Core Viewpoint - The reform of the administrative approval system is a crucial step in deepening overall reforms, aiming to enhance government governance efficiency and stimulate social vitality through effective policy implementation and multi-dimensional interaction [1] Group 1: Strengthening Institutional Transmission Mechanism - Effective policy transmission is essential for the micro-transformation of institutional potential, requiring operational policy goals, responsibility closure at execution levels, and standardized institutional tools [2] - Zhejiang Province has developed a "one-time run" work specification for government services, detailing the central government's simplification policies into operational manuals that include item lists, processing procedures, and service standards [2] - Hangzhou has integrated cross-departmental approvals through a "single-window" platform, allowing businesses and the public to submit materials once to complete the entire process [2] Group 2: Building a Social Participation System - Active participation from social entities is a key driver for the transformation of institutional potential, with digital transformation helping to lower public participation barriers and enhance government-society interaction efficiency [3] - Shanghai has launched a "one-stop service" platform that integrates over a thousand government services, enabling businesses to receive personalized service guides through intelligent matching [3] - The introduction of "artificial intelligence + government" applications allows businesses to input operational data and automatically receive tailored policy benefits and application paths, significantly improving policy reach [3] Group 3: Improving Interactive Feedback Loop - The continuous release of institutional effectiveness relies on a dynamic optimization feedback mechanism, exemplified by the Shanghai Free Trade Zone's use of the "Shanghai International Trade Single Window" platform to collect real-time data on business processes and satisfaction [4] - An intelligent system analyzes data to identify problematic approval stages, triggering alerts and prompting relevant departments to optimize processes, resulting in significantly reduced average processing times and improved service efficiency [4] - The establishment of a "monitoring-analysis-optimization" closed-loop management system utilizes big data technology to convert dispersed information into structured decision-making bases, enhancing policy response accuracy and fostering a positive interaction between policy optimization and market feedback [4]

Core Insights - The World Bank's recent survey of 2,189 Chinese enterprises indicates that China excels in 12 out of 59 business environment assessment points, particularly in electronic payments, electricity access, and skills training, achieving global best levels [1] - Shanghai's enterprises outperform national and eastern regional averages, with approximately 22 assessment points reaching global best levels [1] - The new Business Ready (BR) assessment incorporates enterprise sentiment, accounting for about 27% of the overall score, reflecting a shift towards prioritizing business experiences in evaluating the business environment [1][2] Business Environment Assessment - The BR assessment includes three pillars (regulatory framework, public services, enterprise efficiency), ten primary indicators, and three cross-cutting themes, utilizing both enterprise and expert surveys for data collection [2] - Chinese enterprises performed well in the BR assessment, with six out of eight efficiency indicators surpassing the median of 103 economies, particularly in resolving business disputes, taxation, and obtaining financial services [2][3] Efficiency and Cost Metrics - Chinese enterprises demonstrate superior time efficiency, with VAT refund processing taking one week, matching the best-performing economies [3] - In international trade, the average customs clearance time for exports is three days and for imports is ten days, which is better than many regional counterparts [4] - The cost of electronic payments for Chinese enterprises is zero, aligning with the best-performing economies [4][5] Shanghai's Leading Performance - Among the surveyed enterprises, 58 Shanghai companies show significant advantages, with 22 assessment points achieving global best levels, including zero power outages reported [6] - Shanghai's financial services, including electronic payment costs, are also at global best levels, indicating a robust business environment [6] International Trade and Logistics - Shanghai's port container throughput surpassed 50 million TEUs in 2024, maintaining its position as the world's leading port for 15 consecutive years [8] - The port has significantly reduced international shipping times, enhancing global supply chain efficiency [8] Continuous Improvement Initiatives - Shanghai has implemented extensive reforms since 2018, with over a thousand measures aimed at optimizing the business environment, resulting in increased market vitality [9][12] - In 2024, Shanghai established 342,681 new enterprises, leading the nation in business density [12] Future Directions - Despite positive survey results, there is a recognition that further enhancements are needed to meet global best practices and high-quality development standards [13] - Shanghai plans to introduce ten key initiatives to further optimize the business environment, focusing on administrative efficiency and support for small and medium enterprises [13]