Beijing has seen remarkable progress in the "two zones" development. In the first quarter of 2023, 20 parks (clusters) of the "two zones", home to less than 20% of the city's enterprises, contributed almost 30% to the total revenue and provided over 20% of jobs, playing a positive role in Beijing's economic growth. A multi-tiered system has taken shape, where different types of parks develop their unique features.
Regional clusters demonstrated a robust impetus
Beijing's "two zones" refer to the National Integrated Demonstration Zone for Opening Up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone characterizing scientific and technological innovation, opening-up of the services sector, and digital economy. "With the development of the Pilot Free Trade Zone, the regional clusters have all fostered industries with their own unique features," said an official from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
Among them, the Haidian Cluster boasts a strong innovation force, with more than 60% of its enterprises engaging in R&D and innovation activities. Its R&D intensity exceeded 15%, ranking first among all clusters. In the Changping Cluster, the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector continued to grow, with the R&D intensity of related enterprises exceeding 30%. As for the Chaoyang Cluster, the outstanding advantages of its foreign-invested enterprises enabled it to lead all clusters in the number and operating revenues growth of foreign-funded enterprises above designated size.
Standard Chartered Bank in the Chaoyang Cluster of the Pilot Free Trade Zone, has benefited from the preferential policies of the "two zones". It is reported that the Beijing Branch of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Co., Ltd. is the only foreign-funded bank among the first group of institutions designated by the People's Bank of China to pilot integrated cross-border capital pool business in local and foreign currencies. Additionally, its application to establish a wholly-owned securities company has been approved in Beijing this year.
In the first quarter of 2023, Tongzhou Cluster witnessed a rapid recovery of culture trade and commercial conventions and exhibitions, with exponential year-on-year growth in the operating revenues of exhibition enterprises and travel agencies above designated size. With Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport giving a strong boost to the airport economy, trade in goods of the Shunyi Cluster constituted over 40% of the total of the Pilot Free Trade Zone. The operating revenues of aviation-related enterprises above designated size registered a 300%-plus increase in the Daxing Cluster. In the E-Town Cluster, a double-digit growth was seen in operating revenues of enterprises above designated size that engage in information services and automotive manufacturing.
Financial parks experienced steady growth
Statistics reveal that during the first quarter of 2023, financial enterprises above designated size saw steady growth in their operating revenues in the Financial Street, Lize Financial Business District, and Beijing Banking and Insurance Business Park. Nearly 60% of all these financial companies provide services for the capital market, with operating revenues from monetary and financial services and insurance business both exceeding 100 billion yuan.
Similarly, the technology service sector has experienced rapid growth in industrial parks that serve functions outlined in important policies. Relevant statistics show that the Future Science City, Huairou Science City along with its east zone, and the Agricultural Technology Park all witnessed a year-on-year growth of almost 10% in the operating revenues of the enterprises above designated size. Notably, the technology service sector grew by 13%.
Technology and high-end manufacturing parks demonstrate a distinctive feature of innovation-driven development. For the four technology and high-end manufacturing parks, which are Chaoyang Park of Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone, Yanqing Park, Mentougou Park, and High-end Manufacturing Base, enterprises in the sci-tech and manufacturing sectors represented over 60% of the operating revenues and over 80% of the R&D expenditures. Moreover, over 20% of the enterprises are specialized, high-end, and innovation-driven businesses that provide distinctive products or services.
Cultural tourism parks witnessed a 30% increase in revenue
In September 2021, the Universal Beijing Resort was open to the public, adding another landmark for cultural tourism to the BMC. It is reported that the Resort welcomed more than 13 million visitors in its first year of operation, not just stimulating consumption in the surrounding areas, but also elevating Beijing's cultural tourism consumption experience to a new level.
The statistics released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics indicate that the Universal Beijing Resort has become a landmark project in the cultural tourism area of Tongzhou District. The influx of tourists has stimulated various forms of consumption covering ticket purchases, catering, accommodation, travel and shopping. Additionally, the multi-functional urban cultural ecosystem in the Longfu Temple Area has made innovative business forms a new highlight of regional development, which incorporate culture, space, entertainment and experience. In the first quarter of 2023, the operating revenues of enterprises above designated size in the two cultural tourism parks both experienced a year-on-year growth of over 30%.
Beijing is committed to doubling its efforts in supporting the major industrial parks to develop industries with distinctive characteristics, so as to enhance regional opening-up and strive for greater progress in the "two zones" development, said an official from Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
(Reporter: Chen Xuening)
