Implementation Opinions of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on Promoting the Expansion and Quality Improvement of the Service Industry

To thoroughly implement the “Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the Expansion and Quality Improvement of the Service Industry,” and to advance the expansion, quality improvement, and high-quality efficient development of the service industry in Shanghai, the following implementation opinions are proposed.

I. Work Objectives

Guided by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and thoroughly implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party and the successive plenary sessions, the high-quality development of the service industry will always be planned and advanced within the overall modernization strategy. It will emphasize demand-driven approaches, reform breakthroughs, technological empowerment, and open cooperation, insisting on both expansion and quality improvement, and coordinating development and regulation. Adapting to new trends in demographic changes, consumption structure upgrades, and industrial structural transformation, precise measures will be applied to key areas of production and life by industry and category. Opportunities from digitalization, greening, and integration will be seized to enhance the quality and efficiency of service industry development. The institutional mechanisms for service industry development will be optimized to strengthen collective efforts, and a modern industrial system of high quality will be built, providing strong support for enhancing the “five centers” capabilities, strengthening the “four functions,” and accelerating the construction of a world-influential socialist modern international metropolis.

By 2030, significant results will be achieved in the high-quality development of the service industry. The added value of the service industry will reach approximately 6 trillion yuan, and service import and export volume will exceed 300 billion US dollars. A number of globally competitive leading service enterprises will be cultivated, a batch of distinctive service industry clusters will be created, and a series of achievements in institutional openness and reform innovation of the service industry will be formed. The global competitiveness and influence of “Shanghai Services” will continue to strengthen, and the overall sense of fulfillment among the people will improve.

II. Promote the Extension of Producer Services to Specialization and High-End Value Chains

(1) Strengthen the Empowering Role of Information Services. Implement the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) +” action, accelerate AI + industrial software development, improve R&D efficiency through computing power construction, large model deployment, and data governance, and accelerate the breakthrough of key core software technologies. Promote the R&D and application of industry-specific large models and general intelligent agents, achieving large-scale deployment in scenarios such as industry and finance. Research incentive mechanisms to encourage platform enterprises to accelerate the transformation of information services and create cross-border integrated internet platforms. Focus on key areas such as internet content, games, and micro-short dramas, strengthen content production, product services, and operation distribution, and build a high-quality digital content hub.

(2) Stimulate Innovation Vitality in Science and Technology Services. Accelerate the development of the R&D service industry, encourage the construction of various R&D institutions such as manufacturing innovation centers and enterprise R&D centers, guide enterprises to upgrade their R&D institutions, and promote the establishment of market-oriented and entity-operated R&D enterprises. Promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, support the construction of high-quality incubators, concept verification centers, and other technology achievement transformation platforms. Focus on the three leading industries and frontier tracks of future industries to enhance capabilities in professional incubation and resource linking. Support enterprises in fields such as intelligent manufacturing and biomedicine to develop new models and formats of science and technology services, including AI + scientific research, shared scientific research, cloud-based collaborative R&D, and intelligent agent R&D.

(3) Enhance the Advantages of Professional Service Industries. Promote the full-chain application of AI + advertising, accelerate the integration and empowerment of technologies such as AIGC creative generation and multimodal content production, and cultivate a batch of local advertising brand enterprises with core technologies and international capabilities. Expand high value-added business formats such as human resource management consulting and senior talent search, and develop new products like recruitment large models and intelligent interviews. Support consulting service institutions to expand new businesses such as health consulting and ESG consulting, and develop new models like subscription systems and solution authorization systems. Support accounting and auditing service institutions to develop non-assurance businesses, and establish a normalized docking mechanism for various enterprises and local institutions to “go global.” Enhance the capacity for foreign-related legal services, implement cultivation projects for internationally first-class law firms and arbitration institutions, support legal service institutions to “go global,” and build a “one-stop, full-chain, digital-intelligent” international legal service hub. Support intellectual property service institutions to expand overseas business, improve the patent fast pre-examination mechanism in key fields, deepen the

Shanghai

Shanghai is a major global financial hub and one of China’s most populous cities, located on the eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Its history as a trading port dates back to the 19th century, when it was opened to foreign trade following the Treaty of Nanking, leading to a period of international concessions and rapid development. Today, Shanghai is known for its iconic modern skyline, including the Bund and Pudong district, while also preserving historic areas like the French Concession.

Five Centers

“Five Centers” is a cultural and commercial hub in the historic city of Xi’an, China, named for its five distinct themed areas that celebrate traditional Chinese arts, crafts, and cuisine. Originally part of the city’s ancient Muslim Quarter, the site was revitalized in the early 2000s to preserve local heritage while promoting tourism and cultural exchange. Today, it offers visitors a vibrant blend of history, architecture, and interactive experiences reflecting Xi’an’s rich Silk Road legacy.

Four Functions

The “Four Functions” likely refers to the “Four Great Functions” or “Four Functions of the Mind” in Confucian or Buddhist philosophy, rather than a physical place or cultural site. In Confucian thought, the Four Functions (si gong) describe the moral capacities of the heart-mind: compassion, shame, deference, and discernment of right and wrong. These concepts, foundational to Mencius’s philosophy, have historically shaped East Asian ethical and cultural traditions.

Shanghai Services

“Shanghai Services” is not a specific cultural site or historical location, but rather a term that can refer to the broad range of service industries and public infrastructure in Shanghai, China. Historically, Shanghai has evolved from a small fishing village into a global financial hub, with its service sector booming after economic reforms in the 1990s. Today, it encompasses everything from high-tech financial services to hospitality and healthcare, reflecting the city’s rapid modernization and international influence.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science focused on creating systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. Its history dates back to the mid-20th century, with key milestones including the 1956 Dartmouth Conference, which coined the term, and cycles of optimism and funding cuts known as “AI winters.” Today, AI has evolved into a transformative technology, powering applications from virtual assistants to autonomous vehicles and reshaping industries worldwide.

AIGC creative generation

AIGC creative generation refers to the process of using artificial intelligence to autonomously produce content such as images, text, music, and video. Emerging prominently in the 2020s, this technology evolved from earlier AI research in machine learning and neural networks, with key milestones including the development of generative adversarial networks (GANs) and large language models. It represents a transformative shift in digital creativity, enabling rapid, scalable content creation while raising new questions about authorship and artistic value.

ESG consulting

ESG consulting is a professional service that helps businesses integrate environmental, social, and governance factors into their strategies and operations. Emerging in the early 2000s alongside growing awareness of corporate responsibility and sustainable investing, the field expanded significantly after the 2015 Paris Agreement and the rise of ESG rating agencies. Today, ESG consultants advise on compliance, risk management, and reporting, shaping how companies address climate change, social equity, and ethical governance.

Intelligent interviews

“Intelligent interviews” is not a physical place or cultural site, but rather a term often used to describe a modern approach to job interviews that emphasizes structured, data-driven questioning to predict candidate performance. This method, rooted in industrial-organizational psychology from the early 20th century, aims to reduce bias by focusing on job-relevant competencies and behavioral examples. It contrasts with traditional, unstructured interviews by using standardized questions and evidence-based evaluation criteria.