On the afternoon of May 18, the "Beijing International Lecture" invited an expert team of DIFC to give a special report on "Developing a Forward-looking Free Trade Zone" through an online meeting. Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended the lecture.

Kazim, governor of DIFC, Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, and Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer, gave an in-depth introduction to the development experience of DIFC Free Zone through detailed and accurate charts and typical case studies, and then they had an interactive discussion with municipal leaders, and leaders from relevant departments and districts.

Chen Jining thanked the expert team of DIFC for their brilliant reports, and briefly introduced the development of Beijing's "Two Zones" and financial industry. He pointed out that building a National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone (i.e., the Two Zones) is a major policy of the nation to support Beijing's opening and development, and it is also a significant opportunity given to Beijing in the building of a new development pattern. We must earnestly study the experience and practices of various countries, and build the “Two Zones” with international vision and lessons gained through comparative studies of successful international cases, so as to make greater contributions to building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development.

Chen Jining emphasized that in advancing the development of the "Two Zones", we must let innovation play a leading role, keep in alignment with international rules, optimize the development environment, attract outstanding talent, and welcome more international institutions to develop their business in Beijing. It is necessary to implement policies, flexibly make use of market mechanisms, optimize resource allocation, improve innovation and industrial ecology, strengthen risk prevention, and enhance regulatory efficiency. It is crucial to continuously improve the competence and professionalism of the administration officials, enhance the ability of providing targeted services, promote industrial development, and lay a foundation for the high-level development of the "Two Zones".

Other municipal leaders attending the international lecture included Cui Shuqiang, Yin Yong, Sui Zhenjiang, Lu Yan, Yang Bin, Yang Jinbai, Qi Yanjun, Lu Yingchuan, and Jin Wei.

(Article by Liu Feifei, Photo by Sun Yue)