A series of press conferences to optimise the business environment titled ‘Review of the 13th Five-Year Plan and Prospect of the 14th Five-Year Plan’ were held in Beijing today (22 December 2020).
A key takeaway was that Beijing is encouraging the use of electronic chops/seals for signing online certificates, approvals, contracts and other electronic materials to make bureaucracy more convenient.
For example, from 1 January 2021, Beijing residents will be able to use their electronic certificate for medical services and payments at 2900 designated medical institutions in Beijing.
Currently, Beijing residents must show their social security cards in hospitals to request reimbursement of medical expenses. If the card is not shown, residents are required to work with social insurance agencies to reimburse their medical expenses manually. The electronic social security certificates are expected to make processes much more convenient.
There was also good news for the property industry as Xiao Ping, the Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, announced that starting from 1 January 2021, Beijing residents will be able to purchase Beijing based properties online. The entire transaction will be processed online without residents needing to visit registration halls in person.
Read more about Beijing:
- Beijing launches online vote to find the 100 most popular destinations
- Self-driving vehicles cover 2 million km in Beijing road tests
- Beijing becomes 2nd city to achieve full 5G coverage
