Shanghai Weekly Bulletin is an information service presented by the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in collaboration with Wolters Kluwer to foreign-funded enterprises, foreign-related institutions as well as people from overseas living in Shanghai. Covering major national and Shanghai foreign-related news, event information, policy Q&A and interpretations in the past week, it keeps you up-to-date with the latest foreign-related policies and developments in Shanghai.
If you have any comments or suggestions for Shanghai Weekly Bulletin, please feel free to send an email to [email protected]. Thank you!
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Laws and Regulations
【National】
CPC Central Committee and State Council Issue Opinions on Developing New-Quality Productive Forces
Seven Authorities Launch “Five Excellence” Initiative for Quality E-Commerce
Four Authorities Jointly Release Typical Cases on Protecting Financial Consumers and Investors
Public Comments Sought on Draft Revision to Food Safety Law
【Shanghai】
Shanghai Issues Measures to Promote High-Standard Opening-Up and Facilitate Cross-Border Data Flows
Shanghai Issues Measures for the Administration of International Joint Laboratories
Shanghai Issues 15th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation, Carbon Reduction, and Circular Economy Development
Shanghai Revises Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Microcredit Companies
Guide to Tailored Legal Services for Sci-Tech Innovation Enterprises Released
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Q&A
An official from the NDRC introduced the main considerations for fully implementing the “AI Plus” initiative.
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Expert Perspective
Tiered Adjudication and Matters Left Open by the Rules in AI Disputes: An Interpretation of and Practical Outlook on the Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on Lawfully Adjudicating Cases Involving AI-Related Disputes (Part V)
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One Week in Shanghai
【Latest News】
25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival Opens at Shanghai Grand Opera House
Shanghai Wins Inaugural WIPO City of Innovation Award
Lingang Launches China’s First Independent Neutral Evaluation Mechanism for IP Disputes
Shanghai FTZ Among First to Pilot Independent Opening-Up in Standardization
Shanghai Sets New Single-Day Record for Foreign Arrivals
Shanghai Releases Industrial Map and List of 30 Established Hundred-Billion-Yuan-Level Industrial Clusters
【Corporate Activities】
Boehringer Ingelheim Opens China R&D Center
Nuoshang Life Sciences Industrialization Base Launched in Zhangjiang
【Forums and Exhibitions】
2026 North Bund Forum Opens on October 20
Visitor Registration Opens for WTCC 2026
【Competition Events】
2026 Global Developer Pioneers Summit and International Embodied Intelligence Competition to Be Held from October 23 to 25
【Culture & Arts】
Shanghai Grand Opera House Officially Opens on October 17
2026 Shanghai City Lawn Concert Lineup Unveiled
Laws and Regulations
National
1. CPC Central Committee and State Council Issue Opinions on Developing New-Quality Productive Forces
[Keywords: New-quality productive forces]
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council recently issued the Opinions on Developing New-Quality Productive Forces. The document sets out 19 key measures across five areas: vigorously advancing sci-tech innovation, promoting deeper integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation, focusing on innovation in development approaches, steadily advancing innovation in institutions and mechanisms, and deepening innovation in talent development mechanisms.
Source: Website of the Chinese Government
2. Seven Authorities Launch “Five Excellence” Initiative for Quality E-Commerce
[Keyword: E-commerce]
The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and six other authorities recently issued the Circular on Implementing the “Five Excellence” Initiative for Quality E-Commerce. The document sets out 15 measures across five areas: encouraging e-commerce platforms to promote quality offerings; supporting merchants of all types in improving quality; helping consumers choose quality products and services; encouraging Silk Road E-commerce partners to compete on quality; and strengthening rules and standards to safeguard quality over the long term.
Source: MOFCOM
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/gztz/art/2026/art_b73e63ca8fe9448e8004f3eede777d76.html
3. Four Authorities Jointly Release Typical Cases on Protecting Financial Consumers and Investors
[Keywords: Financial consumers, Investors]
Recently, the Supreme People’s Court and three other authorities jointly released typical cases on protecting the lawful rights and interests of financial consumers and investors. The six cases cover areas including financial lending, fund investment and wealth management, digital finance, personal insurance, and securities investment. They focus on issues of public concern and challenges in judicial practice involving standard-form contract terms, fair trading, suitability obligations, legal remedies, and diversified dispute resolution.
4. Public Comments Sought on Draft Revision to Food Safety Law
[Keywords: Food Safety Law]
Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) began soliciting public comments on the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft Revision for Comment). The deadline for feedback is November 10, 2026. The proposed revisions focus on five areas: reinforcing businesses’ primary responsibilities, strengthening oversight in key areas, improving food safety management systems, enhancing smart regulation, and improving the legal liability framework.
Source: SAMR
https://www.samr.gov.cn/hd/zjdc/art/2026/art_2e2247ea7dff408da28ae047b1bd96f5.html
Shanghai
1. Shanghai Issues Measures to Promote High-Standard Opening-Up and Facilitate Cross-Border Data Flows
[Keywords: Cross-border data flows]
Recently, the Shanghai Cyberspace Administration and the Shanghai Data Bureau jointly issued the Several Measures of Shanghai Municipality on Promoting High-Standard Opening-Up and Facilitating Cross-Border Data Flows. The document outlines 10 measures, including improving the alignment and implementation of outbound data transfer rules, introducing new mechanisms to make online services more convenient, and promoting regional dialogue and cooperation on standards for cross-border data flows.
2. Shanghai Issues Measures for the Administration of International Joint Laboratories
[Keywords: International joint laboratories]
The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology recently issued the Measures of Shanghai Municipality for the Administration of International Joint Laboratories. The document specifies that joint laboratories should serve as bridges for cooperation in sci-tech innovation, create an international research environment, promote alignment and interoperability between Chinese and foreign technologies, standards, and specifications, and support the global expansion of innovation and industrial chains. The document will take effect on November 1, 2026, and remain valid through October 31, 2031.
Source: International Services Shanghai
3. Shanghai Issues 15th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation, Carbon Reduction, and Circular Economy Development
[Keywords: Energy conservation and carbon reduction, Circular economy]
The General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government recently issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation, Carbon Reduction, and Circular Economy Development in Shanghai. The document sets out four key indicators and eight major tasks including fully implementing dual controls on total carbon emissions and carbon intensity, and taking the lead in green and low-carbon technological innovation. It also outlines eight key initiatives, including developing zero-carbon industrial parks and intensifying carbon reduction efforts in key industries.
Source: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government
4. Shanghai Revises Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Microcredit Companies
[Keywords: Microcredit companies]
The Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau recently issued the revised Measures of Shanghai Municipality for the Supervision and Administration of Microcredit Companies. The revisions cover six areas, including standardizing market access provisions and improving exit mechanisms, as well as expanding the permitted scope of business and clarifying operating requirements. The document took effect on October 1, 2026, and will remain valid through September 30, 2031.
Source: Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau
5. Guide to Tailored Legal Services for Sci-Tech Innovation Enterprises Released
[Keywords: Sci-tech innovation enterprises, Legal services]
The Guide to Tailored Legal Services for Sci-Tech Innovation Enterprises was recently released at the launch ceremony and first joint meeting of the Shanghai Legal Consortium for Sci-Tech Innovation. The guide addresses the legal needs throughout the entire life cycle of sci-tech innovation enterprises, from the startup, growth, and maturity to restructuring stages. It systematically maps legal service resources and ways to access them, providing businesses with a legal services roadmap that is “easy to find, understand, and use”.
Q&A
An official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) answers press questions on the Opinions on Developing New Quality Productive Forces.
Q
Why does the Opinions place particular emphasis on fully implementing the “AI Plus” initiative?
A
In the section on “promoting deeper integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation”, the Opinions outlines key tasks including “transforming and upgrading traditional industries,” “fostering and expanding emerging industries,” “planning ahead for future industries,” and “promoting deeper integration of the real and digital economies.” The emphasis on “fully implementing the ‘AI Plus’ initiative” is based on three main considerations.
First, AI is a strategic technology driving a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation in the digital economy era.As AI technologies evolve at an accelerating pace worldwide, accelerating the development of next-generation AI has become a strategic imperative for China to seize the opportunities presented by this new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation. In the section on building a modern industrial system, the Opinions emphasizes fully implementing the “AI Plus” initiative to draw on China’s strengths, including its comprehensive industrial system, vast market, and diverse application scenarios. The aim is to accelerate continued advances in AI technology through practical applications, creating a virtuous cycle in which innovation drives application and application spurs innovation.
