The construction of China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as "Beijing Free Trade Zone") is highlighting its distinctive aspect. On May 1 this year, the Regulations on China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone was implemented, specifying that the Beijing Free Trade Zone includes three areas: scientific and technological innovation, international business services, and high-end industries; On August 5, the Special Promotion Plan for Investment Freedom and Facilitation in China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone was issued, which proposed to highlight the principle of "permission upon admission".
Breaking the whole area development of administrative divisions, upgrading the development of the Free Trade Zone to the legislative provisions, and leaping from goods trade to service trade... have made bold attempts and bold breakthroughs. In just over a year, the Beijing Free Trade Zone has broken a new path of development with characteristics. In the face of such major opportunities as the "the Belt and Road" and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) entering a mature period, can the Beijing Free Trade Zone usher in a highlight moment in the second half of the "14th Five Year Plan"?
Break administrative regional restrictions
The China Pilot Free Trade Zone refers to a multi-functional special economic zone set up inside and outside the border with preferential taxation and special customs supervision policies as the main means and trade liberalization and facilitation as the main purpose. On September 21, 2020, the State Council issued the notice on the overall plan of Beijing, Hunan and Anhui Pilot Free Trade Zones and the regional expansion plan of Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone. Up to now, China has approved the establishment of 21 free trade zones, covering the east, west, north and south of China, forming a network of free trade zones that radiates the whole country from point to area and the overall opening pattern of the whole country.
According to the Overall Plan of China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the orientation of the Beijing Free Trade Zone is to focus on institutional innovation, help build a science and technology innovation center with global influence, accelerate the building of a pilot area for expanding the opening up of the service industry and a pilot area for digital economy, and strive to build a high-level platform for opening up to the outside world for the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.
The Beijing Free Trade Zone covers an area of 119.68 square kilometers, covering three areas: 31.85 square kilometers for scientific and technological innovation, 48.34 square kilometers for international business services (including 5.466 square kilometers for Beijing Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone), and 39.49 square kilometers for high-end industries.
In terms of functional division, the Science and Technology Innovation Zone focuses on the development of new generation information technology, biology and health, science and technology services and other industries, creating a digital economy pilot zone, a global venture capital center, and a demonstration zone for scientific and technological system reform; The international business service area focuses on the development of digital trade, cultural trade, business exhibition, medical health, international delivery logistics, cross-border finance and other industries, and creates a pilot demonstration area for airport economic innovation; The high-end industry area focuses on the development of business services, international finance, cultural creativity, biotechnology and general health, and builds a scientific and technological achievements transformation carrier, a strategic emerging industry cluster and an international high-end functional organization cluster.
In this regard, Tang Dajie, secretary-general of the China Enterprise Research Institute, believes that the Beijing Free Trade Zone is at the forefront of institutional innovation. He said that the international free trade competition is mainly manifested in the competition of systems, and a good business environment, competitive tax burden and clean and efficient administrative mechanism are essential. If it is confined to a specific region, it will not only increase the cost of enterprises entering the zone, but also restrict the relevant enterprise activities such as talent attraction, innovation investment and intellectual property protection. The measures taken by the Beijing Free Trade Zone to break administrative divisions have just avoided these drawbacks.
After breaking the administrative division, each district has carried out the cluster pilot development model. Tongzhou Group has focused on building the brand of "International Financial Port" and "International Design Town". Changping Group has made efforts to build the Life Science Park into an innovation engine for the development of Beijing's pharmaceutical and health industry. Daxing Group has built a global innovation resource connection through the coupling development of airport area, free trade pilot area and comprehensive protection area. Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone Group has made efforts to build free and convenient investment, free and convenient trade High standard and high-quality free trade park with convenient transportation, cross-border flow of funds, convenient employment of talents and safe and orderly flow of data.
Take Daxing Airport Economic Zone as an example. As the only advantageous area in China with the policies of free trade zones in Beijing and Hebei, Daxing Airport Economic Zone has given full play to the "three zones" overlapping advantages of airport area, free trade pilot zone and comprehensive protection zone, and has been given the position of "building an international, high-end and service-oriented airport economic zone focusing on aviation logistics, scientific and technological innovation and service guarantee". In fact, Daxing Airport Economic Zone has also lived up to expectations. According to Liu Dingding, assistant director of the Airport Area (Daxing) Management Committee of Daxing Airport, in the first half of this year, the passenger and cargo throughput of Daxing Airport was 51000 flights, the passenger throughput was 4.691 million people (2.318 million people entering the port and 2.373 million people leaving the port), and the cargo throughput was 67000 tons (67000 tons for domestic routes and 63.4 tons for international routes).
In terms of the specific trade content of each free trade zone, the Beijing Free Trade Zone also relies on its own unique regional advantages to walk out of a service trade path different from that of other free trade zones. "In the process of relieving the non capital function, Beijing has moved many industrial enterprises out, leaving behind a service industry that is more in line with the characteristics of the capital's location. Compared with other free trade zones' emphasis on goods trade, Beijing Free Trade Zone focuses more on service trade, emphasizing the introduction and going out of talent and technology." Bai Ming, deputy director of the International Market Research Department of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, explained.
