Experts discussed investment opportunities arising from the development of the "two zones" in Beijing, seeking greater win-win development at a forum on Beijing Theme Day, part of the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services, on Thursday.

The two zones－the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening Up the Service Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone－offer enormous development potential for both the host city and entrepreneurs, according to participants.

Some 500 attendees, including government officials, representatives of foreign diplomatic agencies, 36 trade associations from China and abroad, executives from more than 200 multinationals and leading businesses, and scholars, attended online or in-person.

They exchanged insights on how to make use of the favorable policies offered in the two zones and capitalize on Beijing's advantages in technological innovation, opening-up of the service industry and the digital economy to attract more high-quality service providers to the city.

The forum released a report on investment and development in Beijing and a white paper on the city's digital trade. They reveal Beijing's investment hot spots, business opportunities and huge cooperation potential, providing information for investors and entrepreneurs from home and abroad.

Beijing has made remarkable achievements during the process of building its two zones, according to local officials.

Since the establishment of the two zones in September 2020, Beijing has been constructing the two zones with a focus on scientific and technological innovation; the opening-up of the service sector; the digital economy; and the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

To date, Beijing has implemented 242 of the 251 tasks for the two zones approved by the State Council, said Liu Meiying, deputy director of the office in charge of the two zones' development. She was speaking to The Beijing News ahead of the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services being held in the Chinese capital from Wednesday to Monday.

"The policies that have been implemented are pioneering," Liu said. "In the past two years, the two zones implemented 33 policies that were nationally pioneering and 36 policies that became a first in the city. For example, Beijing is the first in the country to introduce preferential income tax policies for corporate venture capital enterprises.

"These policies are in line with the industrial development needs of the city. For example, the Beijing International Big Data Exchange was established to promote the digital economy."

In the fields of sci-tech service system construction, the upgrading of cultural and tourism services, and innovative financial services, a total of 11 best practices from the two zones have been replicated in other parts of the country, according to Liu.

The past two years have witnessed the birth of more than 60 multifunctional, comprehensive service platforms in Beijing. For instance, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Center of Technology Innovation, which is China's first comprehensive national-level technology innovation center, has commenced construction.

It aims to create a model for global, collaborative, innovative services built on cooperation among Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. It is to promote the integration of the innovation chains, industrial chains and capital chains of the three regions.

Over the past two years, more than 80 landmark projects have settled down in the two zones. They include the China headquarters of pneumatic device developer and maker SMC; the Asia-Pacific headquarters of biopharmaceutical company Seragon; a research and development center of Schneider Electric; and the China headquarters of Huawei Technologies.

A "white list" system for imports in the research and development sector has been launched in Beijing. It has made importation much easier, according to Liu.

Beijing's Chaoyang district has emerged as a highlight during the construction of the two zones. Since the two zones were founded in 2020, Chaoyang district has promoted reforms through opening-up efforts and improved its business and innovation climate.

In the last two years, Chaoyang achieved 46 innovations in its signature industries, such as commerce and sci-tech, according to the district's government.

The district is home to 60 demonstrative projects, including Zhongguancun Chaoyang Park, a subpark of Zhongguancun Science Park, which has been recognized as a base for geographic information service exports.

The thriving Taikooli shopping street in Chaoyang district has become one of the first national-level tourism and leisure areas.