Ministry of Commerce: Foreign individuals can open securities accounts or futures accounts in free trade zones.

Kong Dejun, Director of the Department of Trade in Services of the Ministry of Commerce, stated at a press conference by the State Council Information Office on the 27th that relevant departments have made some opening arrangements in the free trade pilot zones and Hainan Free Trade Port in various areas such as individual professional qualifications, professional services, finance, culture, etc., actively expanding market openness. Currently, these opening measures have been implemented orderly and have achieved effective results. For example, in the free trade pilot zones in Guangdong, Shanghai, Fujian, Zhejiang, etc., foreigners can take qualification exams for registered urban and rural planners, real estate appraisers, supervising engineers, survey and design registered engineers, etc.; overseas individuals can open securities accounts or futures accounts in the free trade pilot zones, engaged in securities investment consulting or futures trading consulting services. Kong Dejun introduced that in March 2024, with the approval of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce issued the "Special Management Measures for Cross-Border Trade in Services" and the "Special Management Measures for Cross-Border Trade in Services in Free Trade Pilot Zones," establishing a negative list management system and a gradient opening system for cross-border trade in services nationwide. "Implementing a negative list management for cross-border trade in services effectively enhances the transparency and predictability of management, laying a good foundation for creating a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment," Kong Dejun said.