On the morning of September 3, Invest in China Year - Promotion Conference on Greater Openness in the Services Sector was held. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce addressed the conference. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, also attended the event.
Address by Yin Li
Yin Li emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping had delivered a video message at the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) to announce China's measures to promote higher-standard openness in the service sector. The message emphasized the country's determination to expand opening-up. It is imperative that we study and implement his speech, align with international high-standard trade rules, expand market access in the service sector, and catalyze the innovative development in trade in services. We should also foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and up to international standards, so as to facilitate trade and investment. By establishing itself as a model of high-standard opening-up in China's service sector, Beijing will create a better environment for domestic and foreign businesses to grow, he said.
He also highlighted that China, with its super-sized market, supplies supported by a comprehensive industrial system, and abundance of highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs, has become a reliable and steady force for global economic growth. Its own development will undoubtedly generate more opportunities for the world. As the capital city, Beijing boasts clear advantages in modern service sectors such as finance, information, and science and technology, and is leading China's efforts to further open up its service sector. Friends from all countries and all walks of life are welcome to invest and do business in Beijing and China, and to strengthen communication and cooperation in the service sector, thereby contributing to a prosperous global service sector and trade in services together.
Address by Wang Wentao
According to Wang, the Chinese government places great importance on foreign investment. The Ministry of Commerce has organized the "Invest in China Year" series of events this year, which has nailed down a number of foreign investment projects. In addition, relying on the foreign trade and investment coordination and service mechanism, a system of holding round-tables for foreign-funded enterprises has been established to strengthen exchanges and provide quality services, so that foreign-funded enterprises not only feel confident to invest in China, but also feel reassured to seek further growth here. This year marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, and the service sector is seen as a top priority for higher-level opening-up from a new starting point. Since 2015 when Beijing launched comprehensive trials for further opening-up of the service sector, these trials have been extended to 11 provinces and municipalities across the country, with a series of preliminary policies and measures introduced. Beijing will collaborate with relevant departments to shorten the negative list of foreign investment and further open up the modern service sector and other areas. As China continues to open to the outside world, enterprises from all over the world are welcome to invest in China and share the benefits of open development.
Moderated by Yin Yong
The meeting was addressed by Mikayil Jabbarov, the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan; Lord Dominic Johnson, the Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade, and Dorothy Tembo, the Deputy Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), along with representatives from some of the Fortune 500 companies. This was followed by the announcement of the latest best practices of the national comprehensive trials and demonstrations for opening up the service sector, the release of the 2023 Report on the Development of the National Comprehensive Trials and Demonstrations for Opening Up the Service Sector, and the promotion of policies to open up the intellectual property sector.
The 2023 CIFTIS is the inaugural edition to host the Invest in China Year - Promotion Conference on Greater Openness in the Services Sector. The conference aims to exhibit the achievements of 11 provinces and municipalities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, in the national trials and demonstrations for opening up the service sector. This serves as a manifestation of China's commitment to pursuing comprehensive opening-up and efforts to attract global companies to invest and expand their businesses in China.
Check new business forms of cultural and tourism consumption
Learn about the latest achievements in cultural and tourism development
Inquire about new medical and health technologies
In the afternoon, leaders from the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee also visited the special exhibition at Shougang Park. They explored exhibition areas with various themes, including cultural and tourism services, health and hygiene services, supply chain and commercial services, and sports services. Through this, they gained insights into new forms of cultural and tourism consumption, cutting-edge biomedical technologies, innovative models of commercial services, and emerging scenarios of sports consumption. They then proceed to the Shougang No.1 Blast Furnace SoReal Metaverse Park to check on the progress of the world's first fully immersive space exploration-themed sci-fi complex. They also saw the new vitality of time-honored brands at the Beijing Time-Honored Brand Innovation and Development Experience Zone. As this is the first year for China to fully resume offline exhibitions, this year’s CIFTIS has increased offline invitations, enhanced its overall quality and international participation. As one of the CIFTIS venues, Shougang Park has been upgraded to CIFTIS Version 3.0, with 15 pavilions covering nine themes, to provide a better experience for participants and ensure their convenience and comfort.
The event was also attended by leaders of relevant departments of the central government, Beijing and other provinces and municipalities, representatives of some international organizations, chambers of commerce and associations, foreign ambassadors to China and entrepreneurs.
(Written by Liu Feifei, Wu Hongli)