Policy dividend enables investment development
After the establishment of the Beijing Free Trade Zone was approved, the supporting policies are gradually catching up.
On August 5, 2022, Beijing issued the Special Promotion Plan for Investment Freedom and Convenience in China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which proposed to highlight the principle of "permission upon admission", and further upgrade the convenience of enterprises in Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone.
The accelerated release of policy dividends has played an important role in expanding Beijing's trade scale and attracting foreign investment. Meanwhile, Chaoyang District is the epitome. Focusing on the three key areas of "business, finance and science and technology" and relying on the three key parks of "CBD, Jinzhan International Cooperation Service Zone and Zhongguancun Chaoyang Park", in 2021, nearly 38300 new enterprises will be set up in Chaoyang District, accounting for 16.1% of the city, ranking first in the city; 721 newly established foreign-funded enterprises, up 45.7% year on year, accounting for 37.5% of the city; The actually utilized foreign capital was 5.11 billion US dollars, up 10.5% year on year, accounting for 32.8% of the city's total; It attracted contracted foreign investment of 18.44 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 200.6%. From January to April 2022, there will be 10410 new enterprises in Chaoyang District, accounting for 12.63% of the city; 169 foreign-funded enterprises were newly established, accounting for 33.3% of the city; The actually utilized foreign capital was 1.88 billion US dollars, up 42.9% year on year, accounting for 26.7% of the city.
The release of dividends from the Beijing Free Trade Zone has also given Beijing new momentum for development. Hong Tao, director of the Business Economics Research Institute of Beijing Business and Technology University, believes that at the micro level, the open nature of the free trade zone will make Beijing's trade and investment more free and convenient, which is also the need for the construction of Beijing as an international consumption center. At the macro level, it can promote the coordinated development of "one core, two wings, three circles and three axes" in Beijing.
"The construction of the Beijing Free Trade Zone will further remove policy barriers, provide more space for trial and innovation, and promote Beijing's industrial upgrading, public services, urban function improvement and other aspects, which is of great significance for Beijing to build a science and technology innovation center with global influence." Hong Tao said through analysis.
Yao Xin, Secretary General of the Commercial Industry Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, pointed out the significance of the Beijing Free Trade Zone for the coordinated development of Beijing's "five sons": "five sons". Each son is based on the national strategy, and each son gathers the advantages of the capital. At the same time, it corresponds to the Regulations on China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Taking the key to strengthening the "five sons" linkage and setting the first son "building an international scientific and technological innovation center" as an example, Chapter IV "Scientific and technological innovation" of the Regulations on China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone just corresponds to it. The effect of promoting high-quality development through scientific and technological innovation has already appeared. For example, the "three cities and one district", including Huairou Science City, contributes less than 6% of Beijing's GDP.
In addition, Wang Peng, a researcher of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences and the Research Center for Intelligent Social Governance of Renmin University of China, proposed that the construction of the "two zones" in Beijing - the national service industry comprehensive demonstration zone and China (Beijing) free trade pilot zone promote the development of cross-border trade, which has spawned many new businesses. Digital application scenarios can be more extensive, and digital technology can also be explored and improved in practice. When it comes to cross-border trade, air transport cannot be bypassed. The role of Daxing Airport Economic Zone can be seen.
How to take the second half of the "Fourteenth Five Year Plan"
The "Fourteenth Five Year Plan" period is a critical period for Beijing to implement the strategic positioning of the capital city and build itself into a world-class harmonious and livable city, as well as a critical period for the development of the Beijing Free Trade Zone. In the first half of the "14th Five Year Plan", the Beijing Free Trade Zone started vigorously. In the second half, the Beijing Free Trade Zone had to face the challenges of complex situations at home and abroad, and look for breakthroughs in the opportunities brought by the "the Belt and Road" and RCEP.
Many experts interviewed agreed that, from an international perspective, with the complexity of the international situation, the normalization of the global epidemic and the economic downturn, the global development of the Beijing Free Trade Zone may face challenges. Domestically, Bai Ming and Wang Peng both suggested that the Beijing Free Trade Zone should pay attention to avoiding the deadlock of "homogeneous" development when it is developing synchronously with other free trade zones. Taking the scientific and technological innovation area as an example, all parts of the country are emphasizing the development of science and technology and innovation. How Beijing can play its unique advantages in this area is worth studying. In this regard, Bai Ming believes that Beijing can focus on basic R&D by taking advantage of its regional advantages of many scientific research institutions and high scientific research investment.
Behind the challenges are greater opportunities. From the perspective of external environment, during the "14th Five Year Plan" period, the "the Belt and Road", RCEP and other related plans will gradually enter a mature period. Hong Tao believes that the Beijing Free Trade Zone can take this opportunity to carry out more extensive trade and investment, timely follow up relevant policies to ensure the convenience and freedom of trade and investment, and lead the high-quality development of service trade. In addition, free trade zones across the country are accelerating their development and forming distinctive advantages according to the requirements of the central government. Beijing should also seize the opportunity to develop its own unique service trade to avoid falling into homogeneity.
