A cargo vessel berths at the Yongzhou container terminal in the Jintang port area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang province, on April 16. [Photo/IC]

The China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone marked the ninth anniversary of its establishment this April, with officials outlining its latest progress at a news conference in Hangzhou on April 20.

According to data released at the event, the Zhejiang FTZ, which covers 0.25 percent of the province's area, accounted for 18.7 percent of Zhejiang's total imports and exports, and 16.1 percent of its actual use of foreign investment.

In recent years, the zone has attracted more than 10,000 commodity trading enterprises. In digital reform, it took the lead in introducing negative lists for cross-border data transfers in e-commerce business-to-business operations and in the clearing and settlement sector, cutting security assessment time by more than 85 percent.

In shipping and logistics, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port ranked first in the world in cargo throughput, and third in container throughput. It has established trade links with more than 600 ports in over 200 countries and regions.

In trade, Yiwu's comprehensive international trade reform has delivered new results. Export efficiency for cross-border e-commerce goods has improved by 30 percent, while costs have fallen by 15 percent. New measures for consumer goods imports have also been introduced, further shortening the filing period for imported health foods and cosmetics, and improving import efficiency.