In a bold step toward economic globalization, China inaugurated the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone on the morning of April 11, bringing the national tally to 23. This development, unfolding in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, refines the open framework linking land and sea routes east-west, fostering shared prosperity.
International observers praise the timing and placement, noting it propels high-quality growth and injects certainty into a volatile world order. The initiative reflects China’s firm resolve to deepen openness at elevated levels.
Inner Mongolia’s selection stems from its exceptional positioning. Once central to ancient trade paths like the Grassland Silk Road, it today anchors BRI projects and the China-Mongolia-Russia corridor. Spanning more than 4,200 km of frontier with 20 operational ports, it bridges internal provinces and extends to Eurasian markets, capitalizing on northward openness.
Economic data reinforces its readiness: 2025 saw foreign trade surge to 220.67 billion yuan—a record—outpacing national growth by 2.6 points. The new FTZ will leverage this momentum, unlocking new opportunities in cross-border commerce, logistics, and investment.
