Core Viewpoint - Accelerating the development of service trade is crucial for expanding high-level opening-up and cultivating new momentum for foreign trade development. Recent policies aim to enhance service exports and promote high-quality development in service trade [1][3]. Group 1: Policy Measures - The newly issued policies include utilizing funding channels and improving bonded supervision systems to boost service exports [1]. - Specific measures target financial and tax support, enhancing precision and effectiveness in promoting service export new business models and green services [1][2]. Group 2: Investment and Funding - The Service Trade Innovation Development Fund, approved by the State Council, plays a significant role in driving service trade innovation and has invested 93 billion yuan in 47 sub-funds and 25 direct projects as of May last year [2]. - The fund has invested in 538 enterprises, totaling 424 billion yuan, demonstrating its capacity to leverage social capital for service trade development [2]. Group 3: Taxation and Efficiency - Implementing a zero tax rate for service exports encourages expansion, with the new policies optimizing the application process for this tax exemption [2]. - The focus is on streamlining tax filing procedures and enhancing inter-departmental collaboration to improve efficiency in service export tax refunds [2]. Group 4: Overall Impact - Strengthening the collaboration among financial, regulatory, and tax policies is expected to enhance the international competitiveness of service export enterprises, indicating a positive outlook for China's service trade [3].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of accelerating the development of service trade as a crucial measure to expand high-level opening-up and cultivate new momentum for foreign trade development [2]. Group 1: Financial Support and Investment - The government encourages the use of existing central and local funding channels to support new service export models, including digital services, high-end design, and green services [3]. - The article highlights the role of the Service Trade Innovation Development Guidance Fund in increasing investment in service trade and digital trade, while revising relevant guidance directories [4]. Group 2: Tax and Insurance Measures - There is a focus on optimizing the zero tax rate application process for service exports, promoting electronic information to replace paper documents to enhance efficiency [5]. - The article discusses increasing support from export credit insurance companies for service exports, expanding coverage, and improving claims service quality [6][7]. Group 3: Regulatory and Operational Improvements - The article outlines measures to improve the supervision of bonded areas, simplifying approval processes for imported goods necessary for research and testing [8]. - It also mentions optimizing cross-border personnel mobility and entry consumption policies to facilitate foreign investment and talent [9]. Group 4: Financial Management and Settlement - The government plans to promote integrated currency pools for multinational companies, allowing service enterprises to join these pools for easier fund allocation [10]. - There is an emphasis on enhancing the convenience of cross-border fund settlement for service trade, encouraging banks to streamline procedures for compliant enterprises [11]. Group 5: Intellectual Property and Data Management - The article encourages the transformation and transaction of intellectual property, improving evaluation and financing services related to patents [12]. - It discusses the promotion of cross-border data flow, establishing operational guidelines for important data and supporting international trade and research [13]. Group 6: Market Expansion Support - The government aims to support enterprises in exploring international markets by providing legal support and enhancing participation in international trade exhibitions [15].

Core Points - The Ministry of Commerce and nine other departments issued a notice on September 24 to promote service exports, outlining 13 policy measures aimed at enhancing service trade and supporting various new service export models [1][2]. Group 1: Policy Measures - The notice emphasizes the utilization of existing funding channels to support service exports, particularly in digital services, high-end design, research and development, and green services [1]. - It aims to optimize the zero tax rate declaration process for service exports and increase the precision of export credit insurance policies [1]. - The measures include improving customs supervision systems and facilitating cross-border personnel movement and inbound consumption [1]. Group 2: Data and Talent Policies - The notice proposes to optimize visa policies for foreign investment enterprises, researchers, and high-level talent coming to China, including expanding the scope of visa-free policies [2]. - It also includes the development of an important data directory and guidelines for data identification, as well as adjustments to the negative list for data export in free trade zones [2]. - The support for cross-border transmission of personal information within multinational companies is also highlighted, allowing for easier internal data flow [2].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Commerce and nine other departments have issued a notice on promoting service exports, emphasizing the importance of developing service trade as a means to expand high-level opening-up and cultivate new momentum for foreign trade [3]. Group 1: Policy Measures - The notice outlines 13 specific measures to enhance service exports and promote high-quality development in service trade [3]. - It encourages the use of existing central and local funding channels to support new service export models, including digital services, high-end design, and green services [4]. - The notice highlights the need to enhance the role of the Service Trade Innovation Development Guidance Fund to attract more social capital into service and digital trade sectors [5]. Group 2: Export Support Mechanisms - The notice proposes optimizing the zero tax rate declaration process for service exports to improve efficiency [6]. - It calls for increased support from export credit insurance companies to provide comprehensive risk protection for service exports [8]. - The document emphasizes the need for precise export credit insurance policies to better serve small and medium-sized enterprises [9]. Group 3: Cross-Border Facilitation - The notice aims to facilitate cross-border personnel movement and improve visa policies for foreign investors and high-level talent [10]. - It encourages the optimization of cross-border capital flow management and the enhancement of cross-border payment convenience for service trade [10]. - The document supports the establishment of international data centers and cloud computing centers in designated areas to provide data processing services [12][13]. Group 4: Intellectual Property and Data Management - The notice promotes the transformation and transaction of intellectual property, including the establishment of a value assessment and transaction system [11]. - It outlines measures for the cross-border flow of important data, including the development of an important data directory and operational guidelines [11]. - The document supports the exploration of international data service business development in specific regions [13].

Core Insights - The State Administration of Foreign Exchange reported that in April 2023, China's goods and services trade reached 43,706 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6% [1] - The trade surplus in goods was 4,464 billion yuan, while the services trade recorded a deficit of 1,138 billion yuan [1] - The service trade sector is increasingly becoming a key driver for China's foreign trade, with significant growth in knowledge-intensive and travel services [1] Group 1: Service Trade Performance - In 2024, the total service trade import and export volume is expected to exceed 7.5 trillion yuan, surpassing 1 trillion USD, maintaining China's position as the second-largest globally [1] - Travel services, as a traditional strength, are experiencing rapid growth due to policy relaxation and rising consumer demand, becoming the largest sector in service trade [1] - Emerging service sectors such as digital culture, online education, and cross-border healthcare are gaining traction, characterized by high added value and strong penetration [1] Group 2: Challenges in Service Trade - Service trade is primarily concentrated in eastern regions like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, while central and western provinces face challenges due to weak industrial foundations and talent shortages [2] - There is a lack of internationally influential domestic enterprises and service brands in high-end knowledge-intensive services such as legal, financial, and consulting services, indicating a need for structural optimization [2] Group 3: Strategic Recommendations - To enhance service trade quality, it is essential to deepen institutional openness and create a higher-level open environment, including improving the negative list system for cross-border service trade [2] - Encouraging manufacturing enterprises to transition to service-oriented models and developing integrated service export modes can expand the service value chain [3] - Strengthening digital capabilities and building platform-based service capacities through advanced technologies like 5G and AI will diversify and enhance service delivery methods [3] Group 4: Talent and Standards Development - Establishing a training system for composite talents in service trade and promoting cooperation among universities, industry associations, and enterprises is crucial for developing specialized courses [4] - Building a cross-border service talent certification system and enhancing the service trade standard system will improve China's influence in global service governance [4]