The Pearl River Delta city of Shenzhen is applying to mainland China authorities to turn its bonded logistics zone into a free port, the China Daily reported citing comments from Li Zongjie, the spokesman for the Shenzhen Administration Bureau's Bonded Zone. Mr Li said officials at Shenzhen's bonded zone plan to submit the necessary documents for its formal application to the provincial authority soon, adding that the final decision rests with the Central Government in Beijing. Shenzhen's desire to receive free port status comes amid media reports that a "number of top authorities" are considering a proposal to suspend the approval of new free ports to promote the development of existing bonded logistics zones, the newspaper claimed.
"It makes no sense that the country would stop approving new free ports as long as the conditions are ripe, new free ports are possible," said Zhou Tianlin, director of the Shenzhen Port and Shipping Administration Department, a division of the Shenzhen Port Administration.
"It makes no sense that the country would stop approving new free ports as long as the conditions are ripe, new free ports are possible," said Zhou Tianlin, director of the Shenzhen Port and Shipping Administration Department, a division of the Shenzhen Port Administration.