On the morning of September 1, Beijing Day and the Thematic Event on the Second Anniversary of the Launch of the Two Zones were held at the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at the China National Convention Center. Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, delivered a speech. Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, and Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the event.
Cai Qi pointed out that under the support and guidance of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, CIFTIS has become a crucial platform for China to expand opening-up, deepen cooperation, and pioneer innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2022 CIFTIS, in which he commended the positive contribution of CIFTIS and announced important measures that China will take in deepening high-standard opening-up in the services sector, demonstrating China's unswerving confidence and determination to expand opening-up. We should study and implement General Secretary Xi's instructions, strive to make CIFTIS more professional, market-oriented, and international, promote the innovative development of trade in services, and better serve the country's opening-up and development, to set the stage for the Party's 20th National Congress with concrete actions.
Cai Qi stressed that the development of the two zones is an important policy of the central authorities to support the opening-up and development of Beijing. Over the past two years, we have taken the development of the two zones as one of the Five Key Initiatives incorporated into the new development dynamics and promoted high-quality development through high-standard opening-up. The Regulations on China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Decision on Promoting the Development of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector have been released, the Beijing Stock Exchange has opened and is operating smoothly, the Global Alliance for Trade in Services has been established, and a large number of typical cases, pioneering policies, and signature projects have been launched, achieving fruitful results. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce and other central departments, we will play a more active role and make greater progress in developing the two zones to create a Beijing model of reform and opening-up. We will pilot the alignment of domestic rules with rules of high-standard international free trade agreements, and deepen institutional innovation in areas where we have strength such as scientific and technological innovation, digital economy, and the opening-up of the services sector. We will further broaden market access in the services sector, enhance liberalization and facilitation in cross-border services trade, and strive to become a national demonstration zone for innovative development of trade in services. We will pursue specialized and differentiated development in the seven precincts located in the three sections of the Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone and in key industrial parks to further open Beijing's services sector and introduce and develop a number of signature projects and pace-setting projects to make more achievements visible. We will make continuous efforts to create a market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment, offering better conditions to enterprises and institutions from both home and abroad to facilitate their development in Beijing. We encourage them to invest in Beijing, share in the city's development opportunities, and create a better future together.
Wang Wentao said that over the past two years, the Ministry of Commerce and Beijing Municipality, together with relevant departments, have implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, carried out exploration, and made solid efforts. As a result, the development of the two zones is gradually taking shape. The Ministry of Commerce will fully support Beijing in focusing on the central task of economic development, serving the overall interests of the country, and highlighting its distinctive features, to continuously enhance the functions of open platforms and promote new breakthroughs in the development of the two zones. We will step up piloting efforts to support Beijing in deepening the comprehensive pilot program of building the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector, and promote high-quality development of the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone; strengthen the exemplary and leading role of reform by ensuring the implementation of pilot programs, giving the pilot free trade zones greater power in carrying out reform, and gaining experience that can be replicated and promoted throughout the country; and deepen global open cooperation and support Beijing in leveraging its strength in digital economy, information technology, and financial innovation to promote the building of an open and shared service economy and contribute to the recovery and development of the world economy.
The event also saw the release of the two zones achievements such as good practices of reform and innovation and ten most influential policies, and the signing of 58 projects in key industries such as aviation and automobile.
In the afternoon, leaders of the Beijing Municipal Committee, the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People's Congress, the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and the Beijing CPPCC visited Shougang Park, one of the venues of CIFTIS. They went to sections of culture and tourism services, health services, education services, supply chain and business services, sports services, and financial services to learn about new cultural consumption experience, new biological medicine products, new green development technology, new achievements of sports science and technology, and new development of digital finance. This year's CIFTIS, like last year, was held at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park. Featuring industrial relics and Winter Olympic venues, Shougang Park, which covered an area of 94,000 square meters and was composed of 15 exhibition halls, hosted eight themed exhibitions. By combing industrial heritage and CIFTIS culture, Shougang Park delivered better experience to visitors and enhanced their sense of participation.
Officials from the relevant departments of the central government and the government of the Beijing municipality, foreign envoys in China, and representatives of international chambers of commerce, multinational companies, well-known enterprises, and experts and scholars participated in the event online and offline.
(Written by: Liu Feifei, Wu Hongli)
