Shanghai's Eastern Hub: Visa-Free Gateway for Global Business
Shanghai is fast-tracking the Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, a 0.88-square-kilometer district near Pudong International Airport and the upcoming Shanghai East Railway Station. Trial operations will begin by the end of 2025, with full operations by 2028 and completion in 2030.
Approved by China's State Council in 2024, the zone combines visa-free access for invited foreign professionals, streamlined customs clearance, and international-standard infrastructure. On August 4, authorities rolled out three core frameworks covering administration, customs, and immigration, designed to make the zone a testing ground for high-standard opening-up.
Invited visitors can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, extend their stay, and complete immigration formalities within the zone if traveling onward in China. Domestic visitors can access the zone via an online pass. Goods benefit from bonded, tax rebate, and exemption policies similar to free trade zones, with simplified clearance for personal and operational items.
The hub is envisioned as a venue for international meetings, exhibitions, and product launches, allowing foreign-certified professionals to work in finance, law, consulting, healthcare, and advanced industries. Facilities will include biotech labs, AI centers, aerospace testing hubs, and mixed-use commercial complexes.
For global businesses, the Eastern Hub offers rare advantages: the regulatory flexibility of a free trade zone, direct connectivity to international transport, and reduced entry barriers for high-value talent. It provides a competitive base for multinational service firms and a launchpad for technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing companies aiming to expand in China with minimal operational friction.
With its trial phase set to start this year, the Eastern Hub could become a model for future international business districts in China — and a strategic foothold for companies seeking both market access and operational agility in Asia.
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