The State Council released a circular on Dec 20, approving the launch of a three-year comprehensive pilot project to expand opening up the service sector in Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

The project aims to accelerate the development of the modern service sector, create new advantages in international competition and cooperation, and contribute to speeding up the construction of new development patterns and promoting high-quality development, according to the circular.

To that end, provincial authorities should explore different methods, obtain more experiences that can be replicated and promoted in accelerating the development of the modern industrial system and promoting high-level opening-up, and become exemplars in the opening-up and innovation development of the nation’s service sector.

The circular also urged the Ministry of Commerce to work with other departments to strengthen guidance and coordination and evaluate results of the programs, ensuring they fully implement the reform and opening-up measures.

Major problems in the pilot programs must be reported to the State Council.