Xia Xingyu asked his parents to buy him a German camera but was refused. It’s expensive. Then the 17-year-old from Anhui was told to wait, until the province’s first free trade zone (FTZ) is set up. Buying the camera there will cost much less, he hopes.
夏星宇（音译）想让父母给他买一台德国相机，父母没有同意。相机价格不菲，他们让这位来自安徽的17岁少年等到安徽自由贸易区建立后再买。在自贸区买相机会便宜很多，夏星宇这样想着。
Like Xia, more people’s need for cheaper foreign products and services could soon be met.
和夏星宇一样，更多人想要获得更便宜的外国商品与服务的需求，很快就能得到满足。
On Sept 21, China released plans for three new pilot FTZs and an expanded one. The three new FTZs are in Beijing, Anhui and Hunan, while the expanded one is in Zhejiang. This will increase the total number of the country’s FTZs to 21.
9月21日，我国公布了新设三个自贸区以及扩展一个自贸区的方案。三个新自贸区位于北京、安徽与湖南，而进行扩展的自贸区则位于浙江。由此，中国自贸区总数将增至21个。
The FTZ is a special designated area where normal trade barriers, such as tariffs, are removed. FTZs not only help companies save money, but favorable policies, like tax benefits, help attract new business and foreign investment.
自贸区指的是不设关税等正常贸易壁垒的特设区。自贸区不光能令企业节省资金，其中的优惠政策，如税收优惠等，也有助于吸引新企业与外资。
Building FTZs is an important part of China’s strategy to further develop the nation. Since the first FTZ was set up in 2013, this effort has proven fruitful. Even amid an economic downturn this year, China’s pilot FTZs attracted robust foreign investment and trade in the first seven months. During this period, these FTZs reported an actual use of foreign investment of over 90 billion yuan, according to the Global Times.
设立自贸区是我国深化发展的一大重要战略。自2013年我国设立首个自贸区以来，成果颇丰。尽管今年经济下行压力大，但我国的自由贸易试验区在今年前七个月依然吸引了强健的外资与贸易。据《环球时报》报道，在此期间，这些自贸区实际利用外资达900亿元以上。
Generally, FTZs are organized around seaports and international airports. All of the businesses located in FTZs, such as stores and restaurants, benefit from the policies. For example, the price of an imported car sold in an FTZ is nearly 30 percent cheaper than the market price, according to Xinhua. In addition, FTZs can offer better medical services in foreign-funded hospitals. These areas will also open up more job opportunities in foreign-funded companies.
通常，自贸区都设在港口或国际机场附近。自贸区内的所有企业，如商店、餐厅等，都受益于自贸区的政策。比如，据新华社报道，自贸区内销售的一辆进口车价格比市场价便宜将近30%。此外，自贸区还能在外资医院中提供更好的医疗服务。这些区域还会为外资企业提供更多的工作机会。
Establishing more FTZs “shows that China hopes to promote a higher-level opening-up”, said Zhou Mi from the Ministry of Commerce.
商务部研究员周密称，设立更多自贸区“体现了中国希望推进更高层次的开放”。
From the coastal areas to the central inland regions, each of the three new FTZs has its own strategic development goals.
从沿海地区到中部内陆地区，这三个新设的自贸区都有其各自的战略发展目标。
For instance, the Beijing pilot FTZ will focus on trade in services and include a pilot area for the digital economy. Hunan’s FTZ aims to build a world-class advanced manufacturing hub. The pilot FTZ in Anhui will promote more scientific and technological innovation.
比如，北京自由贸易试验区将关注服务贸易，并内设一个数字经济试验区。湖南自贸区力图打造世界级先进制造中心。安徽自由贸易试验区将推动科技创新。
Moreover, combined with its geographic advantage, Hunan’s FTZ plays an important role in the trade corridor linking the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while Anhui’s FTZ will promote the development of the Yangtze River Delta.
此外，结合其地理优势，湖南自贸区会发挥重要作用，成为联通长江经济带和粤港澳大湾区的贸易走廊，而安徽自贸区将推动长江三角洲的发展。
