The Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality (hereinafter referred to as the “Beijing Foreign Affairs Office”) has recently received reports from applicants for the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), indicating that some intermediary agencies or individuals have been providing ABTC application services in violation of relevant regulations. In response to the above issue, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office hereby reminds applicants of the following:

I. The following bodies (hereinafter referred to as the “preliminary review bodies”) are responsible for accepting and conducting preliminary reviews of ABTC applications submitted by enterprises within their respective districts or within the scope of their institutional or business responsibilities: foreign affairs offices of district governments; Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park; Zhongguancun Science City; Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Changping Science Park; Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Fengtai Science Park; Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA); China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-council (CCPIT Beijing); Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center; Capital Industrial Investment Co., Ltd.; and Beijing State-owned Capital Operation and Management Company Limited. Applicants shall submit applications in the name of their employer to the appropriate preliminary review body.

II. In accordance with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Service Center for the Departments and Overseas Missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges a service fee of RMB 720 per card. The same fee applies to card replacement and reissuance. Neither the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office nor Beijing’s preliminary review bodies charge any fees.

III. Applicants should use the information above to identify advertisements for application services offered by intermediary agencies or individuals. Do not fall victim to scams, and do not participate in unlawful activities, including falsifying application materials.

The Beijing Foreign Affairs Office will continue to standardize ABTC application procedures and provide more convenient application services for business travelers.