Preface
As a crucial year for the further implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the year 2022 was marked by the 20th CPC National Congress and Beijing's recognition as the "Summer and Winter Dual Olympic City". Under the strong leadership of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office advanced foreign exchanges amid ongoing Covid-19 response in an effort to serve national diplomatic endeavors and the capital's high-quality development. It secured new progress in foreign affairs of the city as well as in strengthening Beijing's role as the national center for international exchanges despite the challenges posed by the complex external environment. The hard work of all those involved in Beijing's foreign affairs was instrumental in achieving these milestones. Now, let's take a moment to reflect on the journey of 2022.
I. Serve the overall diplomatic endeavors of the Party and the country
Beijing has contributed to major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era by fulfilling its duties as the capital city and serving the country's international exchanges at the sub-national level.
1. Xi Jinping sends congratulatory letter to 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS)
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2022 CIFTIS on August 31.
2. The 5th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation takes place
The 5th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation was held both online and offline in Beijing on August 25. Co-hosted by China's National Radio and Television Administration, the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and the African Union of Broadcasting, the event drew more than 240 Chinese and foreign guests from over 40 countries and regions.
3. The reception service for 31 foreign leaders during the Winter Olympic Games has been completed with success
The Review and Awards Ceremony
Prioritizing the two key goals of ensuring "first-class service" and "Covid-19 containment", Beijing has provided the best service support for 31 foreign leaders that attended the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and visited the city, which marked a new milestone in the service support for major diplomatic activities under closed-loop management.
On the morning of April 8, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office was recognized for its outstanding contributions to the Games at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Review and Awards Ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.
4. Together for a Shared Future--Beijing's sister cities send their best wishes for the Winter Olympic Games virtually
Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Forum on Cooperation among Friendship Cities for Common Development
Co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and the People's Government of Hebei Province, the "Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Forum on Cooperation among Friendship Cities for Common Development" was held both online and offline on January 14. The event brought together around 200 participants from 72 sister cities in 23 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, who expressed their blessings and cheered for the upcoming Games.
5. Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) is illuminated with colorful lights in honor of the 50th anniversary of China-Mexico diplomatic relations
BMC Is Adorned with the Primary Colors of Chinese and Mexican National Flags
On the evening of February 14, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties between China and Mexico, two buildings in BMC's Canal Business District were illuminated in the primary colors of the Chinese and Mexican national flags to commemorate the half-century of friendship between the two countries. Mexico City, a sister city of Beijing, reciprocated by illuminating its famous Monument to Independence in "Chinese red".
6. The 10-year Anniversary of Beijing-Copenhagen ties is celebrated
Thematic Exhibition
The year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. As a major part of the commemoration, the exhibition "Beijing-Copenhagen, A Fairytale of Two Cities: Imagine the Sustainable Future of Cities" opened at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall on November 1, and will last till December 11. This was followed by a series of events such as "Talk: Healthy City – Biking and Walking" and the "Active, Healthy, Joyful" Bike Tour.
7. People-to-people diplomacy plays a big part in Beijing
Beijing has guided and encouraged its social organizations, civil societies, enterprises, and universities to carry out people-to-people exchanges, and channeled private resources into global governance through such important international conferences as the UN Climate Change Conference, the UN Biodiversity Conference, the Civil Society 20 (C20), and the BRICS Civil Forum.
II. Make substantial strides in improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges
Based on the capital's positioning, Beijing has strengthened its guiding role in key areas and facilities to improve the international environment and services through deeper cooperation with ministries. It has also refined its working mechanism to promote joint efforts in building Beijing into a center for international exchanges.
8. Achievements in improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges are showcased at the "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition
Officials of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office Visit the "Forging Ahead in the New Era" Exhibition
On the occasion of the 20th CPC National Congress, the "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition was held at the Beijing Exhibition Hall, where the achievements in improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges were unveiled in a special section at the Beijing Pavilion.
9. Beijing Daily: Beijing Is Moving Faster Toward a New Stage of International Exchanges Over the Past Five Years
Front Page of Beijing Daily
An article was carried on the front page of Beijing Daily on June 26, the day before the 13th CPC Beijing Municipal Congress, entitled "Beijing Is Moving Faster Toward a New Stage of International Exchanges Over the Past Five Years: A New Chapter in Building Beijing into the Center for International Exchanges". With the overarching principle of facilitating the development of the capital, Beijing has boosted its capacity to provide quality service for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics on all fronts over the past five years. The city has stepped up pace to build a better national opening-up platform to pool international high-end resources, thus writing a new chapter in improving its role as a center for international exchanges with fruitful results.
10. Construction of the China National Convention Center Phase II is under way for better international exchanges
Check the Design and Construction of the China National Convention Center Phase II
On April 12, Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, together with the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, conducted a joint survey of the China National Convention Center Phase II to provide guidance on the interior decoration design to better perform the international exchange functions, so that the Center can better serve the major diplomatic events.
11. A growing number of international organizations are settling in Beijing
As a series of supportive measures have been introduced as part of the ongoing efforts to improve the international environment and services, it is easier for international organizations to settle and operate in Beijing. As a result, the city attracts more and more such organizations, embodied by 110 headquarters and representative offices of international organizations as of November 2022, which ranks first in China.
