On April 1, Beijing's first B&R· RCEP Innovation Service Center was officially established. The center will provide multiple services for key import and export enterprises from the Belt and Road (B&R) participating countries and signatories of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), so as to bring the benefits of RCEP to the enterprises and further facilitate the development of the “Two Zones” and the regional economy.

The center will provide services such as cultivation and incubation of Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), printing certificates of origin, and displaying tax rates of the RCEP signatories. In addition, it will join hands with Beijing Chaoyang Customs to offer consultation services on trade facilitation policies for enterprises. AEO refers to a system through which China Customs offers preferential facilitation of customs clearance for authorized enterprises. The first AEO certificate for enterprises was granted to Shell (China) Limited.

With the certificate, enterprises can enjoy convenient customs clearance procedures and preferential policies offered to certified AEOs by the RCEP signatories. Up to now, China has signed mutual AEO agreements with 32 B&R participating countries and five RCEP signatories.

Meanwhile, the center will also organize a series of activities on policy promotion and business training for enterprises in the Central Business District (CBD) to offer solutions for enterprises to address the barriers and pain-point problems of international economic exchanges among the B&R participating countries and signatories of the RCEP. It will provide comprehensive assistance in business operation, laws, finance, and other related aspects to support enterprises in “going global”.

(Source: People's Daily Online)