Reports show that the Xicheng District will prioritize the construction of a world-class Fintech demonstration area (Fintech New Area) which will both introduce and cultivate leading financial technology enterprises with international influence. The area will also strive to become the main front of and new benchmark for the opening-up of the financial industry.
At present, Xicheng District has established a high-quality project pool. Much effort has been put into strengthening the "One Pool and Three Lists" mechanism referring to a project pool and lists of policies, spatial resources, and target enterprises. A principle of "list-based management and project-driven promotion" has been implemented. By improving the environment for doing business, Xicheng District has strengthened the mechanism featuring "dedicated working group + policy integration + butler service", and released both the work plan and white paper on the opening-up of Xicheng District’s service sector. This will aid in the comprehensive introduction and development of enterprises across the entire process. Of the 18 ground-breaking and landmark projects seen in Beijing since starting of the development of the "two zones", 5 projects are located in Xicheng District, accounting for 28 percent of the pie. Furthermore, a number of ground-breaking and iconic projects has been carried out in Xicheng District.
In 2020, Xicheng District attracted 114 domestic and foreign enterprises in the key areas of finance, Fintech, foreign investment, and more. These new enterprises featured a new registered capital of CNY 168.78 billion, ranking first among all the districts in terms of growth rate for the actual utilization of foreign capital. From January, 2021 to present, newly contracted foreign investment has reached USD 206 million, up by 194.02 percent year-on-year. The actual paid-in foreign capital amounted to USD 44.05 million, which has exceeded the amount of capital attracted in the first half of 2020 and sends a good signal in terms of the utilization of foreign capital.
Since construction of the national-level Fintech New Area has commenced, an overall top-level design has been planned in line with international first-class professional industrial function demonstration zones to rigorously promote the quality and spatial bearing capacity of the neighborhoods in the Fintech New Area. Nearly 150,000 square meters of high-quality buildings, such as QI-ANXIN Building and New Actuation Center, have been renovated, providing space for the development of the national-level Fintech New Area.
Next, Xicheng District will take the initiative in undertaking the pilot programs of "two zones" financial policies to attract more international leading financial institutions. It will launch renovation projects for the market spaces of Shiji Tianle, Guanyuan and Tianyi, and promote the establishment of the Institute of Financial Standards and the Financial Certification Center under the People's Bank of China, in an effort to build a new growth pole for the capital's economic development and a source of Fintech system standards.
In 2021, Xicheng District will hold the high-caliber event Financial Street Forum 2021. At this forum, topics will focus around four aspects: insisting on reform and innovation, coordinating development and security, improving China's capability to participate in international financial governance, and furthering opening-up. The goal is to further enhance the international influence of Financial Street and the spillover effect of the annual forum. Xicheng District will continuously refresh the "two zones" brand and provide more international platforms for open cooperation for the city.
In addition, Xicheng District will implement a number of measures for the development of the digital economy and also support the demonstration of new scenarios in smart education, smart healthcare and other areas. More effort will be made to accelerate the upgrading of the smart business district in Xidan, support the development of domestic and foreign brands opening first store locally, and promote new breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare, education, cultural tourism, new consumption, and professional services.
At the same time, Xicheng District will implement tasks regarding the business environment version 4.0 to high standards, study the ten policies on science and technology innovation and other new supporting policies regarding the construction of the "two zones", formulate action plans to improve the quality of international talent communities, create an overseas-style environment in key industrial areas for talent development, and continue to take actions towards improving the services industry in Financial Street. Finally, it will vigorously improve the level of service innovation, such as Internet plus government services.
(Note: Content source is from Beijing Daily.)