Shanghai to Launch Visa-free Business Zone Near Pudong Airport

Shanghai will open a new visa-free international business zone near Pudong airport by the end of the year. Coined as the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, it will occupy 880,000 square metres and connect Pudong International Airport in the east and Shanghai East Railway Station in the south. 

Designed to support global business exchanges, international expos and fairs, and the setting up of international training sessions, the new business zone is slated to be one of the areas with the highest degree of international openness in the country.

The International Business Cooperation Zone will have conference centers, world-class exhibition venues, and offices for financial, consulting, and legal firms. These facilities are positioned to meet the needs of local and foreign companies for both large-scale events and small-scale and customized services. 

The zone will work in tandem with the China International Import Expo to allow business activities throughout the year beyond the annual event. 

Foreign nationals entering the zone from Pudong airport on international or regional flights can enter the zone without a Chinese visa given they have an invitation from a registered business. 

They can stay for an initial period of 30 days and apply for an extension as needed. There is also a port visa processing service for foreign individuals who wish to travel to other parts of the country. 

According to Zhao Yugang, deputy director of the Shanghai Oriental Hub International Business Cooperation Zone Administration, “There is no similar area in the world to the International Business Cooperation Zone, and we have no precedent to follow. In this relatively small area, we need to do testing and exploration to make the article of openness better.”

Pudong International Airport is a leading international hub in country, with annual passenger arrivals exceeding 70 million and more than 50% of these arrivals consisting of international passengers. With the planned opening of Terminal 3 in 2028, passenger arrivals are estimated to reach 130 million. International passengers can reach the business zone in 10 minutes using a shuttle bus service from Terminal 3 of the airport in the future. 

The Shanghai East Railway Station is also expected to handle 60 million passengers annually. 

At present, Shanghai is home to 75,000 foreign-funded businesses, 1,027 regional headquarters of multinational corporations, and 597 foreign-funded R&D centers. Its port trade constitutes 3% of the global volume. 

All the buildings in the zone are designed to consume ultra-low energy, in alignment with the goal to create an eco-friendly business park. A digital management platform will oversee energy consumption, traffic, and security, setting a global example of sustainable development.