Favorable policies
Beijing's new policies for the service industry will benefit foreign professionals, startups partners, overseas Chinese and foreign students in Chaoyang and Shunyi districts, according to city officials.
These groups will enjoy a more open and relaxed environment during their stay in China, as authorities will embrace convenient processes for visa-related processes such as applying for permanent residence, long-term visas and port visas.
The exit and entry administration bureau of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau will give more power to district-level agencies for visa applications by foreigners.
The plans were initiated by government organizations including the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.
The output of the Beijing service industry accounts for more than 80 percent of the city's gross domestic product.
The new policies mainly serve enterprises in areas such as finance, technology, culture, business and tourism.
More than 90 percent of Chaoyang district's GDP comes from the service industry, which relies on talented professionals the most.
The district will continue to contribute to the technology, finance, education and medicine industries in the future.
Gary Kenneth Mundell, head of production at Huhu Studios China, said: "Many countries have restricted visa programs in the past. In China, we're reversing that to make it more comfortable for foreigners and for professionals to come into China.
"The easier we can make the visa process, the easier we can make life here. We can build a vibrant and smart community in Shunyi district," he said.
To regulate the market environment and boost business integrity, Beijing will implement a double-edge credit management system for foreign enterprises.
It will give a good report when companies perform well and bad ones when they break rules.
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce have launched a one-window service platform to simplify administrative procedures for foreign companies to create a better business environment.
On the platform, enterprises will just need to fill in one form, with information covering business registration with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Commerce and industrial and commercial records at the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The policy is the first of its kind in China and intends to improve efficiency of government departments and save costs for foreign companies.
(China Daily 07/28/2017 page10)
