Over the past five years, Beijing's Changping District has transformed from an “open testing ground” into a high-value development hub, with more than 1,900 projects launched under the city's dual free-trade and high-tech zones. The district has attracted 329 new foreign-invested enterprises, with an annual growth rate of 28.2%, and actual foreign investment totaling $1.68 billion, injecting robust momentum into the capital's open economy.

Li Qiang, deputy mayor of Changping, highlighted the district's policy-driven approach: over 20 specialized measures, including the Free Trade Changping Cluster Implementation Plan and three-year action plans for key parks, have been rolled out, along with 210 high-value initiatives. These policies have produced a series of national “firsts,” such as China's first international research hospital, the first decentralized clinical trial (DCT) pilot, a one-stop import/export service platform for special materials, the city's first “human genetic resources officer” pilot, and a flexible approval mechanism for innovative drugs—demonstrating Changping's leading edge in institutional openness.

Changping has also optimized global resource flows:

• Finance: Introduced the city's first cross-border RMB settlement incentives in the free-trade zone, and implemented integrated foreign and domestic currency pools and Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) pilots.

• Data: Leveraged a free-trade zone outbound data negative-list system to facilitate international R&D collaboration for multinationals like Novo Nordisk.

• Intellectual Property: As a pilot city for national IP initiatives, the district offers a “Tech + Insurance + Services” model to protect overseas innovation investments.

Key innovation parks provide the backbone for new productivity. In the Future Science City's “Life Valley,” national strategic labs and institutes have enabled an “investment + clinical + incubation + park” ecosystem, attracting over 300 top-tier talents and 118 scientist-founded enterprises. The “Energy Valley” unites 18 central enterprises and 10 academic workstations, producing 220+ international standards and 16,000+ active patents, leading domestic energy innovation. Shahe Higher Education Park integrates university resources, operating five campus-industry bases with 10 universities to build the Future University Science Park. The Zhongguancun Changping Park hosts the China High-End Medical Equipment Innovation Center, the National Medical Device Innovation Beijing Service Station, and accounts for roughly 10% of all approved innovative medical devices nationally, establishing itself as a sectoral innovation hub.

Changping has also enhanced its international business environment. Foreign-invested enterprise registration is now fully online, reducing processing times to one day. Cross-border trade facilitation includes a Turkish Trade Center and European Innovation Center, a whitelist system for R&D imports, and the adoption of an “assurance + compliance verification” inspection model, improving both customs efficiency and trade credit.

Professionalized service platforms, such as Changsheng Station and Changneng Station, integrate 172 high-frequency business services and 81 foreign-related administrative services, with 72 “one-stop” digital scenarios, simplifying procedures and boosting efficiency for enterprises operating in the district.

Changping's combination of policy innovation, international alignment, and sector-focused infrastructure positions it as a compelling destination for foreign investors and cross-border collaboration, particularly in biotech, healthcare, energy, and high-tech manufacturing.