This is the registration page for the event. The event is hosted by the EU SME Centre and co-hosted by CBBC.

The State Council recently issued the "China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone Overall Plan" (referred to as the "Overall Plan"), pointing out that the Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone takes institutional innovation as its core, reproducibility and promotion as its basic requirements, and fully implements the central Implement innovation-driven development and promote the coordinated development strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, help build a scientific and technological innovation centre with global influence, accelerate the creation of a pioneering zone for the expansion of the service industry and a digital economy pilot zone, and strive to build a high level of coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Open the platform to the outside world.

According to the official announcement on September 24, the pilot free-trade zone in Beijing will focus on supporting the construction of an innovation centre with global influence. It will accelerate the construction of a leading area for the expansion of trade in services and a pilot area for the digital economy. So the services sector, instead of manufacturing, is the key area that will be boosted.

Meanwhile, supported by MPS (Ministry of Public Security), Beijing Municipal Government will ease rules for foreign talents to enter and exit Beijing, and provide favourable terms to acquire permanent residence.

In order to help the UK and EU business community to understand newly issued policies, two invited officials from BJ MOFCOM and BJ PSB will introduce and interpret the latest FTZ plan and strategic priorities, types of preferential policies that businesses can expect, and also the potential implications for businesses in Beijing and also new policies facilitating entry of foreigners .

Schedule

14.15 - 14.30: Registration, Coffee and Networking

14.30 - 14:40: Opening remark, Tom Simpson, Managing Director China, China-Britain Business Council and Renzo Isler, Director, EU SME Centre

14:40 - 15.10: Policy Briefing by Ms. ZHAO Wenjie, Vice Director, Leading Group Office of Comprehensive Pilot of Further Opening Up Beijing Service Sector Coordination and promotion Division, BJ MOFCOM

15.10 - 15.30: Policy Briefing by BJ PSB

15.30 - 15.50: Q&A

15.50 - 16.00: Break

16.00 - 16.15: Sharing by Representatives of EU enterprises in Beijing (TBC)

This meeting will be conducted in Chinese but simultaneous translation is available. The remote based simultaneous translation can be accessed via your phone, please bring your mobile headset with you on the day.