Guideline unveiled for building unified national market

China's top economic planner Jan. 7 released a guideline for building a unified national market, and breaking down market barriers, to boost domestic demand while enhancing openness.

The guideline, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), aims to encourage all localities and government departments to accelerate their integration into the unified national market and actively support its development.

Key measures outlined in the guideline include unifying the underlying institutions and rules of the market, improving the high-standard market infrastructure connectivity, building a unified market for factors and resources, advancing the high-standard integration of goods and services markets, enhancing fair and unified regulation, and curbing unfair market competition and improper intervention.

The guideline aims to eliminate local protectionism, regional barriers, and unfair practices in market access, bidding and government procurement. Local authorities are prohibited from using administrative or penal measures to intervene in economic disputes or infringe on business rights illegally, the guideline said, adding that unlawful cross-jurisdictional law enforcement or administration are also banned.

It stated that the cross-regional flow of goods and factors must not be restricted, and bidding and government procurement should avoid limiting or designating specific patents, trademarks, brands, parts, origins or suppliers.

The document also calls for establishing a unified national social security public service platform, allowing people to access social security in the locality where they work even if they do not hold local residency.

In addition to reducing barriers, efforts are underway to improve the business environment by ensuring national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in terms of access to factors of production, license application, standards setting, and government procurement. (Xinhua)