BEIJING -- China will establish new pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce in cities with development potential, the State Council, China's cabinet, said Wednesday.

Since the approval of the first pilot zone more than two years ago, the new models experimented there have brought valuable experiences for nationwide application, according to a statement following a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Transition period for supervision of cross-border e-commerce retail imports will be extended from the end of 2017 to the end of 2018, according to the statement.