Beijing International Exhibition Center expands to further boost capital's development, opening-up

Chen Miao, who has been involved in the automobile sector and participates in different exhibitions worldwide, said she believes Beijing is taking faster steps in opening-up, which is evidenced by the further expansion of the Beijing International Exhibition Center.

By 2024, the second phase of the new exhibition center will be put into operation, and the third phase is in the process of attracting investments. Located in Beijing's Shunyi district, the exhibition center constitutes an important part of the economic zone of Beijing Capital International Airport.

The airport economic zone now stands as China's most internationalized one and it hosts the largest number of aviation service enterprises. The area has 537 foreign enterprises that involve 40 countries and regions, and 33 Fortune 500 companies invested in 87 projects there, according to the management committee of the area.

With classical Chinese glazed tile elements integrated into the architecture, the second phase of the new exhibition center is called the "purple and golden ribbon". The design and shape of the venue symbolize the Belt and Road Initiative, showing the connectivity between China and the world.

"Global cities that are famous for holding conventions and exhibitions are usually equipped with highly professional services such as hotels and catering facilities nearby, and such regions are often close to airports and commercial areas. Companies should feel free of worry when attending exhibitions," said Yuan Zaiqing, president of the China Convention and Exhibition Society.

"Shunyi district enjoys such geographical advantages and industrial benefits. I believe that with the completion of the second and third phases, the center will for sure attract many more exhibitions," Yuan said.

With construction beginning in September 2021, the venue is designed to be equipped with about 200,000 square meters of exhibition area, 25,000 sq m of meeting space and a hotel that offers nearly 500 rooms. Once completed, it will become Beijing's largest single comprehensive exhibition venue with the most complete functions.

Besides holding large-scale exhibitions and high-level conferences, the venue can also hold various events such as performing arts, cultural activities, sporting events, and scientific and technological experiential conferences.

The first phase of the center was put into operation in 2008, and the venue has held more than 300 international exhibitions and high-level meetings.

Meanwhile, the transportation system of the surrounding area is constantly improving. Subway services include line M15, which has two stops located near the center.

A new airport rapid transit line is expected to be built starting from September 2023. The airport line will connect the new exhibition center and Beijing Capital International Airport in 15 minutes, and it will also connect Xiangyun Township, a commercial complex in the region.

In addition, an elevated highway will be built this year, and an exit will be set up in the new exhibition center area to further relieve traffic pressure. The highway will provide fast access between downtown Beijing and the new exhibition center.

"My family likes to go to the new exhibition center in Shunyi to watch some shows, especially automobile shows. Besides the ample space in the venue, there are also many catering choices," said a Beijing resident surnamed Zhang.

"The most important thing is that the transportation system in the region is quite convenient for either self-driving or taking the subway. It has been an enjoyable experience to see many new styles of cars at an exhibition near my home," Zhang said.

Besides exhibition and conference venues, the region's unique geographical location and industrial structure have helped attract various consumer groups and it boasts significant potential for high-end consumption, which will contribute to the building of Beijing as an international consumption center.

In July 2021, the State Council approved Beijing and four other cities to take the lead in building international consumption centers. So far, Beijing has 57 Fortune 500 companies, which tops the list nationwide. The city is also home to the headquarters of 201 multinational corporations. The number of tax refund offices in Beijing has exceeded 800, ranking first in the country.

The region of the new exhibition center can provide consumption services to more than 1.3 million residents in Shunyi, especially high-end consumer groups and foreign residents who live in the villas near the center. The region can also provide services to about 5 million people who live in Chaoyang, Tongzhou, Changping and Huairou districts, the management committee said.

With only the first-phase venue available at the moment, the holding of exhibitions brings nearly 2 million visitors to the region annually. After the opening of the second-phase venue, it is expected to attract more than 6.1 million visitors annually.

With approval for building an airport economic zone near the Beijing Capital International Airport in February, the airport economy in Shunyi district has opened a new chapter, and the economic zone will focus on developing sectors such as air cargo, cross-border trade, business exhibitions, scientific and technological innovations and industrial finance. The economic zone will build itself into a new highland of opening-up and consolidate its leading position in the nation.