Regarding constructing the Shanghai Hongqiao Internationalization Hub, deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) made their suggestions at the fourth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing.

Wang Wei, a Shanghai deputy from the Orient International Company, said that the Hongqiao Central Business District should form a complete trade service chain with imported products, retail promotions and after-sales service.

Since Shanghai is the city with the most coffee shops in the world, as she suggested, it is likely to be built into a coffee industry distribution center comparable to the New York Stock Exchange which brings together 70% of the world’s Arabica coffee trade.

Wang hopes that through the agglomeration of industries, training of coffee talent, and the holding of top international competitions, coffee bean futures will eventually be traded so as to form a virtuous circle of industry driving, economic promotion, employment and talent export.

Wang especially mentioned that policies should be improved to realize real opening up. She cited that five distinctive antique cars were introduced to the second China International import Expo (CIIE), but had no access qualification to enter the Chinese market since the current Chinese Customs policies recognize them as second-hand cars instead of art works.

Zhang Weimin, from the Shanghai Donghao Lansheng International Trade Company and also a Shanghai deputy, shared the same feeling in policy restrictions. He suggested that the government should formulate more forward-looking supporting policies, in addition to more humane management measures and a better legal environment. Only in this way, can it provide a strong policy guarantee for a better CIIE, and empower Hongqiao to truly become a leading opening up hub.