On the morning of September 27, the Foreign Affairs Office and the Information Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality held the Press Conference on Strengthening Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges. Representatives from municipal departments including the Foreign Affairs Office, the Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and the Beijing Talent Work, as well as those from Chaoyang District and other relevant entities attended the event. The press conference included a briefing on the spatial layout concerning Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges, the integrated development of culture and tourism, and the building of communities for international talents, and a Q&A session during which reporters’ questions were answered.
Yang Jun, Deputy Director-General of the Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, provided an overview of the Special Plan for Strengthening Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges from the perspective of the spatial layout:
As the capital, Beijing’s work on strengthening its role as the center for international exchanges is not only central to its strategic positioning, but also helps to fulfill its mission to serve the country's overall diplomatic strategy. In order to implement the Master Plan of Beijing (2016-2035) and ensure forward-looking planning in building the center for international exchanges, under the guidance of the Leading Group for Strengthening Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges, Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources and the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office formulated the Special Plan for Strengthening Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges (hereinafter referred to as Special Plan). Next, I will focus on the spatial layout concerning Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges based on the city’s strategic tasks and development goals.
The strategic tasks proposed in the Special Plan are: to better fulfill the responsibilities of the "capital", plan ahead for the development of the "city", improve the capability and performance of serving the overall national diplomacy, meet the requirements for serving major country diplomacy in the process of the great national rejuvenation, provide strong support for the capital city's strategic positioning as "Four Centers" and the building of a world-class harmonious and livable city, and actively perform its role as a primary window to demonstrate China’s global influence to the world.
The specific development goals for Beijing as the center for international changes in the Special Plan are: by aligning our goals with the "Two Centenary" goals, building Beijing into a key stage for China's major diplomatic events and foreign-related activities, a leading global center for scientific and technological innovation, exchanges and cooperation, an important window to showcase China’s cultural confidence, diversity, inclusiveness, and the center for international exchanges that highlights China's role in global governance by 2035.
At the same time, in addition to clarifying the strategic tasks and the development goals, the Special Plan has introduced the spatial layout of "One Core, Two Axes, and Multiple Sections". This is based on multiple considerations including Beijing’s role in serving major national events, bringing together international high-end resources, supporting opening-up and development of Beijing, and setting an example for other cities in terms of external relations. It coordinates the needs and complements the system for international exchanges by inheriting the historical legacy and incorporating new areas.
"One Core"
"One Core" is the core functional area for hosting events in relation to government affairs and state diplomatic activities, which serves as an important window for displaying the image of the country’s capital.
The Special Plan has highlighted the core position of Tian’anmen Square, emphasizing the spatial order along two axes and their dominant position in the core area. More work will be done to promote the Central Axis’ inscription on the World Heritage List, to fully display the essence of traditional culture and the charm of modern civilization, and to showcase the appeal and majesty of the Chang'an Avenue. With rich cultural and museum resources and diversified elements for international exchanges, Beijing is ready to show the world its diversity and vitality. In the meantime, efforts have been made to upgrade the city through function transfer and remediation and to renovate historical and cultural precincts, making them a “name card” for showcasing the image of the capital and the charm of Chinese culture.
"Two axes"
The “two axes,” namely the Central Axis and the Chang’an Avenue and their extensions, is the area where most political, economic and cultural events, among other core activities for international exchanges occur. They are the landmark that demonstrate China’s cultural confidence and the image of Beijing as the capital city of a major country.
Central Axis and its extensions: the spatial order of the Central Axis will be improved to fully inherit and demonstrate the essence of traditional Chinese culture. The northern extension will display the charm of the modern civilization and ecological civilization. Key functions including international conventions and exhibitions, international financial management, and international sports and cultural exchanges will be improved to create a high-quality urban environment. The southern extension will feature a from-traditional-to-modern spatial sequence with international appeal, as an area where world-class cultural facilities and a proposed national monument will be located, with functions for international conventions, international cultural expos, international organizations, and so forth.
Chang’an Avenue and its extensions: Chang’an Avenue is designed to be “the principal avenue in China” that signifies the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Leveraging its traditional advantages in international exchanges, the eastern extension will be a key link connecting international cultural resources and an important hub for China’s further opening-up and participation in global governance. Coordinated development of functional areas along the western extension will be strengthened to provide comprehensive services and facilitate international cultural and sports exchanges. New Shougang Park, a high-end comprehensive service area, will be a major place for hosting high-level international sporting events and demonstrate the distinct cultural charm of modern industrial heritage.
"Multiple Sections"
The “multiple sections” serve as key areas for public and people-to-people diplomacy. They are prominent places that demonstrate the appeal of Beijing as a metropolis in a multi-dimensional and all-around way.
