The answers showcase new advances in Beijing

The open group meeting of the Beijing delegation to the 2nd Session of the 14th National People's Congress, covered by 55 journalists from 35 domestic and foreign media outlets

On the afternoon of March 6, the Beijing delegation to the 2nd Session of the 14th National People's Congress held an open group meeting that was covered by 55 journalists from 35 domestic and foreign media outlets. Eight deputies, including Xia Linmao, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing, Wang Chunfa, Director of the National Museum of China, and Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China, provided comprehensive answers to questions on hot topics raised by journalists. These topics include Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, the high-quality development of the capital, new quality productive forces, improving Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges, and the building of a "city of museums". The informative session showcased Beijing's new achievements in high-quality development and its increasingly open atmosphere.

Xia Linmao:

Pursuing high-quality development by means of technological innovation, new quality productive forces, and reform and opening up

The first question was asked by a journalist from People's Daily: As the first super-large city in China that pursues growth with reduced input, how will Beijing promote high-quality development against this backdrop? Xia Linmao said that we are transforming development model by reducing input. Since 2018, Beijing's local GDP has successively surpassed two significant thresholds of 3 trillion yuan and 4 trillion yuan. Various indicators such as per capita GDP, overall labor productivity, and energy and water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP, maintained the best among provincial-level regions nationwide, charting a path of high-quality development with rigorous input reduction.

According to Xia, Beijing will focus on three key areas to pursue high-quality development. First, technological innovation. By fostering a virtuous cycle of education, technology, and talent, Beijing aims to cultivate and strengthen the country's strategic technological capabilities to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. It’s also significant to promote the integration of "three science cities and one hi-tech area", facilitating the commercialization of scientific and research findings and business incubation. Additionally, Beijing plans to attract and cultivate more first-class scientists, outstanding young scientists, and distinguished young talents.

Second, new quality productive forces. The city will strengthen the digital economy by accelerating the cultivation of new digital industries such as artificial intelligence, high-level autonomous driving, and humanoid robots. It also entails boosting high-end, precision and cutting-edge industries, fostering strategic emerging industries, and developing future-oriented industries, including promoting auto projects of Xiaomi and Li Auto to gain stable output and reach the design capacity as soon as possible. Moreover, the Beijing government will allocate 10 billion yuan annually to the industrial investment fund. Beijing has already led the country in forming a pattern where the service industry accounts for over 80% of GDP, with modern services representing over 80% of the service industry. As finance stands as the leading pillar industry in Beijing, efforts will be made to advance the construction of the Zhongguancun Financial Reform Pilot Zone for High-tech Enterprises and support the reform of the Beijing Stock Exchange.

Third, reform and opening up. Leveraging the advantages of "two zones" policies, greater efforts will be made to implement pilot projects on investment and trade facilitation, intellectual property (IP) protection, and data transaction. This will involve expanding market access in finance, telecom, and digital sectors. In addition, Beijing will launch another group of major landmark foreign-funded projects to introduce "Beijing Services" as a distinctive brand for the business services it provides and foster a market-oriented, law-based, and facilitated business climate in keeping with international standards.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy. A BRTV journalist asked how Beijing will play its central role to elevate the coordinated development to a new level. In response, Xia said that we will continue to relocate functions nonessential to Beijing's role as the capital, speed up the development of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) and Xiong'an New Area, and expand cooperation on running the "Three Schools and One Hospital". We will accelerate the development of the BMC by maintaining an annual investment of over 100 billion yuan and constructing major projects, including subway lines M101 and 22. To strengthen collaborative innovation and industrial cooperation among three regions, Beijing will work faster to form six industrial chains including hydrogen energy and robotics, and five advanced manufacturing clusters including biomedicine and electrical equipment. We will work in close collaboration with Tianjin, and accelerate the sharing of public services to make more government service items related to employment, social security, and taxation accessible inter-provincially.

Ma Yide:

Beijing’s comprehensive IP strengths top the country 

A journalist from the Xinhua News Agency raised a question about the role of IP legal foundations in realizing self-reliance in high-level science and technology and improving the business environment. Ma Yide, Dean of School of Intellectual Property and Vice Dean of School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that strengthening the legal foundations for IP protection will help build a high-level socialist market economy system, ensure the implementation of China’s innovation-driven development strategy, and lead high-standard opening-up. It plays an important role in achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

"IP protection is also important for creating a good business environment," said Ma. Beijing is an hub for sci-tech resources and a cradle of innovation industries. It has made continuous achievements in optimizing the business environment and strengthening IP protection, with a first-class business environment and a "Beijing Services" brand.

To create a law-based business environment, Beijing accelerated the legislation in key areas such as sci-tech innovation, social credit, and rule of law in foreign-related affairs last year, so as to better play the role of legislation to guide and regulate the business environment. In terms of law enforcement, the city took the lead in exploring and launching the "6+4" regulatory system nationwide, with six supporting mechanisms and four basic scenario-based measures including one manual, one checklist, one inspection, and one assessment. This approach comprehensively improves the effectiveness of law enforcement while reducing the burden on business entities.