12. Foreign-language services are available at 369 counters in 435 government service centers throughout the city
Beijing Government Service Center
To further implement the Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving Language Environment for International Exchanges, government service centers at all levels in the city have been working to improve the international language environment and create an enabling business environment on the principle of "reality-based, demand-oriented, accurate and standardized, plain and feasible".
13. The 2nd "Beijing·A Global City" Short Video Contest takes place
The 2nd "Beijing·A Global City" Short Video Contest, running from August 24 to December 13, has organized six offline photo shooting activities and produced four introductory short videos in terms of serving major diplomatic events, enhancing facilities and systems, pooling international high-end resources, and improving international service. By showcasing Beijing's achievements in building itself into a center for international exchanges in a comprehensive manner, this event presented Beijing as a global city in a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view. Among the 160-plus outstanding entries, 17 works won the first, second, and third prizes. A total of 15 institutions received the Outstanding Organization Award.
III. Make notable advances in facilitating Beijing's high-level opening-up and development
Capitalizing on the advantages of foreign affairs resources and channels, Beijing has planned and organized high-level diplomatic activities to provide strong support for the municipal Party committee and municipal government to make sound decisions.
14. Foreign affairs resources fully unlock productivity
Cai Qi Meets with Varian's CEO Chris Toth via Video Link
A total of 83 diplomatic events, including Hong Kong and Macao-related events and 16 online diplomatic events were organized, bringing a number of major foreign-funded projects to Beijing, including the Varian China Innovation Center, HSBC's insurance brokerage business, and Deutsche Bank's joint venture wealth management subsidiary.
15. Party Secretary Yin Li delivers remarks and declares the opening of the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2022
Yin Li Delivers a Speech
The Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2022 was held in Beijing on the afternoon of November 21, with the theme of "Forge Ahead Toward a Shared Future - Economic Development and Financial Cooperation Amid Changes". Yin Li, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, made a speech and announced the opening of the conference.
16. Meeting of International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Beijing opens online
The 15th Meeting of International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Beijing
The 15th Meeting of International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Beijing was held online on the evening of November 18, at which 16 entrepreneurs proposed suggestions on issues such as boosting high-quality development with high-standard opening-up and promoting win-win cooperation, and fully tapping Beijing's "dual-Olympic city" legacy to build a world-class livable city. The meeting was chaired by Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing.
17. BMC hosts its first Walking Davos
The "Walking Davos" Government-Enterprise Dialogue
With the efforts of Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, BMC hosted its first "Walking Davos", a significant event supported by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to help Beijing improve its role as a center for international exchanges. More than 100 entrepreneurs and representatives and senior executives from over 60 multinational companies attended the event online and offline to experience BMC's changes, engaged in government-business interaction, and reached a number of partnership agreements.
IV. Steadily improve foreign-related management and services
To ensure foreign-related work really delivers for the people, Beijing has taken steps to protect its citizens and businesses abroad. It has also strengthened the management and services of the foreign diplomatic corps in China, foreign media and NGOs based in Beijing.
18. Foreign nationals in Beijing feel the charm of the wonderful Winter Olympics
Group Photo of Foreign Nationals at the Bird's Nest (National Stadium)
Nearly 150 foreign friends from 33 countries, including Brazil, Canada, France, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam, were invited to watch the games and cheer on the players along with the Chinese spectators.
19. Activities are organized for foreign journalists to visit Beijing
Foreign Journalists Visit the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture to Experience the Capital's Green Development
With the efforts of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality and China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), a series of activities were held in September for over 300 foreign journalists from more than 60 countries to visit Beijing. The activities focused on the development of the capital in the new era, the incorporation of the Five Key Initiatives for development into the new development paradigm, and the priorities and highlights of the development of each district. Journalists were allowed to visit and immerse themselves in the environment of the industrial park, the communities and townships, and the streets and lanes of Beijing so that they could have a better understanding of all aspects of the city and present a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of Beijing to the world.
20. Motherland is behind Your Back 2022 Consular Protection Sitcom Competition kicks off
Final of the Competition
From July 29 to December 27, the Motherland is behind Your Back 2022 Consular Protection Sitcom Competition was held to showcase China's people-centered diplomacy through performance of warm stories of consular protection. It was co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Cultural and Morality Office, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and Beijing Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and guided by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The down-to-earth sitcom performances communicated to the general public what consular protection work is all about and increased their risk awareness and abilities to protect themselves when they are abroad. In the end, six entries won the first, second, and third prizes.
V. Continue to deepen Beijing-Hong Kong and Beijing-Macau Cooperation
To facilitate the overall work of the CPC Central Committee on Hong Kong and Macao affairs, the cooperation mechanism has been refined to draw on each other's strength for win-win results.
21. The 25th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium has been a great success
Beijing and Hong Kong Sign Two-Way Investment Cooperation Projects
The 25th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium kicked off online in both cities on the morning of December 14. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, delivered a speech at the Beijing venue and announced the commencement, while John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), delivered a speech in Hong Kong.
22. Beijing participates in MIF online
Supported by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-council (CCPIT Beijing), 32 companies from Beijing participated in the 27th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) from October 20 to 22. A total of 82 projects were promoted during the MIF.