The eastern area is home to an abundance of high-end international resources. Leveraging this advantage, we aim to build it into a key area for extensive and dynamic international exchanges that fully demonstrates the image of the capital city. In the embassy zones, we will improve the environment of the second and third embassy zones and plan and build the fourth zone up to high standard to propel the upgrade of urban functions in surrounding areas. In the Capital International Airport area, we will advance the construction of Phase II and III projects of the China International Exhibition Center (new venue) and comprehensively improve the carrying capacity and service quality of convention and exhibition facilities. In Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, we will set aside dedicated space for international exchanges and actively bring in high-end international resources.
The northern area boasts natural beauty, great natural environment and distinct cultural features and will be developed into a new platform for high-level international exchanges. In the Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort – Huairou Science City area, the Conference Resort will be a core area for serving state-level international exchanges and hosting diplomatic events. Together with the Huairou Science City, it will be an important stage serving international exchanges and international cultural and sci-tech exchanges. In the Badaling Great Wall – Olympic Winter Games venues – International Horticultural Exhibition Park, we will coordinate the facilities and cultural legacy of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition to build an international cultural tourism resort with distinct sports and cultural features and great ecological advantages.
The western area is home to a host of classic imperial gardens represented by the Summer Palace, a World Cultural Heritage site, and a number of prestigious universities and research institutes. Leveraging these resources, we aim to build the western area into a key area for international exchanges featuring the blend of traditional culture and modern culture and imbued with innovation and vitality. In the Zhongguancun – “Three Hills and Five Gardens” area, we will vigorously preserve and carry forward the traditional culture in the area. We will tap into the abundant intellectual resources and create an enabling platform to attract high-level international professionals to innovate or start businesses in Zhongguancun Science City.
In the southern area, we will strive to build the Beijing Daxing International Airport area into an emerging key area for international exchanges along the southern extension of the Central Axis. We will dig deep into the value of historical and cultural resources like the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian and the Liuli River Historic Site of the Yan State Capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty to build a fantastic international tourist area with rich functions. The Daxing International Airport area, where new convention and exhibition centers, conference centers and business offices, leisure and other functional zones are to be built, will provide abundant space for international business and financial activities and international organizations.
At the same time, the Special Plan stresses that the city will strengthen the development of public service facilities in international communities, foreign-related education, healthcare, epidemic prevention, health inspection and other fields, enhance public health emergency response capabilities in an all-round manner, and build an efficient and convenient transportation network accessible to all areas. It will focus on building six functional platforms including those supporting major state events and attracting high-end international resources, improve the organizational and leadership systems and strengthen institutional building for policy innovation and basic support.
Going forward, with the strategic guidance of the Special Plan, we will strive to improve the international appeal of Beijing, tell engaging stories of the city as a window of China, and demonstrate the soft power of Chinese culture while promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations.
Reporter: This is the first time for a plan like this to be developed. What are the considerations behind it?
Yang Jun:
Developing the Special Plan involves extensive diplomacy knowledge and a wide range of areas, and there are no precedents to follow. In light of this, by identifying and summarizing the main characteristics and development trends of the centers for international exchanges in the world, we analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of Beijing. In particular, we focus on five aspects:
The first is precise positioning. Beijing should be benchmarked against key global cities and highlight its features as the capital of a major country as well as Chinese characteristics. Serving major diplomatic events and foreign-related activities, promoting clustering of international resources, hosting diversified international exchange activities, upgrading its international image and building itself into a livable city are at the top of the agenda.
The second is building a three-dimensional functional system. Beijing should adapt to the ongoing needs for international exchanges, focus on ensuring the primary function of serving diplomatic events hosted by our country and other major state events. In line with its role as the national political center, cultural center, center for international exchanges, and center for scientific discovery and technological innovation, the city should give priority to core functions such as major diplomatic events and foreign affairs, international conferences and exhibitions, international sports and cultural exchanges, international transportation hubs, foreign embassies in China, international business and finance, international sci-tech and cultural exchanges, international tourism, and international organizations, and strengthen the supporting functions of foreign-related education, medical services, and communities for international talents up to global standards.
The third is the forward-looking spatial layout with a vision of future and space set aside for expansion of international exchanges in the capital. We sift out key information related to international exchanges in various fields to build the first spatial index of elements key to Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges, which has laid the important foundation for keeping track of and continuously improving the functional pattern. We will strengthen function coordination and strategic layout guidance, inherit and further expand the historical pattern of Beijing's international exchange functions and create the spatial layout of "One Core, Two Axes, And Multiple Sections" to serve the emerging needs of international exchanges.
The fourth is to gather diversified resources to show Beijing's diversity and vitality in an all-round way. We will attract international high-end resources such as international organizations, multinational companies, conferences and exhibitions, and overseas professionals and carry out a wide variety of public and people-to-people diplomatic activities to actively promote exchanges and mutual learning between eastern and western civilizations.
The fifth is to form a regular operating mechanism to promote the modernization of the governance system and governance capabilities of Beijing as a mega-city. We will strengthen the development of functional platforms and bring in global political, economic, scientific, educational, and cultural resources to better serve the country's overall diplomacy.