Beijing has consistently led the nation in comprehensive IP strengths, boasting several "firsts". Ma said that as of the end of December 2023, the number of invention patents per 10,000 people and the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people in Beijing both ranked first in the country. It has been repeatedly rated as an "intellectual property model city" in national business environment evaluation. The first IP court in China is also located in Beijing, and a series of reform achievements have provided experiences that can be replicated, learned, and promoted in other provincial-level localities.

Wen Xian:

The open and international Chaoyang District welcomes everyone to visit

A journalist from the TASS Russian News Agency posed questions to Wen Xian, Secretary of the CPC Chaoyang District Committee. The question is about how to enhance the district’s international service capacity and cultivate new consumption trends. "In the late 1950s, the completion of the first embassy zone and Beijing Capital International Airport laid the foundation for an international Chaoyang," said Wen. To further improve the international service capacity, Chaoyang commissioned internationally renowned consulting firms to conduct survey on the work and life of foreigners in the district, so as to learn about their difficulties and problems and optimize services. Additionally, the district has developed and refined 18 measures to address challenges faced by short-term foreign visitors, such as payment difficulties with foreign currency or cards and language barriers, as well as challenges faced by foreigners coming to Beijing for long-term stays, such as children’s education and the family’s healthcare. The aim is to resolve difficulties for foreigners visiting, working, studying, or living in China, making their lives in Beijing more convenient and comfortable.

"An open and international Chaoyang is very charming, and we welcome everyone to explore the district," said Wen. As the main area hosting the international consumption center, Chaoyang District is accelerating the development of the city of cuisine, the city of tea, the city of coffee, and the city of fashion, promoting the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, and sports throughout the region. "Chaoyang will launch the first tourist bus route within the district, connecting landmarks such as Liangma River, Chaoyang Park, Wenyu River Park, Olympic Forest Park, as well as SOLANA, Ya'ao, and Beiyuan Road commercial districts." Furthermore, Chaoyang District aims to foster new energy vehicles as a new growth area in consumer spending by attracting regional headquarters, settlement centers, R&D centers, and experience centers in this sector to Chaoyang, boosting consumption of big-ticket items.

Wang Chunfa:

Visiting museums has become a new fad

In response to the question from the Beijing Daily journalist about the evolving museum work, Wang Chunfa, Director of the National Museum of China, said, "The society is witnessing a growing interest in cultural relics, museums, and cultural relics protection, and visiting museums has become a new fad." Wang highlighted the increasingly favorable environment for China's museum sector, citing flourishing archaeology and people’s stronger sense of history and cultural confidence. Moreover, the integration of culture and tourism can highlight the value of historical and cultural resources, diversify approaches to animating cultural relics, and enrich exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

Wang outlined strategies for advancing museum endeavors. He stressed the imperative of leveraging the nation's rich cultural relics resources to comprehensively present the process of realizing national rejuvenation. This entails a forward-looking design, improving the collection system to preserve tangible evidence of our times. Furthermore, it’s necessary to embrace cutting-edge digital and information technologies to innovate exhibition models and create unique exhibition brands, so as to foster exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and global civilizations and project a trustworthy, endearing, and respected image of China.

As for the building of a "city of museums", Wang noted that it is an integral part of building Beijing into a national cultural center, saying that "museums bear unique missions and functions in preserving a city's cultural memory, including shaping the city's quality, driving the city's development, enhancing the scientific and cultural literacy of citizens, radiating the city's influence, and promoting the economic development." The National Museum of China will serve as a model and a platform to facilitate collection exchanges and exhibition cooperation with museums across Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Through these concerted efforts, Beijing aims to emerge as a globally renowned "city of museums", thereby contributing to the advancement of modern Chinese civilization and the building of a country with a strong socialist culture.

Dou Xiaoyu:

The commercial aerospace industry ecosystem in Beijing is rapidly taking shape

Representing the aerospace sector, Dou Xiaoyu, General Manager and Vice President of China Aerospace Construction Group Co., Ltd., explained new quality productive forces in response to questions from a journalist from BJNews. New quality productive forces is characterized by innovation and high quality, requiring us to generate higher-quality products and services through new technologies, particularly through disruptive and cutting-edge technologies that spawn new models and drivers. Ultimately, this approach will enable industrial innovation through technological innovation, leading to the emergence of new industries.

"The aerospace industry primarily involves five products, namely missiles, rockets, satellites, spacecraft, and space stations, with space exploration being one of the earliest fields to adopt artificial intelligence," said Dou. Today, artificial intelligence prevails and our civilization demands significant transformations and upgrades from traditional industries to embrace new ones. Wherever the R&D, experimental, and production bases for aerospace are established, we must ensure that our infrastructure is ready and our capabilities in design and construction match the functions required for aerospace architecture.

