China will further open the domestic express delivery market to foreign enterprises in order to aid development of a modern tertiary sector, authorities said on September 24.

The State Council, China's cabinet, decided at a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang to fully open the country's domestic package delivery business to qualified foreign companies.

The country will streamline license approval procedures and encourage mergers and acquisitions for businesses, even those launched with foreign capital, within the scope of the necessary review system.

China's international delivery business has become fairly open to overseas capital, while domestic markets in major cities have gradually become available to foreign players.

The authorities believe that allowing in foreign competitors, a move promised when China entered the WTO, will push homegrown delivery businesses to up their game.