A bird's-eye view of Hangzhou. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

Hangzhou released its 2025 Business Environment Reform List (Version 8.0) on June 11, aiming to become the most business-friendly city in China.

Building on seven rounds of reforms since 2018 and over 800 measures, the new list introduces 110 new initiatives across 18 areas, with a strong focus on AI-powered governance.

The reform prioritizes three key areas: Enterprise services, industry support, and talent development. Notably, AI will be used to improve bidding oversight, streamline government services, enhance credit repair efficiency, and expand applications in sectors like transportation, healthcare, and education — ensuring a fairer, more transparent environment.

Hangzhou's business-friendly reputation — marked by a "no disturbance unless needed, respond when called" approach — has gained nationwide attention. Qinqing Online, the city's digital platform, simplifies access to policy benefits, with over 2,000 policies pushed to 167,000 firms in 2024, achieving near-total automation and 100 percent fund disbursement efficiency.

"Hangzhou's policy delivery is unmatched," said Chen Yun of logistics firm Far International. "We receive subsidies within 10 minutes. I always recommend Hangzhou to partners planning to enter China."

Version 8.0 also expands innovation support, from easing cross-border movement of research materials to talent self-assessment for enterprises. New measures will boost legal protections and explore regulatory flexibility for emerging sectors like AI and low-altitude economy.

"We're shifting focus from meeting benchmarks to enhancing industrial ecosystems and talent services," said a city official. "Our goal is to ensure that businesses in Hangzhou can operate with peace of mind and grow with confidence."

Hangzhou boasts friendly business environment. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]