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Business Beijing, An “Irreplaceable” Source of Information

Business Beijing attributes its success to its sponsors, notably to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-Council, also known as the Beijing International Chamber of Commerce. The CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council was set up in 1978 as a non-governmental organization that operates the way a corporate entity does and receives assistance from the local government. It organizes VIPs of the Chinese capital's business community, individual companies and social organizations to help promote Beijing's foreign trade and investment. In 1987, the CCPIT Sub-Council set up the Beijing World Trade Centre jointly with some of the city's leading companies, and then became a member of the World Association for Trade Centres. Business Beijing participated in this venture by publicizing the Beijing World Science Fair, an annual event in the Chinese capital, and many other business and trade events, and the efforts have proved successful.

Zhou Maofei, president of the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council, speaks highly of Business Beijing.

"It is a most reliable source of business information; the magazine has played an irreplaceable role in promoting Beijing's foreign trade and investment," he said. "As far as I know, foreign businesspeople in Beijing, particular newcomers, often find it indispensable."

The CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council has established business relations with more than 500 chambers of commerce, trade promotion organizations and organizers of international trade fairs, including 80 with which it has inked agreements of cooperation.

"When foreign companies send people to Beijing for the first time," Zhou said, "they visit us seeking information about Beijing's investment policies, business opportunities and the procedures for starting businesses. We always have copies of Business Beijing at hand, which we readily give out for their reference. The feedback is quite positive."

Visitors to the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council are particularly keen on seeing "macro-economic information" published in Business Beijing. China's economic and trade policies, the overall economic situation in the country, and guidelines and policies for the development of the local economy, Zhou said.

Many foreign-funded companies in Beijing are subscribers to Business Beijing or have asked the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council for a regular supply of the magazine.

The CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council organizes a range of trade and business fairs every year, including the internationally known Beijing Science Fair, China Refrigeration Exhibition and China Elevator Exhibition. Business Beijing, on its part, promotes these events by launching special issues or by publishing feature articles beforehand.  

Prospects bright for Business Beijing, sponsor

Prospects are bright for foreign businesses in Beijing and, naturally, for Business Beijing as well, according to officials at the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council.

Increasing numbers of small- and medium-sized foreign companies are entering the Beijing market for business and their demands for business information is huge, particularly information related to commerce and processing and service industries. "To be specific," Zhou said, "they are keen to see 'micro-economic information,' things like the procedures for business registration, taxation, where to find business opportunities and business partners."

Prospects are also bright for cooperation between Business Beijing and the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council. The CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council receives visitors from more than 1,000 foreign companies and organizes several dozen trade and business events every year. Of late, business contacts have begun between the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council and several trade promotion organizations in foreign countries. Moreover, the CCPIT Beijing Sub-Council is increasing its cooperation with counterparts in other Chinese cities.

"This definitely will be good for Business Beijing," Zhou said.