Plans to make Beijing global consumption hub

Variety of business districts across city targeted for renovation and upgrading work

Beijing has recently outlined a series of key initiatives for the year, in an effort to stimulate consumption and accelerate the city's evolution into an international consumption hub.

A focus is to advance the development of four international consumption experience zones, including Wangfujing-Xidan-Qianmen and Universal Beijing Resort-Grand Canal. The goal is to establish two to three world-class landmark business districts, each with an estimated value of 100 billion yuan ($13.93 billion), according to the Beijing Bureau of Commerce.

Additionally, the city will complete the renovation and upgrading of Zhongguancun and another 11 business districts. This not only aims to elevate the commercial landscape but attract more domestic and international consumers, solidifying Beijing's status as a global shopping destination.

By focusing on creating innovative and diverse consumption scenarios, Beijing plans to integrate various settings — including urban blocks, natural landscapes, bodies of water, entertainment venues, and nightlife activities — with cultural, tourism, sports, and commercial facilities.

It intends to introduce more than 10 demonstration business districts that showcase integrated development across commerce, culture, tourism, and sports.

The continual development of agricultural product wholesale markets is another priority. By enhancing support capabilities and ensuring the supply of daily necessities during holidays, Beijing will improve the 15-minute convenient living circle system, offering increased convenience to residents.

Fostering new consumption trends and driving diversified brand innovation are also central to Beijing's strategy. Leveraging the demonstration role of new consumption brand incubators like Hongqiao Market, Wangfujing No 19 Mansion, and Langyuan Station, the city strives to incubate more than 100 new consumption brands by year-end.

Among these, more than 20 brands are projected to reach a scale of 100 million yuan each, and more than 80 brands are to achieve a scale of 10 million yuan each.

Furthermore, Beijing aims to establish around 50 time-honored brand museums by the end of the year; recognize about 150 Beijing time-honored craftsmen; and increase the total number of Beijing time-honored brands to around 300, preserving traditional Chinese culture while enhancing the brand value of local enterprises.

In terms of boosting the value of local brands, Beijing will support places like THE BOX mall and 798-751 art zones in building international platforms for showcasing nationally recognized brands. It will also guide the distinctive development of "Beijing Gifts" theme stores and organize promotions for special agricultural products.

In recent years, Beijing has been striving to establish itself as an international gourmet capital. By the end of the year, it aims to introduce around 500 renowned domestic and international food brands and develop characteristic dining areas throughout the city.

To stimulate the first-launch economy, Beijing is encouraging domestic and international brands to open their flagship stores in the city. It will promote the opening of flagship stores for luxury brands, with a target of 3,000 first stores by year-end.

The city will also encourage the Zhongguancun Forum venue and the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center to host launch events for intelligent technology products, enhancing Beijing's influence in the global innovation and consumption market.

Beijing is poised to innovate and develop digital consumption. Each district is tasked with building more than three information consumption experience centers by the end of the year. The city will identify around 30 characteristic livestreaming e-commerce bases, fostering industry aggregation and advancement.

The city plans to introduce 100 new themed tourism routes throughout the year to promote industrial tourism. To invigorate sports consumption, Beijing will drive the development of the ice and snow industry, cultivate urban landmarks for sports, and encourage such activity in areas including Shougang Park, Wukesong Sports Centre, and the Beijing Olympic Park.

Furthermore, the optimization of spatial layout and business formats of duty-free shops for departing tourists, along with the expansion of bonded research, services, and leasing businesses in the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone will enhance cross-border e-commerce experience consumption in the city.

With this comprehensive and forward-looking plan, Beijing is embarking on a new phase of consumption-driven development, presenting opportunities for businesses and a more vibrant and diverse consumption experience for consumers, officials said.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn