The State Council approved the establishment of pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce in 12 cities including Qingdao, according to a statement released recently by the State Council.

By experimenting with new models for technical standards, business procedures, regulatory mechanisms and other areas, the new zones aim to provide transferable experience to businesses nationwide and boost foreign trade and stimulate the economy.

The 12 cities are Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hefei, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Suzhou.

The move followed the approval of a pilot zone in Hangzhou, where e-commerce giant Alibaba is headquartered, in March last year.