On September 15, at the special session for Xicheng District during the capital's "15th Five-Year Plan" launch series press conference, Zeng Linfeng, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee and Acting District Mayor, provided an overview of the district's recent achievements. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Xicheng's regional GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.2%, surpassing the 600 billion yuan milestone. Financial institutions in the district now manage assets exceeding 156 trillion yuan, accounting for about one-third of the national total. With an average life expectancy of 85.1 years, the district has also been recognized as the "City with the Strongest Sense of Happiness" for three consecutive years.

For the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Xicheng will adhere to the "Four Advances" requirements: advancing from a key area of sustained non-capital function relocation to a modern core functional zone for the capital; from a priority zone for maintaining safety and stability to a modern resilient urban area with higher-level coordinated development and security; from a major financial hub to a modern innovative growth district led by the financial industry with diversified industrial support; and from a densely populated old city to a modern, harmonious, and livable urban area radiating new vitality. During this period, the district will also focus on supporting the development of the National Financial Management Center by establishing five benchmark demonstration zones. Meanwhile, urban renewal initiatives will be closely aligned with safeguarding capital functions, driving high-quality development, preserving cultural heritage, enhancing livability, and ensuring safety and resilience.

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the value added by Xicheng's financial industry grew at an average annual rate of 6.9%. Important financial institutions, including the National Venture Capital Guiding Fund and three major policy-based financial instruments, were established, with registered capital exceeding 670 billion yuan. In the first half of this year, the financial industry in Xicheng grew by 6%, with nine asset management institutions ranking among the global top 500, representing over half of the city's total. The district also hosts 322 fintech and professional service institutions with registered capital exceeding 160 billion yuan, and more than 700 key enterprises in the data and artificial intelligence sectors.

Zeng Linfeng explained that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Xicheng will leverage its "1+3+2" modern industrial system to shoulder its responsibility as a major economic district. The focus will be on serving the National Financial Management Center, building a capital market ecosystem centered on the Beijing Stock Exchange, and a "technology-industry-finance" circular empowerment ecosystem, while accelerating the development of a world-class asset management hub. The district will also deepen its efforts in fintech, data industry, and artificial intelligence as three new productive forces tracks.

Liu Meiying, Member of the Standing Committee and Executive Vice District Mayor, summarized the overall approach to high-quality financial development as "One, Two, Three, Four, Five". The "One" refers to focusing on the central task of serving the National Financial Management Center, adding "cultural leadership" and "rule of law demonstration" functions to its existing roles in decision-making and supervision, standard-setting, asset management, payment and settlement, information exchange, and international cooperation. The "Two" involves building two ecosystems: the "technology-industry-finance" circular ecosystem and a capital market ecosystem centered on the Beijing Stock Exchange. The "Three" aims to improve the business environment, legal environment, and the quality of the Financial Street urban environment. The "Four" highlights four key industrial directions: deepening the construction of an asset management hub, creating a high-quality fund clustering zone, establishing a demonstration zone for insurance innovation, and advancing the fintech hub. The "Five" involves creating five benchmark demonstration zones, including a financial standards source zone, a policy empowerment pilot zone, a financial opening and cooperation hub, a demonstration zone for the integration of finance's "Five Major Articles," and a financial culture leadership zone.

Urban renewal, cultural activation, and other initiatives are being advanced in an integrated manner. "The old city cannot be demolished any further" remains a consistent requirement in Xicheng. Deputy District Mayor Zhu Haibin stated that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, urban renewal in Xicheng will center on safeguarding capital functions, driving high-quality development, preserving cultural heritage, enhancing livability, and achieving safety and resilience. The implementation will adopt a systematic approach, addressing four levels: points, lines, blocks, and areas. "Point-focused" efforts will create model projects, including the integrated renewal of the Xizhimen rail station hub, and promote key projects such as Fuxing Hospital, Xidan商场, Guang'an Sports Center, and Niujie Citizens' Center. "Line-focused" efforts will improve environmental quality along transportation corridors such as Chegongzhuang Street, Liangguang Road, and Nanlishi Road, covering building facade renovation, pipeline upgrades, landscape enhancement, and business format transformation. "Block-focused" efforts will achieve group renewal in areas such as Baitasi, Caishikou Cotton Block A3, and the Tianqiao Performing Arts Zone. "Area-focused" efforts will drive comprehensive renewal across entire districts, from internal functions to external forms, creating a citywide renewal pattern where points stand out, lines connect, blocks integrate, and areas coordinate.

On the consumer front, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Xicheng developed new consumption landmarks such as Zhonghai Daji Alley and Xidan Update Field, bringing the total number of first stores and duty-free shops to 328 and 270, respectively. For the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the district will focus on internationalization, quality, and integration, establishing a new consumption pattern of "One Axis, Six Cores, Three Belts." The six core commercial zones—Xidan, Financial Street, Shichahai, Dashilan, Tianqiao, and Maliandao—will be developed in a diversified manner. The district aims to increase the number of duty-free shops to 400 by 2030 and further promote the inbound tourism brand "Experience Chinese Life in Xicheng."

Xicheng has the highest aging population rate in the city, with residents aged 60 and above accounting for 31.6% of its population. Deputy District Mayor Du Hongyue stated that for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the district aims to become a high-quality city for elderly care, focusing on the vision of "not leaving home, not leaving family, not leaving community." The district will strengthen its "10-minute elderly care service circle," bringing care resources closer to seniors, ensuring service elements are available nearby, and providing support at their bedsides. Currently, the district has established one district-level elderly care service guidance center, 15 subdistrict-level regional elderly care service centers, and 63 community-based elderly care service stations. It has also built 53 "10-minute elderly care service circles," established 355 "Parents' Kitchen" meal assistance points, and cultivated 748 elderly care service providers. Xicheng will implement the "Ten Care Actions"—covering residential care, enjoyment care, wellness care, health care, smart care, medical care, integrated care, nursing care, safety care, and recreational care—to preserve the warmth of its hutongs and ensure that elderly residents living near the Red Wall can "have reliable support and enjoy worry-free care."

Education and healthcare are also advancing in tandem. This year, Xicheng has added 10,000 middle school places; all 15 subdistricts have completed the construction of elderly care service centers; the number of public kindergartens offering toddler classes has increased to 52, achieving full coverage across all 15 subdistricts, with the proportion of children in public kindergartens ranking first citywide. The first batch of eight key projects under the public hospital reform and high-quality development demonstration program has been successfully implemented, and the participation rate in Beijing's inclusive health insurance has ranked first in the city for three consecutive years. Zeng Linfeng stated, "'The first year sets the tone for the entire five-year period, and the start is critical.' We are confident in delivering an outstanding opening performance for the '15th Five-Year Plan'."