The China (Heilongjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone is one of the six pilot free trade zones approved by the State Council on Aug 26, 2019, bringing the total number of trade zones in China to 18.

Heilongjiang pilot FTZ undertakes more market-oriented reforms to reinvigorate the country's northeastern region, deepen industrial restructuring, build transportation and logistics hubs for Russia and Northeast Asia, improve the openness of border areas, deepen trade ties with partners participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and develop into a hub for regional cooperation in Russia and Northeast Asia.

Scope of implementation

The 119.9-square-kilometer Heilongjiang's pilot FTZ is divided into three districts. The first is an 80 square kilometer area in the provincial capital of Harbin, the second consists of roughly 20 square kilometers in China's largest border city of Heihe, and the third is almost 20 square kilometers in Suifenhe (including the Suifenhe Comprehensive Bonded Area).

Division of functions

Harbin Area focuses on the development of such strategic emerging industries as new generation information technology, new materials, high-end equipment, and biomedicine; modern service industries including science and technology, finance as well as cultural tourism, and cold ice and snow economy. It aims to become a highland for comprehensive cooperation with Russia and Northeast Asia, a national logistics hub connecting domestic and Eurasian regions, and a growth pole and demonstration zone for comprehensive revitalization in the northeast region.

Heihe Area focuses on the development of cross-border comprehensive processing and utilization of energy resources, green food, business logistics, tourism, health and border finance. The district will become a cross-border industrial cluster and a border city cooperation demonstration zone, and create a logistics hub along the border and an important base for Sino-Russian exchanges and cooperation.

Suifenhe Area mainly engages in import processing industries such as wood, grains and clean energy, business finance and modern logistics. It endeavors to emerge as a storage, processing and distribution center for imported and exported goods, a national logistics hub facing international land and sea passages, and an important platform for Sino-Russian strategic cooperation and open cooperation in Northeast Asia.