Editor's Note: The Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving the Language Environment for International Exchanges took effect on January 1, 2022, providing a legal basis for advancing this task across the city. All districts and relevant departments have taken solid steps to implement the Regulations and achieved fruitful results.

To celebrate the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress, the official WeChat account of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office (WeChat ID: bjszfwb) launched a special series on the "Implementation of the Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving the Language Environment for International Exchanges" to showcase the progress and achievements of work on this front as part of Beijing's effort to improve its role as a center for international exchanges.

In Huairou District, the implementation work is focused on foreign-language signs and consists of multi-pronged measures to provide a better language environment for international exchanges and world-class services for foreign nationals.

First, set a well-functioning mechanism with clearly-defined duties. Implementing the Regulations and improving Hairou's language environment has been listed as a priority of the district's annual work plan on foreign affairs. Clear targets and responsibilities have been set for relevant departments in accordance with their conditions, and the work mechanism has been improved to form synergy and ensure real results.

Second, take category-based measures on a regular basis. For new and key national facilities such as the Yanqi Lake Convention Center and Huairou Science City, the district has provided relevant services proactively and introduced reviews on foreign-language signs in the drafting stage. For established key sites such as the Mutianyu Great Wall and Youth Wanda Plaza, regular checks on foreign-language signs have been put in place to improve their quality.

Third, keep a detailed record of all foreign language signs. Huairou created a full record of over 24,000 foreign-language signs that covers their Chinese version, English translation, position, ownership, photo and rectification status to set a foundation for future regulation and update.

Fourth, strengthen coordination through joint enforcement. The foreign affairs office and authorities responsible for urban administration and law enforcement, commerce, and culture and tourism launched joint inspections on 788 foreign language signs in seven key places in the district, with an emphasis on new signs added during the upgrading of cultural and tourism, commercial, and financial venues.

The district's foreign affairs office, bureau of urban administration and law enforcement, and the bureau of culture and tourism jointly inspect foreign-language signs

Fifth, take problem-oriented approaches to ensure rectification. Through enforcement measures, the 24 poorly translated signs reported in city-wide monitoring and evaluation have been documented and rectified. The 160 erroneous signs found by the district's relevant departments in the previous annual inspection have been recorded in the list of poorly translated signs and will only be removed from the list when correction is made. For the 41 erroneous signs spotted this year, clear time limits have been set for correction.

Sixth, updating foreign nationals on the latest Covid-19 response measures. At quarantine facilities for inbound travelers, English and Japanese translation services were available to help keep foreign nationals abreast of the latest policies and measures on Covid-19 response, which served more than 400 people. Meanwhile, multilingual services were offered to inform foreigners in Huairou about Covid-19 nucleic acid testing and vaccination.

Volunteers provide multilingual services for foreigners on vaccination

Seventh, advance the implementation of the Regulations through promotional campaigns. Documents including the Regulations on Improving Beijing's Language Environment for International Exchanges and Guidelines for the Use of English on Public Signs were distributed to over 30 district-level and township-level government bodies for internal training. In addition, officials have visited key commercial, cultural and tourist sites to explain and promote the Regulations to enhance the awareness of enforcement.