On December 27, Beijing Municipality held a special press conference on trade and investment facilitation. It is reported that, in the new round of reform on trade and investment facilitation, Beijing will give full play to the advantages of the "two zones", lead the country in aligning with high-level international free trade rules, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and create a fair, transparent and predictable international business environment.
With the release of new business environment reform, Beijing has ushered in a new round of reform on trade and investment facilitation. According to Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, to adopt more internationalized management of trade and investment, Beijing will introduce a negative list for cross-border trade in services and build a national demonstration zone for the innovative development of trade in services. Taking the opportunity of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Beijing will create "one zone and one center", and promote institutional innovation in the regulatory system, business model and supporting services in the import sector.
To improve the foreign investment promotion and service system, Beijing will provide "one-stop" services for foreign investment. While setting up a designated "foreign-related service area" on the website of the official website of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality. At the same time, Beijing will facilitate market access for foreign-funded enterprises, establish an accreditation list system for international practicing certificates, set up recognition criteria for foreign high-end professional talents that are highly needed in the market, and increase the efforts to draw foreign high-end talents.
To deepen the reform on international trade facilitation, Beijing will formulate an implementation plan for the whole-process reform of cross-border trade facilitation. Beijing will continue to foster a market-oriented and international port business environment that is governed by a sound legal framework by building trade promotion platforms and promoting the reform of customs clearance supervision at ports. At the same time, the city will carry out actions to optimize the business environment of cross-border trade through the dual-hub airports, and further improve the business environment for ports of entry by air.
The districts in Beijing will also redouble their efforts to promote trade and investment facilitation. Li Qiong, Deputy Director of Chaoyang District Commerce Bureau, stated that Chaoyang District has enriched high-end international medical resources in the district by commencing construction of the 240,000 sqm Beijing Jiahui International Hospital. Hospitals such as United Family and China-Japan Friendship Hospital and more than 40 large international insurance companies have achieved real-time settlements for commercial insurance. Daxing District will usher in a new phase of opening-up and development by significantly improving the openness, concentration and convenience of foreign investment within 3 to 5 years. By 2025, the actual utilization of foreign capital in Daxing District is expected to exceed one billion US dollars. Beijing Tianzhu comprehensive bonded zone in Shunyi District is creating a cross-border business environment with whole-process trade facilitation.
(Reporter: Ma Jing)
