Today (September 15), the Yangtze River Delta Integration Development Demonstration Zone held a press conference. Hua Yuan, secretary general of Demonstration Zone Council and director of the Demonstration Zone Executive Committee, deputy secretary general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, and director of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, gave a briefing on the Several Policies and Measures on Further Supporting the High-Quality Development of Ecofriendly and Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone in the Yangtze River Delta (hereinafter referred to as Several Policies and Measures), which were jointly issued by Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province and Shanghai. Zhang Zhongwei, deputy director of the Demonstration Zone Executive Committee, and deputy director of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, Ling Ming, deputy director of the Demonstration Zone Executive Committee, and deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Chen Jianzhong, deputy director of the Demonstration Zone Executive Committee, and deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Ye Jian, deputy director of Shanghai Customs, Zhang Shaohua, second-level inspector of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Mao Pengyue, deputy director of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security attended the press conference and answered questions from reporters.The Several Policies and Measures on Further Supporting the High-Quality Development of Ecofriendly and Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone in the Yangtze River Delta by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government have been recently issued by the governments in the two provinces and the municipality and are officially published on relevant websites today. It is among the second batch of policies by the two provinces and the municipality to support the demonstration zone. This is another major policy from the two provinces and the municipality to further implement the national strategy for integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta, and to jointly support and advance the construction of the integrated demonstration zone at the provincial government level.I. Background and ConsiderationsThe construction of an integrated demonstration zone is the first move and a breakthrough for the implementation of the national strategy for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. In July 2020, the governments of the two provinces and the municipality jointly formulated and issued the first batch of policies and measures to support the high-quality development of the demonstration zone. This is not only an important institutional innovation achievement of the demonstration zone in the field of institutional mechanisms, but also an important contribution to accelerating the construction of the demonstration zone. Over the past two years, with the joint efforts of the two provinces and the municipality, and eight cities/districts at three levels, the demonstration zone has closely adhered to integration and high quality, and ben driven by both system innovation and project construction. It has made 88 system innovation achievements, and promoted more than 100 key projects. The Leading Group Office for Promoting the Integrated Development of the Yangtze River Delta issued a document to the whole country to replicate and promote 38 demonstration zone institutional achievements, and emphasized that the demonstration zone has given full play to its role as an experimental field for institutional innovation and a role model for coordinated regional development in the country.In order to further strengthen cross-provincial policy coordination and promote the construction of the demonstration zone to a new level, the governments of the two provinces and the municipality have issued the second batch of supporting policies for the demonstration zone. The following are the general considerations:First, in terms of guiding ideology, we thoroughly implemented the spirits of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches on the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, followed the goals and requirements put forward in the overall plan of the demonstration zone, and planned new policies and measures by combining long-term and near-term efforts.Second, in terms of working methods, we adhered to “real needs, deliverability and effectiveness.” Regarding the policy recommendations put forward by the departments of the two provinces and the municipality city to be piloted in the demonstration zone and the policy needs put forward by the two districts and one county, extensive and in-depth discussions were conducted to reach a full consensus to ensure that each policy has a specific path and responsible unit for implementation. Third, in terms of policy direction, we considered the evaluation results of the first batch of policies, and focused on identifying the directions in scientific and technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, industrial coordination, talent flow, and social governance in a bid to further launch new practical and effective measures.Fourth, in terms of policy contents, we focused on “integration”, “collaboration” and “pilot trials,” with an aim to break the administrative boundaries and institutional barriers without breaking the administrative subordination system. We only selected items that can reflect the features of the demonstration zone.II. Main ContentsThe two provinces and one municipality have released a second batch of 17 supporting policies for the demonstration zone. From the perspective of the fields involved in cross-provincial policy coordination, the contents of these 17 policies can be summarized into 10 aspects:First, empowerment by technological innovation. Article 1 and Article 2 are aimed at injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the demonstration zone, such as supporting Qingpu, Wujiang, and Jiashan to build cross-provincial high-tech development parks in the “one district, multiple parks” model. On top of this, the regions can jointly apply for the set-up of national high-tech development zones. The key work priorities for the demonstration zone in 2022 issued by the Yangtze River Delta Regional Cooperation Office specified that efforts must be made to accelerate the settle-down of the Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center in the demonstration zone. And relevant research institutes, universities, social organizations, and market entities also have strong needs for cooperation in terms of innovation and industrial transformation and upgrading. These policies are conducive to further mobilizing scientific research institutes and business entities to cooperate and build innovation carriers in the demonstration zone, promote the deep integration of businesses and academia, and provide policy support for the subsequent establishment of the demonstration zone sub-center of the Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center so as to further enhance the abilities of the demonstration zone to foster technological innovation.Second, revitalization of stock assets. For example, the Article 3, “Promoting Linked Development