As for suggestions on the development of Beijing's commercial aerospace industry, Dou said that Beijing boasts the most abundant aerospace industry resources in China, and the ecosystem for commercial aerospace is rapidly taking shape. Apart from state-owned enterprises, there are also hundreds of commercial aerospace companies covering areas such as carrier rockets, satellite R&D, ground equipment, and technological applications. Notably, over 70% of China’s private rocket research and development (R&D) enterprises are located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), forming an industrial spatial pattern for commercial aerospace that sees rocket R&D enterprises gathering in the south and satellite R&D enterprises gathering in the north of Beijing.

In January this year, an action plan to accelerate the innovative development of commercial aerospace in Beijing (2024-2028) was issued, proposing to establish a globally influential hub for commercial aerospace innovation within five years. "As a member of the aerospace sector, I hope to participate in this endeavor to advance Beijing's aerospace industry, thereby making greater contributions to the country's aerospace industry," concluded Dou.

Zhao Minge:

Creating imaginative landmarks for urban rejuvenation

When asked by a journalist from China Arab TV about how Shougang plans to create more distinctive IP products and internet-famous spots, Zhao Minge, Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of Shougang Group, said that the Shougang Park was born for the Summer Olympics and thrived due to the Winter Olympics. Industrial sites and the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics integrate to create a unique picture that blends mountains and waters, ice and fire. "The valuable resources here set the stage for future development, revealing imaginative prospects for becoming a new landmark of "Together for a Shared Future" for the capital's urban rejuvenation.

Zhao stressed two development paths for Shougang. The first is accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces and forming a "1+3+X" pattern for high-end, precision and cutting-edge industries, so as to highlight Shougang’s role in building Beijing into an international center for scientific and technological innovation. More specifically, "1+3" focuses on the sci-fi industry to accelerate the convergence of sci-tech innovation resources and related enterprises, while advancing the development of Internet 3.0, artificial intelligence, and aerospace sectors. "X" means expanding new consumption areas around "sports plus" and "culture plus". Next, we will deepen the integration of service scenarios to create innovation and entrepreneurship incubators, leaders in emerging industries, and hubs for cultural and creative integration, thereby becoming a key functional area along the western part of Chang'an Avenue, the axis of Beijing.

The second is building Shougang into a pivot for Beijing's efforts to become an international consumption center, igniting passion and vitality in western Beijing. Shougang Park welcomed over 12 million visitors in 2023, with a unique consumption scenario taking shape. In addition to basic consumption such as dining and accommodation, it also attracts significant economic consumption from conventions and exhibitions, LOHAS, and technology experiences. Zhao noted that many cycling enthusiasts and rock climbing lovers choose Shougang Park as their preferred destination to purchase professional bicycles and equipment. The metaverse consumption scenario generated by the sci-fi industry is also well-received by citizens. "We will host a variety of events in the future to launch and exhibit new products, thereby building Shougang into an exemplary for quality consumption in western Beijing."

Lin Shangli:

Settling in Tongzhou presents a significant opportunity for the development of Renmin University of China

The new Tongzhou campus of Renmin University of China will be put into operation this September. A BRTV journalist asked how the Renmin University of China can better play its role in the development of the BMC, and Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China, gave answers.

Lin said that in advancing Chinese modernization with talent and sci-tech support, universities play an extremely important role, bearing the mission of strengthening education and nurturing talents for promoting high-quality development and cultivating new quality productive forces. Our responsibility is unmatched in importance with no time to lose.

"Settling in Tongzhou presents a significant opportunity for the development of Renmin University of China," said Lin. We have always regarded the new Tongzhou campus as a strategic platform and place for "blazing a new path to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics" and we will closely integrate the construction of the new campus with the BMC development in the future. As the Renmin University of China is a comprehensive university mainly focused on humanities and social sciences, with strong advantages in talent supply in fields such as economics, law, politics, and diplomacy, we will strengthen talent cultivation to serve the diverse talent needs in Beijing. Moreover, it’s important to leverage the Beijing Academy of Development and Strategy to provide professional decision-making advice for the development of Beijing and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The construction of the Tongzhou campus will contribute to the comprehensive improvement of the culture and history of the BMC.

Lei Jun:

Confidence in China's economic outlook

A journalist from China Media Group asked Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, about the source of his confidence in China's economic outlook as a private entrepreneur. Lei responded by highlighting the advantages of China's economic development, including its large-scale domestic market, full-fledged industrial environment, exceptional engineers and talents, and robust policy support from the Chinese government, all of which have bolstered confidence among enterprises.

"Xiaomi is committed to pursuing hardcore technology by delving deeper into underlying core technologies and launching high-end and global products. Xiaomi smartphones have ranked among the top three globally in sales for 14 consecutive quarters, and Xiaomi cars make us close the loop of the Human x Car x Home smart ecosystem." Lei said that, as a homegrown Beijing-based enterprise, Xiaomi's achievements are attributed to the world-class business environment in Beijing. Therefore, Xiaomi is confident in the prospects of the Chinese economy and the enterprise’s future. He said, "We will spare no effort to ensure the success of Xiaomi cars and live up to the expectations of users nationwide."