Beijing, Oct 27 (IANS): China has relaxed market entry rules to allow more foreign investment in businesses in Beijing in the service sector industries of travel, aircraft maintenance and event promotion.

Travel agencies with joint Chinese and foreign ownership are now allowed to provide services to Chinese travelling abroad and to Hong Kong and Macao, according to a statement issued by the State Council on Tuesday.

Agencies with mixed ownership were previously barred from providing these services, Xinhua news agency reported.

A restriction saying that Chinese capital must take a controlling stake in aircraft maintenance projects in Beijing has been lifted, and promoters with full foreign ownership can now operate in the municipality, the State Council said.

The rules will remain relaxed until at least May 5, 2018.

In May, the central government announced that Beijing would be allowed to pilot policies opening the service industry wider to foreign investment.

The programme covers six relatively mature service areas: science and technology, internet and information services, culture and education, business and travel, financial services, health and medical services.

The city attracted foreign investment contracts worth $27.11 billion in the first three quarters of 2015.