The Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE) reached a significant milestone on Thursday, with the number of its listed companies increasing to 260, and the total market capitalization of the listed companies approaching 700 billion yuan (US$96.36 billion).

The BSE started trading in late 2021, making it the third stock exchange in the Chinese mainland in addition to the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The bourse was created to address the long-standing financing conundrum of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The rapid growth of the BSE has largely been driven by an increasing number of specialized and innovative SMEs. These companies are considered key players in China's industrial transformation, contributing significantly to technological innovation, supply chain stability, and high-quality economic development. 

More than half of the companies listed on the BSE fall into this category, which is a testament to the exchange's focus on fostering innovation and supporting enterprises with strong growth potential.

The BSE has been actively guiding and promoting the development of specialized SMEs. During the recent Financial Street Forum, the BSE, together with the National Equities Exchange and Quotations and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, signed a strategic agreement aimed at improving the financing services system for specialized and innovative SMEs. The partnership will strengthen the integration of policies and systems related to listing and financing, further supporting SMEs on their path to high-quality growth.