Urban business districts worldwide meet in Beijing to exchange development experiences

Representatives from over 40 major business districts worldwide met in Beijing for the 2026 CBD Forum Annual Conference to discuss strategies for global collaboration and urban renewal, with some drawing lessons from the Chinese capital's own central business district.

The conference, held from June 15 to 17, convened management agencies from more than 40 major international business districts and commercial zones, including representatives from Beijing, Paris, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and others.

Insights were shared on how international consumption hub cities can invigorate regional economies, promote urban renewal, and deepen partnerships with multinational corporations and countries. The forum emphasized the importance of adaptability and innovation in the face of global challenges.

"La Defense, the business district of Paris, is actually one of the oldest traditional business districts in the world. Today, the focus is on the climate, on geopolitics, but before it would be financial shifts, et cetera. So La Defense went through all these crises. And then I think we can share this experience and inspire maybe younger CBDs to adapt and to design new strategies," said Pierre-Yves Guice, CEO of La Defense in Paris.

Attendees also partook in an outing to view key developments in the Guomao area at the heart of Beijing's CBD.

"Just this morning, we did a tour of the Guomao underpass corridor in the improvements they've been doing there. And that's a challenge we've been coming up with ideas for in Toronto for 10 years now. They have a skating and ice skating rink under the highway now in Toronto. So I was sharing pictures of new lighting and programs that we have to improve our underpasses in Toronto with their team here from Beijing just this morning," said Tim Kocur, executive director of Waterfront BIA in Toronto.

With 16,000 foreign-invested institutions and 125 multinational company headquarters, Beijing's CBD has become a leading global hub for resource allocation. Forum organizers said that the citys' CBD will continue to be a driving force for global economic prosperity and international engagement.

Renzo Isler, Chairman of Generali China Insurance, praised the connectivity and ample resources of Beijing's CBD, saying that these are crucial to attracting international talent and investment.

"Most importantly, the infrastructure is very, very important for opening up a business. It must be quality, well connected -- airport, train, metro service. Everything is related to how you do business and how also then we can attract foreign people. If I want to bring, let's say, people from Italy, as an expatriate, of course they come, but they need to make sure that they have proper housing, proper schools for the kids, and everything is connected and related. Not every country, every city in China can do that. So this is a plus that I see," he said.

A highlight of the event was the signing of the Global Business District Economic and Trade Cooperation Mechanism. This framework will support member districts by facilitating resource-sharing, targeted business support, investment leads, and partnership matchmaking to foster stronger economic ties.

Also during the forum, the Global Business District Innovation Federation welcomed Muscat, Oman as its fifteenth member, marking an important expansion into the Middle East and strengthening the country's role as a connector along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Urban business districts worldwide meet in Beijing to exchange development experiences

Border checkpoints across China are bracing for a travel rush during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with holidaymakers and family visits contributing to an estimated 2.2 million crossings per day.

The National Immigration Administration has projected an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase in border entries and exits for the three-day holiday that kicked off on Friday.

Land ports near Hong Kong and Macao are expected to see some of the heaviest traffic, due to a surge in travel demand and increasingly streamlined crossing procedures.

This year, the public holidays on the mainland and Hong Kong fall exactly at the same time. Both Shenzhen and Hong Kong have unveiled a lineup of cultural events and tourist activities, while the conclusion of the college entrance exams earlier this month has added extra steam, with many families seizing the chance to head out for a well-earned getaway.

The Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection forecasts that daily crossings will hit 1.05 million between Friday and Sunday, with the peak landing on Friday, when numbers could surpass 1.08 million.

Travel platforms are reporting a surge in holiday bookings. In the past week alone, reservations for inter-provincial flight and hotel packages jumped more than 90 percent from the previous week.

Events such as dragon boat culture festivals and night carnivals are set to keep the festive spirit alive throughout the break. Major shopping districts are also rolling out holiday promotions, luring Hong Kong residents northward for leisure and retail experiences.

"We expect inbound passenger peaks on Thursday evening and Friday morning, while outbound traffic is likely to peak on Sunday afternoon and evening," said Zhou Yin, deputy director of the frontier inspection division at the Shenzhen General Station.

The weekend of June 13 and 14, right after the college entrance exams, already saw a notable spike in cross-border travel through Zhuhai's ports to Hong Kong and Macao, driven largely by graduating students and family trips.

For the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the Zhuhai General Station projects total passenger flow will reach 2.16 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 10 percent. Daily crossings at major gateways including Gongbei, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and Hengqin are expected to top 720,000.

"I just finished my college entrance exams and now I'm out traveling. This is my first time crossing through Gongbei. It's also my first visit to Macao. It all feels so exciting," said a visitor from the mainland.

"We're planning to head to Hengqin for the holiday, just to stroll around the malls with family. The co-location clearance system makes crossing easier. You just place your ID on the reader, scan your fingerprint, and you're through in seconds," said a traveler from Macao.

This Sunday will see four concerts and one sporting event packed into a single day in Macao, and authorities expect a surge of inbound travelers at the Hengqin port after 22:00 that evening. Ports across the Greater Bay Area have already opened additional inspection lanes to cut waiting times, ensuring smooth and secure passage for the millions of travelers making their way across the border.

China expects 2.2 million daily cross-border trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday