Beijing's Chaoyang district has launched what it calls a "Business Plus Technology" dual-engine strategy to leverage its advantages in international engagement, artificial intelligence, the digital economy and commercial prosperity, said Nie Jieying, head of the district.

In the first half of 2025, the number of foreign-funded companies in the district increased by 265, a 23.8 percent year-on-year rise, ranking first in the city.

During the same period, the amount of foreign capital actually utilized reached $1.14 billion, up 2 percent year-on-year. The district ranked first in this category, accounting for 42.2 percent of the city's total.

"At the forefront of China's modernization efforts, Chaoyang has strategically focused on openness and innovation to transform itself into a hub that is livable, business-friendly and a leader in technological advancement," Nie said.

Chaoyang has a population of 3.4 million people and a total area of 470 square kilometers, the largest among Beijing's six major districts.

The district is home to nearly all foreign embassies in China, 80 percent of international organizations and chambers of commerce, 70 percent of multinational company headquarters and 65 percent of foreign financial institutions in Beijing. It has also staged more than half the city's international conferences and one-third of its exhibitions annually.

Against that backdrop, Chaoyang has aligned itself with international trade standards as it carries out Beijing's "Twin Zones" initiatives — an effort begun in 2020 to build the capital into a national service industry demonstration zone and a free trade pilot zone.

Over the past five years, Chaoyang has taken 87 reform and innovation steps, several of which have been replicated nationwide.

These moves have reshaped the district's commercial landscape and set plans to develop world-class consumer landmarks and a vibrant commercial ecosystem, spotlighting areas such as the central business district and Sanlitun.

The CBD was recently selected to lead the Global Business Districts Innovation Club for the 2025-27 term.

In the north of Chaoyang, a technology innovation development belt is being created. In the east, the Beihang Chaoyang Science Park is under construction. And in the south, the Shan-He Wan-Gu Innovation Zone is taking shape.

Chaoyang has also become home to the nation's first international science organization headquarters cluster, Beijing's only international venture capital hub and the city's first Internet 3.0 industrial park.

In another sign of its growing role, the World Humanoid Robot Games were held at the National Stadium and National Speed Skating Oval in the district last month, drawing leading international robotics companies.

In August, the city's first industrial park dedicated to the business of AI-generated content opened in Chaoyang.

"All these efforts prove that the city's strategy is paying off," Nie said. "We've placed high emphasis on building Beijing into an international communication center, improving the international environment, promoting institutionalized openness and actively creating a window to showcase China's high-level openness to the world."

She added, "We are establishing a benchmark zone to create a world-class business environment, leveraging the strengths of the world's top three rating agencies, nine of the top 10 global law firms, eight of the top 10 consulting firms and more than 2,000 commercial human resource service providers in the district."

Chaoyang's GDP surpassed 900 billion yuan ($125.3 billion) in 2024, accounting for 18.5 percent of Beijing's total. In the first half of 2025 alone, the district's GDP reached 462 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 5.1 percent.

yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn