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 underpinning for advancing this task across the city. All competent authorities and districts acted in strict accordance with the Regulations, and gained fruitful results through solid work.

To celebrate the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress, the official WeChat account of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office (WeChat ID: bjszfwb) posted a special collection on "Implementation of the Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving the Language Environment for International Exchanges", showcasing the progress and achievements in building a better language environment and in improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges.

To implement the Regulations, Haidian District is committed to improving the language environment for international exchanges by exercising law-based regulation, focusing on priorities, improving services, launching integrated rectification campaigns, and encouraging extensive participation.

I. Exercise Law-Based Regulation and Improve Institutions and Mechanisms

First, strengthen overall planning. The district's leading group for improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges has made it a priority task to improve the language environment for international exchanges. Second, enhance inter-departmental coordination. The Foreign Affairs Office and the Bureau of Coordinated Administrative Law Enforcement for Urban Management of Haidian District jointly issued a work plan for the enforcement of the Regulations to ensure that relevant work is advanced in accordance with the law.

II. Focus on Priorities and Provide Quality Service for Winter Olympics and Paralympics

First, establish a talent pool of foreign-language speaking officials. A talent pool of 335 foreign-language speaking officials was established to support the test matches of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Second, provide training on foreign-related services. Online or offline training was given to more than 80 people from the operation teams of the Capital Indoor Stadium, Wukesong Sports Center, and the official service hotels for the Games. Third, examine Olympic-related foreign-language materials. Preliminary reviews have been conducted on the foreign-language versions of materials such as the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy Announcement and the manuals of hotels contracted to serve the Winter Olympics.

Training on Foreign-Related Services

III. Improve Government Services in Foreign Languages

First, raise the availability of bilingual policy information. The district government improved its official English website, and enabled the search function for information on entrepreneurial services, living, and social interactions. To improve access to the latest policies on investment, working and living in Haidian, the district "Two Zones" Leading Group Office released the Chinese and English versions of "Guidelines for Foreign Investment in Haidian District". The official WeChat account of the Foreign Affairs Office of Haidian District (WeChat ID: HD_FAO) was upgraded with more frequent bilingual updates. Second, provide better government services for foreign communities. To improve services for foreign nationals, the Haidian District Government Service Center added 273 foreign-language signs and corrected more than 600, and opened a foreign-language service window with four staff offering multilingual services for 1,033 inquiries.

IV. Take Well-Rounded Measures to Regularize Foreign-Language Signs

First, conduct thorough check-ups and rectification. The district formulated the "2022 Work Plan for the Standardization of Foreign-Language Signs in Public Places in Haidian District" which set 33 tasks for five types of key public places. In total, over 1,000 signs have been checked and over 350 rectified. Second, intensify regular inspections. Inspections have been conducted at seven hotels contracted for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games such as the Hotel Nikko New Century Beijing, ten tourist attractions such as Zizhuyuan Park, six public transport venues such as the Mudanyuan Station of Beijing Subway Line 10, three emergency shelters such as the Xiachen Square of Beijingxi Railway Station, and four venues for large-scale international events such as Zhong Guan Cun No.1. The inspections identified and recorded 57 incorrect signs which will be removed from the record after correction. Third, strengthen targeted management. Efforts were concentrated on key venues and projects, such as correcting 17 translation errors on 267 signs at Wukesong Gymnasium and Capital Indoor Stadium and adding 1,269 foreign-language signs for 39 new translations at Wukesong Ice Sports Center. Fourth, carry out preliminary reviews. New signs were checked before launch to ensure accurate and standardized translations, especially in places like Zhongguancun Science City (Haidian District) Planning Exhibition Hall, Longhui 1910 cultural industrial park, and Haidian District Talent Service Center.

Inspection on Foreign-Language Signs

V. Engage the Public to Enhance Social Participation

First, promote the Regulations. Copies of the Regulations were distributed to relevant district departments, townships and sub-districts, and communicated to the public through various activities. Second, mobilize the public. The district launched the "Foreign Language Signage Improvement Month" campaign where everyone can participate in identifying errors in foreign-language signs. Besides, the official WeChat account of the Foreign Affairs Office of Haidian District (WeChat ID: HD_FAO) launched a special program called "Correcting English Signs" which encourages the public to find bad English in signs. In doing so, Haidian has created a sound environment where everyone contributes to and benefits from a better language environment for international exchanges.