By tf-lawyer.com On October 22, the third Joint Conference of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone took place in Beijing. The meeting resulted in the signing of the “Action Plan for Deepening Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone (2025).” This plan outlines five key priorities and 15 specific measures aimed at promoting high-level institutional openness, facilitating trade and investment, enhancing industrial capabilities, improving integration levels, and maximizing the comprehensive effects of reforms. The goal is to elevate the efficiency and quality of the free trade zones, positioning the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area as a pioneer and demonstration zone for modernization in China.
During the conference, a new batch of collaborative innovation outcomes from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone was also unveiled. This includes the “Guide for Foreign Investment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone,” the “Coordinated Development Report for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone (2024),” and 15 reform and innovation practice cases from the three regions. Following the meeting, representatives visited various sites, including the “Two Zones” exhibition hall in Beijing, the Beijing Green Exchange, the Beijing Urban Library, and key enterprises to learn about new achievements related to the construction of the “Two Zones” and the development of Beijing’s sub-central city.
Since the inaugural Joint Conference of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Free Trade Zone was held in Tianjin on September 27, 2021, the mechanism for collaboration among the three regions has been officially established. This year, for the first time, the conference was hosted in Beijing.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy and the fourth year since the establishment of the Beijing Free Trade Zone. The coordinated development of these three areas has become a significant characteristic and branding feature of the Beijing Free Trade Zone, yielding remarkable results.
The regions are working together to deepen institutional innovation, having launched a shared list of policies under the “One Zone Innovation, Three Zones Mutual Recognition” framework, thereby strengthening cross-regional institutional synergy. Notable innovations include cross-regional supervision for bonded exhibition and trading, coordinated judicial protection for intellectual property, and collaborative tax governance, enhancing the level of collaborative innovation.
Together, they are also facilitating freer trade and investment. They have created the nation’s first “single window + blockchain” model, promoting the sharing of customs clearance and logistics data across the three areas. New models such as “on-the-spot pickup” and “direct port delivery” for all types of import and export container goods have drastically reduced processing times—from 1-2 days for imports to as little as 1.5 hours, and from an expected 5 days for exports down to 1-2 days. Additionally, a strategic cooperation model for investment promotion has been launched, establishing the first group of “Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Global Joint Investment Partners,” aiming to enhance regional investment attraction through collaborative industry chain marketing and resource integration.
The regions are also collaboratively developing open platforms. Leveraging Daxing International Airport, they aim to establish the nation’s first cross-provincial air economic zone, free trade zone, and comprehensive bonded zone, creating a tri-fold approach of combining space and policy. This includes the launch of innovation service centers and an international biomedical park. The first cross-regional public service platform for offshore trade, “Jingmao Xing,” has already verified trade settlement amounts totaling $3.2 billion.
Moreover, efforts to optimize the business environment are ongoing. The regions have rolled out five batches of 203 “same standard” governmental services in the free trade zone, ensuring that services are provided without discrimination and according to unified standards. The first list of 165 mutual recognition qualifications has been published, facilitating cross-regional recognition of professional qualifications. Measures have also been introduced to streamline work permits for foreigners coming to China, which includes mutual recognition of high-level talent standards and easing entry requirements for urgently needed skilled professionals, further deepening collaboration on the flow of resources.
