July 3, 2013: The State Council executive meeting approved the plan to establish a free trade zone in Shanghai.
June 28, 2013: The Shanghai Municipal Government handed in its official application for the free trade zone after soliciting opinions from major central government departments.
2010: The National Development and Reform Commission and State Council again sent an inspection group to Shanghai.
2005: Cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin, filed applications to the State Council to establish free trade zones on the basis of bonded areas.
2003: Cheng Siwei, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, suggested it was time for China to set up a free trade zone on the basis of existing bonded zones |