The People's Government of Beijing Municipality recently issued the Key Points for Comprehensively Enhancing Beijing's Business Environment in 2024. According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Beijing will intensify its efforts to continuously improve its business environment and enhance the influence of "Beijing Services" this year. By the end of 2024, 60 major tasks in seven categories will be completed. Specifically, over 100 new service items will be available for businesses across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
RMB 50 Billion Will Be Allocated in Re-lending and Rediscounting to Support Innovation
Beijing has nurtured over 8,000 specialized and sophisticated SMEs through a service system to boost innovative corporate development. It has also launched an industrial map to guide businesses in developing within the city. Two service centers for innovation in the fields of medicine and medical equipment have been established in Changping District and Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, providing one-stop service that streamlines the drug approval process.
Quality service remains key to business environment upgrades. In 2024, efforts to improve the business environment will focus on advancing new quality productive forces through refined supportive measures and the enhanced service system, ultimately leading to comprehensive improvements in services for scientific and technological innovation.
To address the financing challenges for enterprises, particularly SMEs, Beijing plans to strengthen financial support for scientific and technological innovation in 2024. Banking institutions are encouraged to create “green lanes” for credit for high-tech enterprises and specialized and sophisticated SMEs. Additionally, the city will allocate RMB 50 billion in re-lending and rediscounting to support scientific and technological advancements and the growth of manufacturing enterprises. Refined and tailored policies and measures will also be introduced to enhance the business environment across the entire industry chains of innovative medicine and medical devices, AI, and other key sectors.
During its business environment reform over the years, Beijing has established a solid institutional framework to accelerate project implementation. The framework consists of parallel reviews under a single application, joint assessment of construction drawings, joint final project inspection, regional evaluation, streamlined listing procedures with standards, and instant title registration upon house delivery. In 2024, Beijing plans to further optimize the approval process for environmental impact assessment. This will involve category-based exemption from filings and the introduction of integrated approval. In addition, the city will explore and promote a streamlined process that allows for the simultaneous approval of environmental impact assessment for projects and pollutant discharge permits.
Beijing will prioritize innovation coordination and industrial collaboration in 2024. The city will focus on the comprehensive optimization of the business environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, especially in commercial system, regulatory enforcement, and government services, among other key aspects. The three administrative divisions will offer services for processing, issuing, and collecting business licenses in more than eight additional districts and county-level cities. Furthermore, a second list for mutual recognition of enterprise qualifications and credentials will be established, enabling mutual recognition of over 20 items and introducing over 100 governmental services available across the region.
Certificate Photos Can Be Shared and Used for Various Applications
Beijing has fully implemented the "one permit for one enterprise" policy across 40 industries under the principle of enabling market entities to start operations once they receive the permit. This has resulted in a 50.6-percent reduction in required materials and a 71.5-percent decrease in the processing time on average. The city has introduced 62 one-stop integrated services. Notably, in 2023, to accelerate the recovery and expansion of consumption, Beijing took the lead in streamlining approvals for large-scale performances, sports events, exhibitions, and sales activities by consolidating multiple approval items into single application. This reform has reduced required documentation by 40 percent and processing time by 81 percent on average.
According to an official, in 2024, Beijing will improve the quality and efficiency of its digital government services by enhancing the integration and connectivity of government service platforms with different service systems. This will enable enterprises and the public to access all online services through a single login. The city plans to introduce intelligent approval services, providing sound intelligent pre-filling, pre-assessment, and approval functions on government service platforms. These changes aim to make application submissions easier for enterprises and individuals and improve the overall approval efficiency. A pilot program will also be launched to allow a single photo of an individual to be used across multiple certificates. This will eliminate the need for repeated photo collection on multiple platforms.
Moreover, Beijing will enhance the efficiency of one-stop services and strengthen the reform and integration of one-stop services and the "one permit for one enterprise" policy in 2024. The city plans to introduce a third group of integrated service scenarios, covering areas such as enterprise information changes, establishment of transportation companies, and credit repair. The goal is to continuously expand the range and scope of services while simplifying service processes. To diversify and streamline service channels, 24-hour self-service zones will be set up in municipal and district government service centers, enabling everyone in the city to access services in the vicinity. Over 200 additional government service items will be available on the Jingtong mini-program in 2024. Beijing will also continue to promote the use of the City Codes in government services, transportation, and other areas while supporting one-time payment for every visit and mobile online payment for medical services.
Time-Limited Drop-off Points Will Be Established at Tourist Attractions in the Core Area
Beijing sets a goal of creating an open and inclusive environment to enhance the city's business environment.
According to an official, in 2024, the city will further improve its talent management mechanism—including training, acquisition, deployment, and mobility—to make sure that specialized personnel can be in their element and work to the best of expertise and ability. To attract leading talented individuals in science and technology, the city will combine methods such as market-driven and collaborative talent acquisition. Specific policies will be applied to introduce top talented minds in key fields while a consortium for training excellent engineers will be created. Beijing will also coordinate the establishment of industry-education integration bases for such industries as integrated circuits, AI, and hydrogen energy. The city will encourage young professionals to take on leadership roles, ensuring that young talented individuals account for least 60 percent of heads and technical chief engineers in significant research management projects or projects for breakthroughs in core technologies. For international talented individuals, Beijing plans to release the Catalogue of Recognized International Professional Qualifications (Version 4.0), set up specialized one-stop service windows, and streamline the processing of work permits, residence permits, visas, and permanent residence applications.
In 2024, Beijing will expand payment options, supporting mobile payments, bank cards, and cash across key areas like major business districts, tourist attractions, entertainment venues, and hotels. This effort aims to better accommodate the diverse payment preferences of both foreign visitors and local residents.
To enhance the livability of the city, Beijing will improve the transportation convenience between seven railway stations and two airports in 2024. It is exploring the possibilities of providing check-in and luggage services at key railway stations for passengers flying from Beijing Daxing International Airport, so as to facilitate air-rail transfers. Additionally, the city will implement pilot programs to extend opening hours at 20 museums, including the Capital Museum of China, and improve supporting services such as dining, storage, and creative cultural offerings retail. Besides, the city will establish time-limited drop-off points at tourist attractions in the core area and increase parking facilities around attractions in the outer suburbs.