Beijing Unveils New Five‑Year Plan to Build World‑Class Business‑Environment Benchmark

According to Beijing Daily, Beijing has released its Plan for Optimising the Business Environment during the 15th Five‑Year Plan Period. As the city’s second dedicated five‑year programme for business‑environment improvement, the document sets out 29 sets of reform measures covering six major areas.

Adopting a partnership‑oriented service philosophy, the city aims to create better operating and innovation conditions for all types of market entities. Over the previous five‑year cycle, more than 1,300 reform measures were rolled out across Beijing. The city delivered several nation‑first initiatives for business registration services, and the total number of market entities rose from 2.115 million at the end of 2020 to nearly 2.87 million by the close of 2025.

Market‑related reforms will strengthen fair competition rules and guard against disruptive cut‑throat rivalry. Greater support will be offered to small‑and‑medium‑sized enterprises so they can take part in public tendering processes on an equal footing. Policy work will also cover talent housing provision, credit services for micro‑enterprises, and flexible land‑use arrangements to underpin corporate expansion.

The “One Integrated Service” reform, which streamlines multi‑step administrative workflows, will be expanded across further fields including scientific‑and‑technological innovation, urban renewal and construction‑related procedures. Existing digital government platforms will continue to be upgraded. Beijing will push for further progress on Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei inter‑regional administration, expanding the scope of mutually‑recognised service standards, credentials and electronic official documents.

For investment and external trade, full online processing will be extended for foreign‑funded enterprise registration. The city will encourage multinationals to set up regional headquarters and research facilities, and advance opening‑up within selected service sectors. A complete support network for domestic firms going global is to be developed, with specialist overseas‑oriented service hubs and expanded offshore service points. Regulators will adopt graded customs controls to support key local industrial sectors.

Work will also proceed to smooth market‑driven exit procedures for non‑viable market entities. Two supporting guidance documents on corporate bankruptcy administration have been issued alongside the main plan. The existing digital business platform has simplified company cancellation formalities. Judicial reorganisation proceedings have rescued 166 distressed local enterprises since the opening of Beijing’s specialised bankruptcy court.