Can China's Pilot Free Trade Zone Improve New Quality Productive Forces In Pilot Areas?

As a new focal point for China's embrace of openness in this new era, the Pilot Free Trade Zone should play a more significant role as a testing ground and provide greater opportunities. The impact and mechanism of establishing free trade zones on the advancement of new quality productive forces in pilot regions based on theoretical analysis. Findings indicate formation can effectively promote improvements forces within pilot regions, with these conclusions remaining robust after conducting various tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that implementing Free Trade Zone policies can drive the advancement of new quality productive forces by promoting scientific and technological innovation, advancing industrial chain modernization processes, and enhancing international trade competitiveness. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that pilot policies have a more pronounced enabling effect in eastern coastal regions. The research unveils the policy effects of "free trade zones," which hold great significance for expanding high-level openness and accelerating advancements.