Aviation hubs set to drive growth
Beijing is stepping up efforts to forge itself into an international consumption city during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), based on the rapid expansion and high-quality development of its aviation industrial hubs, according to the Beijing municipal government.
The government said the aviation industrial hubs, referring to Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport as well as the airports' economic zones, act as an important platform for the circulation of international resources, gathering a huge flow of passengers, cargos, information and capital. They are an important fulcrum for engaging in the international market and the smooth operation of domestic and international dual circulation.
The huge passenger flow had laid a solid foundation for boosting consumption. The passenger throughput of Beijing Capital International Airport exceeded 100 million in 2019, ranking first in China and second in the world with 93 airlines connecting to 293 destinations in 65 countries and regions. By the end of Dec 31, 2021, the Beijing Daxing International Airport has opened 256 routes to 178 destinations around the world.
In the past two years, the two major airports have expanded shopping areas with a variety of products and improved services and infrastructure. In 2021, the commercial space of the two airports reached 130,000 square meters. The industrial hubs will attract global high-quality brands and services, enhance the whole-chain capabilities for consumption in terms of exhibition, experience, procurement, logistics and settlement, and promote the integration of business, tourism, culture and exhibition.
They will also drive the functional improvement of micro-consumption-centers for regions within Beijing and around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and become an incubator for innovative policies and test fields for reform breakthroughs.
The economic demonstration zone at the Beijing Capital International Airport covers an area of 115.7 square kilometers. It possesses perfect infrastructure and a seamless industrial ecosystem of core aviation industries.
The economic zone of Beijing Daxing International Airport covers an area of approximately 50 sq km.
It has built a number of industrial areas such as the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Innovation Service Center for Free Trade Zone and Airport Development Service Center, focusing on the development of life and health, aviation service guaranteeing, new-generation information technology, intelligent equipment and high-end services.
According to an implementation plan for building two aviation industrial hubs as bridgeheads for international consumption promulgated by the Beijing government, it has confirmed 24 key tasks in five aspects to implement the plan.
One key task is to create an international consumption area and highlight the airport economic zone's consumption functions by introducing options for catering, retail, hotels, health care, leisure and entertainment and adding port duty-free stores.
Another is to build an efficient global logistics system focusing on opening up key links of international consumption such as procurement, transportation, warehousing and distribution.
It includes operating smoothly for commodity imports and exports, establishing a comprehensive information platform, and enhancing the standardization and intelligence level of the international commodities' distribution system.
The plan suggests that the two airports should integrate into the global airport logistics network by opening up the air cargo routes between the regional major cities and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
It also encourages cross-border consumption and e-commerce platforms by introducing short video clips, livestreaming and expanding "online bonded shopping plus offline on-site collection" and the application scenarios of digital renminbi to improve the payment convenience of international passengers.