[Photo/VCG]

"We will cooperate to improve the law-based business climate in the Yangtze River Delta to contribute to the integrated development of the region," the departments of justice in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui jointly announced at a meeting in Jiashan county, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province on Nov 13.

The announcement comes after the Manifesto on Improving the Law-Based Business Climate in the Yangtze River Delta was jointly released by the four sides earlier that day.

According to the manifesto, the four sides will work to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all market entities and improve legislation and related mechanisms to optimize the business climate. 

The departments will promote strict and fair law enforcement and strengthen market regulation while at the same time encouraging innovation.

They will also improve public legal services by building a modern public legal service system that serves urban and rural areas, and by improving legal service infrastructure such as the hotline platform.

In addition to the manifesto, the four departments signed a cooperation agreement to carry out 12 major projects from 2019 to 2020, including holding forums on rule of law, building a lawyers information inquiry platform and drafting a set of water area environmental sanitation administrative provisions.