims to reduce this to 30 days through a "commitment system + full-process supervision" [3] - The zone will promote a "multi-currency fund pool + blockchain clearing" model to enhance cross-border settlement efficiency, targeting a significant increase in corporate fund turnover rates by 2025 [3] Tax Policy Design - The zone will adopt a "low tax + strong regulation" policy, proposing a 5% capital gains tax and zero VAT for offshore financial activities, while implementing strict anti-tax avoidance measures [4] - A "tax neutrality + anti-avoidance" mechanism will be established to prevent tax arbitrage and ensure compliance in offshore operations [4] Legal and Regulatory Coordination - A "special legal application zone" will be created to allow international commercial contracts to choose applicable laws, enhancing the legal framework for offshore operations [5][6] - A joint regulatory meeting involving the central bank, foreign exchange bureau, and financial regulatory authorities will oversee offshore financial activities, promoting innovation while managing risks [6] Business Ecosystem - The zone will focus on providing comprehensive services for cross-border trade and investment, particularly for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative [7] - The offshore bond market will be a key focus, with targets set for issuance and financing for infrastructure projects by 2026 [8] Internal and External Coordination - The zone will establish a network linking itself with Hong Kong and global nodes, facilitating risk isolation and collaborative value release [12] - A "Shanghai-Hong Kong offshore financial express" mechanism will be implemented to allow for the flow of funds based on real trade backgrounds [13] Risk Prevention - A "prevention-monitoring-disposal" risk control system will be established to mitigate concerns about risk spillover [16] - The zone will implement strict account management to ensure complete separation between offshore and onshore accounts, with rigorous transaction verification processes [17] Ecological Support - The zone will develop a talent system to attract and cultivate international financial professionals, aiming to increase the proportion of foreign talent by 2025 [21] - High-level infrastructure will be enhanced to improve global competitiveness, including the establishment of a global offshore financial data port [22]

Group 1 - The construction of Shanghai as an international financial center is supported by national reforms and policies aimed at enhancing its global financial hub status [2][3] - Recent initiatives include the establishment of a growth layer on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board and measures to facilitate cross-border financial services [2][3] - Shanghai aims to become a key hub in the global financial system through high-level financial openness, enhancing the role of RMB assets, and improving its financial ecosystem [3][5] Group 2 - The competition among international financial centers is intensifying, with cities like London, New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore implementing innovative development measures [4][5] - Shanghai's strengths lie in financial development and infrastructure, while its weaknesses include reputation and business environment, indicating a need for soft power enhancement [5] - The establishment of a high-level offshore financial market in Shanghai is crucial for attracting international investments and enhancing the city's financial capabilities [6][7] Group 3 - The development of an offshore financial market in Shanghai requires supportive tax policies and regulatory frameworks to attract foreign institutions [8][9] - Shanghai's offshore market must connect with global markets, including Hong Kong, London, and Singapore, to facilitate RMB transactions and enhance liquidity [9] - The city should focus on creating innovative financial products to meet the needs of international investors and improve its global financial market presence [9][10] Group 4 - To elevate its status as an international financial center, Shanghai needs to establish a more internationalized and innovative corporate structure for listed companies [10][11] - The city should enhance its financial market's reputation by improving transparency and providing authoritative reports on its financial center development [12][13] - A multi-lingual platform for financial information dissemination is essential to attract international investors and improve Shanghai's global recognition [13][14] Group 5 - The cultivation of strategic financial talent is critical for Shanghai's international financial center development, requiring a focus on training and retaining skilled professionals [14][15] - The city should benchmark against top international financial institutions to enhance its competitiveness and governance capabilities [14]