of Infrastructure REITs in Demonstration Zone”, aims to implement the requirements of the central government and the two provinces and the municipality to strengthen the linked development of infrastructure REITs in the Yangtze River Delta, increase the vitality of stock assets, and expand the investment and financing channels for the demonstration zone on a pilot basis. With the corresponding policy support, the construction of the demonstration zone, especially the key areas like Water Village Livingroom, Qingpu Xicen Science and Technology Innovation Center, Wujiang High-speed Railway Science and Technology Innovation City, Jiashan Xiangfudang Innovation Center, can leverage joint issuance of REITs. They will not only have the advantages and conditions for the pilot trial, but also play a bigger role to drive the development in the Yangtze River Delta. Third, co-construction of the carbon inclusion mechanism. Article 4 “Promoting the joint construction of the carbon inclusion mechanism in the Yangtze River Delta to be piloted and tested in the demonstration zone” is not only highly consistent with the eco-friendly and green positioning of the demonstration zone, but more importantly, will support the demonstration zone to serve as a carrier to promote co-development of carbon inclusion standards, with mutual recognition of standards, information sharing, mutual recognition of projects. In addition, the co-construction project can be gradually expanded to finally create a carbon inclusion system in the Yangtze River Delta region under the co-created rules and unified standards.Fourth, utilization of land and space. The river network in the demonstration zone is dense and irregular in distribution, and the availability is relatively low. The task of optimizing the water system structure is heavy. However, in the water conservancy, waterway and water system optimization and adjustment projects, the problem of construction land quotas is prominent. Article 5 “Exploring the Mechanism and Approaches for the Mutual Conversion of Land and Space” clarifies that on the premise of protecting the eco-environment, ensuring that the water area does not decrease, and the function does not decline, the direction of utilization shall be determined according to the planning of the land and space and the actual use of the land, which will effectively guarantee that a large number of projects are in compliance with laws and regulations and are advancing rapidly.Fifth, optimization of the business environment. Articles 6, 7, and 8 provide policy basis for establishing a coordinated cross-border e-commerce supervision mechanism among the Customs offices in three regions, deepening the reform of the enterprise name registration system, and solving relevant challenging and difficult problems in deepening the digital transformation of key areas. For example, it’s sometimes difficult for market entities to apply for electronic certificates and licenses, and this occasionally occurs in the same administrative region. In different administrative regions across provinces, the problem of mutual recognition of electronic certificates and electronic seals is more prominent. This policy focuses on promoting the sharing and mutual recognition of a batch of high-frequency electronic licenses in cross-regional, cross-departmental, and cross-level business scenarios, providing efficient and convenient services for market entities with “cross-province handling” in the demonstration zone, and helping people save efforts and time.Sixth, coordinated development of education. Articles 9 and 10 clarify policies for the acceleration of the integration of education and research in the demonstration zone for kindergarten, primary and middle school students, and the launch of pilot projects for vocational education integration. This will provide policy basis for pilot trials in the demonstration zone to explore cross-provincial cooperation in fostering innovative education models and promoting the reform of vocational education.Seventh, the rational flow of talents. It is reflected in Articles 11, 12, and 13. These policies focus on expanding the growth space of high-skilled talents across provinces, researching and promoting high-quality agglomeration of talents in the demonstration zone, population introduction and talent flow policies, in a bid to help form a talent development pattern that features regional collaboration and sharing of talents and deep integration of the industry and talents.Eighth, law enforcement and judicial coordination. According to Articles 14 and 15, the demonstration zone will promote the unification of the standards for law enforcement identification in key regulatory areas such as ecological environment, food and drugs, fishery and fishery management, and will also carry out joint jurisdiction pilot program to jointly crack down on cross-provincial violations that happen near and move frequently across the borders of these regions. At the same time, the demonstration zone will take the lead in clarifying the “three unifications and one mutual recognition” across provinces in terms of forensic identification of environmental damage, namely, a unified expert database, a unified education and training resource sharing mechanism, a unified forensic identification standard, and mutual recognition of assessment results on integrity levels of forensic identification institutions. This move will not only further improve “ecological green” background of the demonstration zone, but also provide experience and reference for improving the integration level of forensic identification of environmental damage in the Yangtze River Delta region.Ninth, coordination of police services. For example, Article 16 clarifies the cross-provincial joint logistics linkage and rapid response mechanism in the handling of major 110 alarms and emergencies, and in accordance with the principle of accessibility, to achieve “rapid dispatch of police, synchronous linkage,” so that police are dispatched as early as possible, which fully reflects the advantages of coordination.Tenth, exploration of the path towards common prosperity. Article 17 supports and encourages social organizations to participate in the construction of the demonstration zone, and explore the path towards common prosperity across provinces. Common prosperity is a key area of institutional innovation to be further explored in the demonstration zone. High-quality market entities and social organizations are welcome to participate in the ecological restoration, rural revitalization and rural governance in the demonstration zone, so as to form more practical cases that benefit the people.In the next step, the Executive Committee of the Demonstration Zone will further strengthen work coordination, communicate closely with the relevant departments of the two provinces and the municipality, and two districts and one county, promote the implementation of the policies as soon as possible, and coordinate to fully unleash the policy dividends in the demonstration zone. At the same time, we will continue to track and dynamically evaluate the implementation of policies, leveraging the spillover effect of the policies, and promoting the formation of more visible results of integrated institutional innovation.