The People's Government of Beijing Municipality
Menu
Government
Mayors' Profile Departments Administrative Districts Reports Laws & Policies
Beijing Info
Facts Culture Sister Cities Sci & Tech Videos
Services
Most Requested Investing in Beijing Working in Beijing Studying in Beijing Living in Beijing Travelling in Beijing Consuming in Beijing
Contact Us
FAQs Jingjing Feedback Surveys
Latest
News Laws & Policies Photos Activities Specials

Business Environment

Featuring a friendly business environment, Beijing offers tangible convenience for enterprise investment and operation.

Starting a Business
95.1
Dealing with construction permits
77.8
Getting Electricity
95.4
Registering Property
82.6
Getting Credit
60.0
Protecting Minority Investors
72.0
Paying Taxes
71.7
Trading across Borders
85.7
Enforcing Contracts
80.0
Resolving Insolvency
62.1

Source: “Doing Business 2020” published by the World Bank.

A glance at Beijing's comprehensive strength

A modern international metropolis

Beijing, as China’s political, cultural, international exchange as well as scientific and technological innovation center, is of strategic importance to China. It is the host city of many world-class major events and large-scale international events. It is also one of the world’s top 10 financial centers and one of the top 4 cities (Alpha+ level) according to GaWC. Brand new urban planning is accelerating the development of Beijing in an unprecedented way. Upholding the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, Beijing is creating infinite business opportunities.

One of the world’s top 10 scientific and technological innovation centers

Beijing boasts abundant scientific and technological resources as well as top talent. It is home to more than 90 higher education institutions with approximately 860,000 students, more than 1,000 scientific research institutes, 120 national key laboratories, 68 national engineering technology research centers, and 25,000 national high-tech enterprises. Half of China’s top talent, best disciplines and laboratories are in Beijing. Its R&D spending sits at 6.17% of the GDP, ranking first in China. Beijing is undoubtedly the most dynamic city worldwide when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship, with around 200 new innovative enterprises established every day. The amount of venture capital and the number of cases in Beijing account for about 30% of all venture capital and cases in China. It is second merely to Silicon Valley in respect to VC/PE investment in technological innovation across the globe.

“Strong magnetic field” attracting foreign investment

Beijing is China's first comprehensive pilot city for expanding the opening-up of the service sector. The State Council respectively approved its program for expanding the opening-up of the service sector in 2015, 2017 and 2019, assigning it over 400 reform tasks and letting it pilot more relaxed market access policy, more convenient trade regulation policy and more comprehensive talent attraction policy in its service sector. Moody's, Standard & Poor's, Fitch, MASTER, VISA, Experian, Apple, Tesla and other world-leading corporations have set up offices in Beijing.

In August 2019, the Daxing International Airport Sub-Zone of the China (Hebei) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Daxing Sub-Zone) was inaugurated, marking the launch of a pilot free trade zone straddling Beijing and Hebei. The Daxing Sub-Zone covers 19.97 square kilometers, of which 9.97 square kilometers are in Beijing. It aims to become a function area for international exchanges, a leading area for aviation innovation and a demonstration area for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development. The Daxing Sub-Zone will, therefore, focus on the development of aviation logistics, aviation technology and financial lease.

In addition, Beijing also has an important opening-up platform - China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Since 2012, the CIFTIS has been successfully held for five times, with nearly 300 international organizations and foreign trade associations from 184 countries and regions participating in the fair and reaching intended deals worth $529.33 billion. In 2020, the CIFTIS will be upgraded again to constitute, with the China International Import Expo and the China Import and Export Fair, new platforms for China’s expansion of its opening-up. Relying on the three platforms, Beijing is becoming a strong magnetic field attracting global investment. As of 2019, over 45,000 foreign-invested enterprises from more than 165 countries/regions have been established in Beijing, accounting for about 5% of the country. Over the past five years, Beijing's actual utilized foreign investment totaled $81.87 billion, accounting for nearly 50% of the total since the reform and opening-up. Foreign investment has maintained steady growth. In 2019, Beijing saw 1636 foreign-invested enterprises, and utilized foreign capital $14.21 billion, accounting for 10% of the country’s total.

As of 2019, over 45,000 foreign-invested enterprises from more than 165 countries/regions have been established in Beijing, accounting for about 5% of the country. Over the past five years, Beijing's actual utilized foreign investment totaled $81.87 billion, accounting for nearly 50% of the total since the reform and opening-up. Foreign investment has maintained steady growth. In 2019, Beijing saw 1636 foreign-invested enterprises, and utilized foreign capital $14.21 billion, accounting for 10% of the country’s total.

All-dimensional pattern of outbound investment and international cooperation

Beijing has established friendship with 56 cities in 51 countries across five continents. It has also invested in 31 countries along the “Belt and Road”, and organized international events such as the “Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation”, the “2022 Winter Olympics” and the “China International Fair for Trade in Services”.

Economic highlights of Beijing

Beijing’s GDP

Q1 2022 (YoY)

+4.8%

Beijing’s GDP

Q1 2022 (YoY)

+4.5%

Beijing’s GDP

Q1 2022 (YoY)

+2.8%

Beijing’s GDP

Q1 2022 (YoY)

+17%

Investment Report

Beijing Foreign Investment Development Report 2021