Core Viewpoint - The Shanghai Lingang New Area is positioned as a key breakthrough for exploring offshore financial development in China, focusing on three-dimensional innovations in offshore trade financial services [1][7]. Group 1: Innovations in Offshore Trade Financial Services - Establishment of dedicated offshore trade accounts (FTT accounts) allows for cross-border fund transfers in seconds, aiming for a threefold increase in fund turnover rate by 2025 compared to traditional accounts [1]. - Implementation of digital RMB for cross-border settlements, with a target to cover 80% of offshore trade scenarios by 2026 [1]. - Simplification of business processes through blockchain technology, reducing the number of required paper documents from 20 to 3, significantly decreasing verification time from multiple days to seconds [1]. Group 2: National-Level Authenticity Verification Platform - Integration of data from six major systems, including foreign exchange, customs, and taxation, to create a national-level offshore trade authenticity verification blockchain platform, improving verification accuracy from 82% to 99% [2]. - The platform includes a risk heat map for automatic triggering of enhanced due diligence on high-risk transactions, ensuring full traceability of cross-border funds [2]. Group 3: Tax and Service Ecosystem - Upgraded tax incentives for offshore trade enterprises, including exemptions from income tax and VAT for offshore RMB settlement businesses [2]. - Introduction of a comprehensive financial service package, providing financing based on accounts receivable and establishing a service center for offshore trade enterprises [2]. Group 4: Offshore Bond and Multi-Currency Strategy - Legislative measures to establish a regulatory framework for offshore bonds by the end of 2025, enhancing the offshore attributes of these instruments [3]. - Expansion of available currencies in FTT accounts to 19 and signing currency swap agreements with countries like Vietnam and Egypt [3]. - Development of a digital RMB offshore bond lifecycle management platform by 2026, reducing settlement cycles and costs significantly [3]. Group 5: Pricing and Global Capital Attraction - Collaboration with Hong Kong and Singapore to create a RMB offshore bond yield curve, aiming to become a core pricing benchmark by 2030 [4]. - Implementation of tax exemptions for foreign investors in offshore bonds, with plans to introduce RMB offshore bond futures and options by 2026 [4]. Group 6: Institutional and Corporate Engagement - Integration of various account types into a new FT account, with a target increase in non-resident account penetration from 5.9% to 45% by 2026 [5]. - Incentives for state-owned enterprises to use RMB for at least 50% of payments in Belt and Road projects, along with export tax rebates for RMB settlements [5]. Group 7: Infrastructure and Regional Service Enhancement - Development of a global RMB offshore clearing center in Lingang by 2027, with a daily clearing volume target of 50 trillion yuan [6]. - Upgrading CIPS to a platform for both settlement and asset custody, with a goal of 50 trillion yuan in offshore bond custody by 2025 [6]. - Establishing a three-tier service structure to enhance offshore financial services across the Yangtze River Delta region [6]. Group 8: Long-term Vision - The strategy aims to establish Shanghai as a global offshore asset allocation center centered around RMB by 2030, enhancing its status in international financial governance [7].

Group 1: Importance of Offshore Finance in China - The necessity of offshore finance activities in China is highlighted as a crucial opportunity to enhance the international financial center's capabilities and support the internationalization of the Renminbi [2] - Offshore finance serves as a significant window for attracting foreign investment and promoting the development of offshore trade and economy, providing domestic enterprises with access to low-cost funding [3] - Offshore finance markets offer a relatively relaxed regulatory environment, fostering financial innovation and reform within domestic financial institutions [4] Group 2: Distinction Between Domestic and International Offshore Finance - Domestic offshore finance activities are defined as those conducted within specific regions in China, targeting non-residents and certain qualified domestic enterprises, thus supporting cross-border trade and financing needs [5] - International offshore finance activities involve Chinese financial institutions or enterprises operating in foreign regions, contributing to the internationalization of the Renminbi and enhancing the global competitiveness of Chinese financial institutions [6][7] Group 3: Integration of Domestic and International Offshore Finance - Emphasis is placed on the integration of domestic and international offshore finance activities, which is essential for the construction of Shanghai as an international financial center and the overall development of China's financial strength [10] - The development of a unified trading platform and clearing system is necessary to facilitate smooth capital, information, and financial product flows between domestic and international markets [10] - The establishment of cross-border risk monitoring and early warning mechanisms is crucial for preventing systemic financial risks and enhancing investor confidence in China's offshore financial markets [10] Group 4: Regulatory Framework and Policy Recommendations - The construction of a transparent regulatory system for offshore funds is vital, with a focus on international cooperation and the establishment of cross-border financial regulatory rules to prevent regulatory arbitrage [12] - Optimizing tax policies for offshore financial activities can lower operational costs for financial institutions and attract more international business and capital inflow [12] - The need for innovative measures such as tax incentives for offshore financial institutions and support for cross-border financial innovation is emphasized to create an attractive offshore financial environment [12] Group 5: Strategic Goals for Offshore Finance Development - The strategic direction for offshore finance development should focus on the integration of domestic and international activities, the unification of currency operations, and the deep integration with the real economy and international trade [13] - Systematic reforms involving institutional innovation, market connectivity, and risk prevention are essential to achieve the goal of becoming a financial powerhouse [13]