On August 3, 2022, Beijing Economic and Information Bureau issued the first domestic digital human industry policy, Beijing Action Plan for Promoting the Innovative Development of Digital Human Industry (2022-2025). The 2022 Service Trade Conference to be held in Beijing on August 31 will add the content of the meta universe, which is an active attempt by Beijing to constantly explore its own advantages.
From the perspective of Beijing's own regional advantages, the construction of Beijing Free Trade Zone is supported by the capital's own characteristic industries. "On the one hand, as the capital of China, Beijing has relatively developed digital technology, modern service industry, and financial industry, which can provide industrial support for the three major areas of the Beijing Free Trade Zone. On the other hand, Beijing has the function of an international exchange center, which can help link the talents and technologies at home and abroad." Wang Peng said.
[Dialogue] Liu Dingding, Assistant Director of the Airport Area (Daxing) Management Committee of Daxing Airport: Cross regional cooperation to support efficient connectivity between Beijing and Hebei
Q: What is the orientation of Daxing Airport Economic Zone?
A: The development of the airport economic zone of Beijing Daxing International Airport is based on serving the strategic requirements of the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, giving full play to the dual role of optimizing the core functions of the capital and relieving the non capital core functions, radiating and driving the transformation and upgrading of Hebei's industry, and building an airport economic zone with international competitive advantages based on aviation services and aiming at knowledge intensive high-end airport industry clusters. With the Capital Airport Airport Economic Zone Demonstration Area, we will achieve division of labor, coordination and dislocation development, and jointly serve the coordinated development strategy of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.
Q: What changes have taken place in Daxing Airport Economic Zone since the implementation of Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone?
A: For more than a year, Daxing Airport Economic Zone has promoted policy innovation by listing, deepened the reform of "decentralization, regulation and service", jointly promoted the implementation and construction of projects, focused on life and health, digital economy, cross-border trade and other key areas, and further improved the advantages of industrial openness and innovation.
At the level of promoting policy innovation by listing, the overall implementation rate of 254 innovation tasks of "double free trade zones" exceeded 97%. At the level of deepening the reform of "decentralization, management and service", in combination with the implementation of free trade pilot zone empowerment, 178 urban level empowerment projects have been undertaken, and the whole process of land development and engineering project construction has achieved "airport office".
Q: What is the supporting role of Daxing Airport Economic Zone for the high-quality development of Beijing and even the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei?
A: Daxing Airport Airport Economic Zone is located in the core area of Beijing Tianjin Hebei. It undertakes the major mission of a new power source for national development. With an international super large comprehensive hub, it is the only economic functional zone in China that integrates the policy advantages of national airport economic demonstration zone, double free trade zone, comprehensive protection zone, comprehensive demonstration zone for expanding the opening up of the service industry, Zhongguancun independent innovation demonstration zone, digital trade pilot zone, etc. Serve and integrate into the new development pattern, and well implement the "five sons", which are related to Daxing Airport Economic Zone.
Q: What are the future development plans? What are the opportunities and challenges?
A: During the "Fourteenth Five Year Plan" period, the goal is to initially highlight the image of the country, and basically form a modern green airport economic zone with initial concentration of international elements, initial economic benefits, superior institutional environment, world-class business environment, beautiful ecological environment, and joint construction and management of Beijing and Hebei.
The function of international communication portal has initially emerged. The construction of the external traffic network of Daxing International Airport Airport Economic Zone continued to improve, and the rapid transit network with Hebei Province, Tianjin City and other surrounding areas was basically completed. The integrated development of port, industry and city has achieved positive results. The permanent population size of the airport economic zone is controlled within 150000 people, and the balance between work and housing is basically achieved. important breakthroughs have been made in the exploration of institutional innovation. The pilot policy of the national service industry to expand the opening up of the comprehensive demonstration zone and the major reform measures of "decentralization, management and service" took the lead in demonstrating in the airport economic zone. The construction of the pilot free trade zone characterized by new forms of digital economy and digital trade was accelerated. Major breakthroughs were made in the innovation of the pilot free trade zone system, and a number of pilot policies of major institutional reform were first implemented, becoming an important open platform for China's deep integration into economic globalization and the new development pattern.
Q: What experiences are worth sharing?
A: As the only area in the country that has policies for free trade zones of two provinces and cities at the same time, the airport area has made active exploration and innovation in cross regional coordination, promoting the implementation of new models, new business types, new scenarios and new systems. For example, our Comprehensive Bonded Area is also the first comprehensive protected area across provincial administrative divisions in China. We and Hebei have pioneered a new model of coordinated development featuring integrated planning, integrated construction and integrated management, promoted the joint discussion and sharing of infrastructure and development achievements, and promoted the formal closure, acceptance and operation of the Comprehensive Bonded Area at the end of last year. It will realize the integrated development of the Comprehensive Bonded Area and the port functional area, and the Beijing Hebei region will be directly and efficiently connected, Improve the efficiency of goods transportation in Beijing Hebei region and build a demonstration highland of China's highest customs clearance efficiency.
