Experts have highlighted the strong focus and practical orientation of Shanghai's new 2026 action plan to optimize the business environment, citing clearer system design, deeper reforms, and more targeted responses to enterprise needs.

Zhao Lei, deputy director of the Shanghai Economic Information Center

The new plan shows three prominent highlights, starting with stronger system integration. The plan further emphasizes the systematic and integrated nature of reform, advancing coordinated efforts across government services, market competition, industrial ecosystems, and social governance.

The plan features deeper breakthroughs in key areas. It promotes fair competition and protects intellectual property. On the legal front, it continues to strengthen regulation and internationalization, it enhances services for both bringing in and going out to better meet the needs of market entities.

The plan also responds more forcefully to emerging issues, including reducing regulation for business forms such as micro-dramas and animation-related industries, as well as targeted measures to address delayed payments and financing difficulties for enterprises.

Luo Peixin, vice-president of East China University of Political Science and Law

The plan emphasizes top-level design and incorporates human-centered considerations, reflecting sound guidance at the design level and demonstrates the integrated and holistic thinking in concrete measures. For example, the action plan places strong emphasis on the empowerment, the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. It is worth noting that the optimization of the business environment requires sustained efforts over the long term.

Huang Feng, chairman of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Association

He observed that the action plan is more pragmatic and focused. It includes a series of broad concerted measures to bring improvements in government services, market competition, industrial ecosystems and social governance, helping to comprehensively enhance the quality and efficiency of the business environment.

Measures such as improving the business environment for foreign investment and strengthening the protection of existing projects will be well received by enterprises.

The plan to expand the application scope of the data verification platform is also welcomed. This will maximize the outcomes of pilot reforms, reduce data compliance costs for enterprises while ensuring data security, and strike a balance between compliance and business development.

(China daily,2026-1-9)