The Round-table Forum of Commercial Counselors in China of 2011 Beijing Central Business District (CBD) Business Festival was held at Chaoyang Museum of Urban Planning, Beijing on Sept 16 with a theme of CDBs and global cooperation.

The aim of the meeting was to discuss how to improve the investment environment in China, especially Beijing, in order to promote the development of foreign firms in China. There was also discussion of the global network of CBD developments and ways to strengthen the presence of Beijing CBD.

The festival has been held for 11 years since 2000 and promoted the internationalization of Beijing CBD, which has become one of the most famous global brands in Beijing.

The CBD area, located in east Beijing's Chaoyang district, is home to many Fortune 500's China headquarters and embassies.

Foreign counselors shared their views on ways to attract more multinational firms and Fortune 500 companies to set up divisions in the Beijing CBD and introduced their own policy and development experiences with CBDs.

French commercial counselor Nils Raynaud introduced the experience of La Défense, a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine with a population of 20,000 and made some suggestions on the development of Beijing CBD.

Vincent Perrin, head of Beijing Branch of UBIFRANCE (France Trade Commission), said that China has thousands of French firms. The Chinese market is very important for big French firms and Small-and Medium-sized (SME) enterprises, according to Beijing-Based International Business Daily.

The next round of investment in China could potentially be led by French SMEs. The CBD will be the best choice for these firms to establish divisions, Perrin said.

Beijing CBD has performed very well in providing services and management but CBDs in China should enhance its service to attract more clients, Perrin advised.

Singapore commercial consul Ignatius Lim revealed that China is very important partner for Singapore. The Sino-Singapore eco-city project in Tianjin serves as a good example of the strategic cooperation between the two governments.

The round-table forum is the most important part of the festival and is organized by International Business Daily Press and Chaoyang District Investment Promotion Bureau. The sponsors are the People’s Government of Chaoyang District, Beijing and Organizing Committee of 2011 Beijing CBD Business Festival.

Cao Hongying, deputy director of Department of Foreign Investment Administration China Ministry of Commerce, and Shui Yong, head of Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau addressed speeches at the opening ceremony. Other government officials from Chaoyang district government also attended the meeting.