The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) conducted a special survey on implementing the strategy of upgrading pilot free trade zones (FTZs) in East China's Zhejiang province and South China's Guangdong province from March 25 to 29,to promote the implementation of the relevant arrangements of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and prepare for the upcoming biweekly consultation meeting. 

The survey team, headed by Mu Hong, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, conducted on-site investigations in the sub-zones of the Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhoushan, Ningbo, and Hangzhou, as well as the sub-zones of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shenzhen's Qianhai and Shekou and Guangzhou's Nansha New Area. Seminars were held with relevant government departments and heads of the FTZs' sub-zones to hear their suggestions and exchange ideas on experience, successes and existing problems. 

Mu said that the construction of pilot FTZs is a vital strategic measure of the CPC Central Committee to deepen the country's overall reform and opening-up in the new era. 

Mu underscored the importance of upholding the development approach that properly combines goal orientation with problem orientation, gives full play to the exemplary role of pilot and demonstration regions, aligns with high standards with international economic and trade rules, and advances high-level institutional openness. 

He also urged strengthening integration of systems, laying stress on their replication and promotion, so as to gain new improvements and breakthroughs in promoting openness, testing systems, seeking growth and hedging risks. He called on the CPPCC to concentrate on the central tasks of the Party and the State, conduct in-depth survey and studies, focus on "what to improve" and "how to improve", and actively submit suggestions for implementing the strategy of upgrading pilot FTZs.