Qianhai and Shekou area of Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone (PFTZ) tops the ranking of the country's PFTZs in terms of policy innovation.

Shanghai PFTZ and Nansha area of Guangdong PFTZ follow in the second and third spot in the annual list compiled by the Institute of Free Trade Zone of Sun Yat-sen University. Twenty-three PFTZ areas are included in the list. Fifteen PFTZs launched only a year ago are evaluated in another list.

The PFTZ areas are judged by their performance last year in five sub-indices of investment facilitation, trade facilitation, financial management and service innovation, government function transformation, and legal environment, said Lin Jiang, a professor of the institute.

They are also ranked in five other lists by each of those five sub-indices.

Data come from onsite research, talks with representatives of PFTZ offices, administrative committees and companies, a PFTZ database jointly developed by the institute and its partner, and related research reports by universities and research organizations.

PFTZs across the country saw their positioning clearly defined and their functions strengthened, said Li Shanmin, head of the institute and deputy president of the university, at a press conference on Friday.

However, they have yet to enhance their interactions with national strategies, carry out differentiated experimenting tasks, and deepen their exploration and practice systematic policy innovation in key fields, so that more reform and experimental experiences can be promoted nationwide, he said.

The institute also issued a bluebook on China's PFTZs.