Luzhou Port is the largest port in Sichuan Province and an important port on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It has opened several river-sea intermodal transport routes to connect with seas and rivers around the world.

"I thought it would take for a long time, and I didn't expect it to be done in half an hour." On the morning of May 8th, the reporter heard such exclamation while walking into the Comprehensive Service Hall of the South Sichuan Port Area in the China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Longmatan District of Luzhou City. It is Wu Xingqiang who is in charge of Sichuan Mingwanda Trading Group that made such remarks, "I went here to change the company's business scope. I could handle this in just one window, and the staff is efficient and good mannered."

The high efficiency is the product of the “hour-list system” being implemented in South Sichuan Port Area. This pioneering reform, acclaimed by the General Office of the State Council, was born in this comprehensive Service Hall. The reporter saw in the hall a large blue background-colored screen facing the left side of the entrance, scrolling with the handling process and status of the applied matters. Luzhou Mingcai Finance and Taxation Consulting Corporation changed its company registration in 80 minutes; Luzhou Ruihai Culture Communication Group filed for simple cancellation in 22 minutes...

Why do they need such a big screen? How does the "hour-list system" work? With these questions in mind, the reporter reached the responsible person. "We have to count down the hours using a big screen, this way, the staff is motivated to improve efficiency, and at the same time, the result is much more predictable for the masses." Feng Jian, Deputy Director of the Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau of the South Sichuan Port Area said that, in the area, a number of items needed for starting a business are clearly listed for better management and 167 items have been included in the list of items that could take one hour for starting a business, 42 items have been included in the list of items that could take three hours, and 59 items have been included in the list of items that could take six hours. "The one-errand-for-all reform saved unnecessary troubles, the 'hour-list system' improved efficiency."

In addition to the "hour-list system" which was praised by the General Office of the State Council, the "administrative reform of one-errand-for-all" initiated in South Sichuan Port Area was also promoted by the National Commission of Development and Reform nationwide, and the "prior export tax rebate services" was included in the fifth batch of reform pilots and promoted throughout the country. In addition, it has also reformed the operation modal of “Declaration during Shipment, and Acceptance upon Arrival” in the field of custom, and established a pledge registration integration service platform in the financial sector. Up to now, 215 innovations have been made in South Sichuan Port Area, including 27 national initiatives.

"The establishment of South Sichuan Port Area in the China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone aims at system innovation and trials, that is to say, we must launch self-reform within the area." Liu Yu, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of South Sichuan Port Area, said that although the planned area of the area is less than 20 square kilometers, but 139 trial tasks laid out in the Overall Plan for China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone have been implemented. Going forward, the South Sichuan Port Area is faced with two major tasks of institutional innovation and industrial development.

“Enterprises have sensed the improvement of business environment. The government is serving us sincerely instead of controlling us.” Wu Xingqiang gave a thumb up to South Sichuan Port Area for its two-year’s endeavors.

Visiting national-level pilot zone

Benchmarking against high standards – that is how the three areas played this

South Sichuan Port Area: Launching a three-year campaign to optimize the business environment; exploring the “hour-list system” reform.

Chengdu Qingbaijiang Railway Port Area: Exploring the special pilot reform to optimize the business environment; exploring the multi-modal transportation reform of "one bill-of-lading system", etc.

Chengdu Tianfu New Area: Exploring the special pilot reform to optimize the business environment; exploring a rapid review mechanism for cases related to intellectual property, etc.