On the morning of September 27, the Foreign Affairs Office and the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government held a press conference to release information on the city's spatial layout in relation to the center for international exchanges, integration of culture and tourism, and communities for foreigners with professional skills and answered related questions from reporters. Representatives from the municipal departments including the Foreign Affairs Office, the Planning and Natural Resources Commission, the Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the Beijing Talent Work, as well as those from Chaoyang District attended the press conference.

Cui Xiaohao, Executive Deputy District Mayor of Chaoyang, introduced the efforts made by the district to support the development of Beijing as the center for international exchanges

Strengthening the function of Beijing as the center for international exchanges is a premise for achieving the goal of the positioning strategy of the capital city, improving its ability to deliver “Four Services”, and promoting the city's high-level opening-up and high-quality development. Chaoyang District is located in the eastern part of Beijing. It is the largest district in downtown Beijing. It plays an important role in fulfilling the city's functions and roles as the country' capital and center for international exchanges. It connects the downtown area and the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center. In the new version of the Beijing's master plan, Chaoyang District has been positioned as “a world-class central business district that plays an important role in promoting international exchanges in science, technology, culture and sports, hosting international communities, shaping cultural trends with innovation, strengthening environment protection and promoting a high-level comprehensive urbanization reform in Beijing,” which underlines the focus and direction of international communication for Chaoyang District. According to the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and requirements of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Chaoyang District has made a continuous effort to support the development of Beijing as the center for international exchanges by focusing on culture, international communication, and large-scale urban greening, accelerating high-quality economic and social development, improving the district's international standing, and supporting the party and the country's diplomacy. Next, I will elaborate on our efforts on three fronts.

First, we have been working continuously to promote the concentration of high-end international resources. Chaoyang District is known as Beijing's prime international area. The first, second, and third embassy zones are located in Chaoyang District. So is the fourth embassy zone which is under construction. It is home to all foreign embassies in China except that of Russia, 90% of foreign news media outlets in Beijing, 80% of international organizations and international chambers of commerce, 70% of regional headquarters of multinational companies, and 65% of foreign financial institutions in China. We have established friendly relations with 30 cities in 24 countries. The influence and spillover effects of functional areas such as the CBD, the Olympic Green, Zhongguancun Chaoyang Park, and the National Cultural Industry Innovation Experimental Area have increased. We work hard to balance heritage and modernity. Many of Beijing's landmark buildings and coolest areas such as the China World Trade Center Phase III, CITIC Tower, Taikoo Li Sanlitun, 798 Art Zone, and Silk Street as well as more than one half of the city's “Night Capital” landmarks and business districts are located in Chaoyang District. It is a great platform to demonstrate the charms of Beijing as an international metropolis.

Second, we will focus on providing services for major state events and strengthening international exchanges. More than 50% of Beijing's international conferences and 30% of Beijing's international exhibitions are held in Chaoyang District. In recent years, we have focused on improving our abilities to support the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and successfully provided services for major events such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services. Currently, we are advancing the construction of the second phase of China National Convention Center, the fourth embassy zone and venues and infrastructure such as the National Speed Skating Oval and the Winter Olympic Village, offering excellent services, and comprehensively improving supporting capabilities. We are also actively supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, establishing and improving regular communication mechanisms with foreign embassies in China, international organizations, industry associations and internationally renowned intermediaries.

Third, we have been working hard to unleash the driving force for reform and opening-up and support the reform and opening-up of Beijing. A new round of pilot projects for expanding the opening-up of the services sector has been launched, and new measures have been adopted to support Beijing's opening-up. We have sped up the implementation of our business environment reform program, built a regular work mechanism to provide service packages for key enterprises. Chaoyang District has been ranked first in the city's business environment evaluation for three consecutive years. In addition, excellent services are provided for foreigners in Chaoyang District. There are a number of health care facilities jointly funded by Chinese and foreign investors and schools for children of foreigners. To support innovation and entrepreneurship, we have rolled out a series of policies such as the Phoenix Plan to attract high-level talent from other cities in China and other countries. We have advanced the construction of the Wangjing community for foreigners with professional skills, set up an entry and exit service hall, a one-stop service platform for international professionals and the Future Forum, and built Wangjing Street, Lidu Shopping Street and other featured precincts. We are working continuously to create a better environment for talent development. We have held the Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) for eight consecutive years, attracting more than 20,000 entrepreneurs from more than 20 countries and regions. The conference has facilitated the implementation of more than 500 projects. It is a great platform to support the innovation and entrepreneurship of overseas talent.

Next, under the leadership of the CPC Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government, Chaoyang District will continue to play an important role in promoting international exchanges. It will grasp the opportunity presented by the establishment of the Beijing Free Trade Zone to continuously improve the quality of opening-up, support the capital's efforts to strengthen its function as the center for international exchanges, and strive to achieve new breakthroughs in opening-up and development.

Reporter: What new measures will Chaoyang District adopt to continue to support the development of Beijing as the center for international exchanges?

Cui Xiaohao：

Chaoyang is a very cosmopolitan district, which is one of its largest competitive edges. Next, Chaoyang District will do its best to support key projects, continue to promote and expand opening-up in multiple industries, and effectively support the development of Beijing as the center for international exchanges.

First, we will do our best to support key projects such as the construction of the fourth embassy zone, including the main structures, the surrounding roads and supporting facilities, as well as the integrated rail transit project.

Second, we will maximize the benefits of the free trade zone and the policy designed to promote further opening-up of the services sector. We will grasp the opportunity presented by the establishment of the Beijing Free Trade Zone to promote the opening-up of the financial industry, and promote the clustering of regional headquarters of multinational companies, high-end business service providers and international organizations, focus on trade in services and digital trade, and promote the liberalization and facilitation of investment and trade. We will strive to roll out a series of new polices to promote further opening-up of the services sector, optimize the business environment, improve rates of return on FDI, promote higher-quality “bringing in” and higher-level “going out”, and provide strong support for the development of Beijing as the center for international exchanges.

Third, we will enhance the carrying capacity of international exchange functional areas. We will (1) advance the construction of Jinzhan International Cooperation Service Zone, plan and construct a vibrant, fashionable, high-end international neighborhood, and build a second Sanlitun; (2) accelerate the implementation of the three-year action plan for international exchanges of CBD, and advance the construction of underground space and cultural facilities in the core area; (3) strengthen the international communication and financial service functions of the Olympic Games-related functional areas, provide high-level services to the headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and help the Asian Financial Center, Beitou Technological Innovation Building, Chengao Building and other buildings attract investment; and (4) support the construction of key projects in Zhongguancun Chaoyang Park, promote the transformation and upgrading of the Electronics City, and attract high-quality projects by building a cluster of venture capital firms.