A senior official in northwest China's Gansu Province confirmed the province has applied to set up a free trade zone (FTZ) in its capital Lanzhou.
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On Thursday, Yang Zhiwu, head of Gansu's commercial department, said their application is now being handled by the Ministry of Commerce.
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If approved, it will include Lanzhou, from the impoverished northwestern part of China, in the third batch of Chinese cities to try out an FTZ.
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China currently operates its only FTZ in Shanghai, launched in 2013.
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In December, the State Council announced China will establish three new FTZs in northern Tianjin Municipality, eastern Fujian Province and southern Guangdong Province, all along the country's coastal lines. Â