The Summit Forum on Emerging Trends in the Opening-up and Development of the Trade in Services was held at the China National Convention Center on the afternoon of September 5 during the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Ma Jiantang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council, Wang Anshun, Vice President of DRC, and Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended the event.

Ma Jiantang offered his congratulations on the successful opening of the forum. Noting the immense potential of trade in services in China, he pointed out five favorable factors for this sector: close attention from the government, wider opening, continuous expansion and deepening of the pilot programs for innovations in the service sector, more conspicuous advantages in human capital, and the acceleration of the new round of technological and industrial revolution. Given the complicated international situation, developing trade in services requires us to open steadfastly wider to the outside world, explore regulatory innovations to keep pace with the times, strengthen cross-border cooperation with deeper mutual trust, and pool wisdom and energy to improve the cooperation mechanism. Following the important instructions given by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Global Trade in Services Summit, we shall be able to overcome challenges by making concerted efforts toward the same goal. Let's join hands and usher in a brighter future for trade in services. 

When addressing the summit forum, Chen Jining said Beijing's services sector has developed rapidly since the launch of the reform and opening-up policy, spearheading innovations and driving the development of this sector nationwide. In light of the requirements made by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Global Trade in Services Summit, Chen pledged to develop a national integrated demonstration zone for greater openness in the services sector. Beijing will take bigger, bolder steps as a trailblazer and gain more experience that would be replicable. A pilot free trade zone characterizing scientific and technological innovation, opening-up of the services sector, and digital economy will be set up, serving as a platform of high-standard opening-up for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and opening up new horizons for reform and opening-up at a higher level. All these efforts will increase the international competitiveness of the services sector and trade in services. By opening the services sector much wider, we hope to keep enhancing the win-win cooperation with international organizations, cities and companies around the world, and work harder to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. 

The summit forum was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, DRC and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality. Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan, Vice President of DRC Long Guoqiang, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University and former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Jiang Xiaojuan, and Secretary-General of Beijing Municipal Government Jin Wei were present at the forum. 

(Reporter: Wang Hao)