(Yicai) April 12 -- Shanghai has established China's first collaborative platform to ensure that foreign companies take part in setting industry standards.

The platform, launched yesterday, will collect and respond to the concerns of foreign businesses via regular roundtable discussions on standardization, said Wang Yiyang, deputy director of Shanghai’s market regulator. It will make sure their voices are heard and contributions are recognized, Wang added.

The platform builds a cooperation and exchange bridge between the parties involved in setting standards, including foreign firms and national and local standards bodies in Shanghai, aiming to generate more results during the exchange process, Wang noted.

Its formation was proposed in a document recently issued by the city government to support the participation of foreign companies in the standardization process.

Besides participating in setting manufacturing norms, foreign firms are also welcome in pilot projects on service sector standards at the national and municipal levels, including in elderly care, medical care, the internet, transport, and other areas, according to the document.

Standards are the basis for quality management and improvement and an effective means to highlight technological innovation and protect corporate achievements, Miao Lin, vice president of quality management and sales quality assurance at Bosch China, told Yicai.

They can drive individual companies to increase investment in technological innovation and research and development, boosting the entire industry, Miao added.

The authorities should improve the consistency and mutual recognition between international and domestic standards, Miao said. While complying with copyright policies, they should hasten the adoption of advanced and applicable international standards and actively formulate global standards for emerging tech industries such as smart connected vehicles, Miao noted.

As the first choice for multinational companies investing in China, Shanghai hosts 70,000 foreign-funded businesses, making up more than a quarter of its gross domestic product. The production, operation, and development of foreign firms in the country require standardized services, support, and guidance.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev