At present, the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic as it goes through profound changes unseen in a century, and the global security environment has become increasingly complex. Several incidents of terrorist attacks and kidnappings against Chinese citizens took place lately in Pakistan, Mali, etc., which poses a threat to the safety of overseas employees working for Beijing enterprises and projects.

Since July, the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, etc. have conducted risk assessment on the overseas sites of Beijing enterprises and overseas projects. They listed 15 municipal state-owned and private enterprises still doing business in Pakistan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Angola, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Niger, and Nigeria.

Based on the preliminary assessment, the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office worked with the Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the district governments administering those enterprises to hold two separate online meetings with overseas enterprises (projects) on August 19 and August 26.  Through the meetings, Beijing Urban Construction Group, Beijing Shougang Co., Ltd, Beijing Lvxing Energy Tech Co., Ltd, Anton Oilfield Services Group, China Geo-Engineering Corporation International Ltd, CGCOC Group, Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Co., Ltd, StarTimes, Zhongjun Junhong Security Service Co., Ltd., etc., reported on the general safety situation of their overseas employees and working sites. Moreover, they introduced their implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures and security measures.

Government representatives expressed gratitude to overseas employees who stick to their post and work hard for Beijing enterprises during this difficult time for their contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. They pointed out that security is a prerequisite for the overseas development of enterprises. They requested the overseas branches of Beijing enterprises to shoulder the main responsibilities, adhere to the "People First, Life First" principle, implement security measures, improve COVID-19 prevention and control and contingency plan, strengthen training and drills, take precautionary measures and enhance employees' capabilities for self-protection. Overseas branches (projects) should keep in touch with Chinese embassies and consulates, pay close attention to the epidemic changes in the local area, implement prevention and control measures in accordance with the local laws and regulations, and avoid travel for unnecessary or non-urgent purposes. Relevant government departments in charge of foreign affairs, competent authorities overseeing the enterprises and district governments should actively provide care and support for overseas employees, strengthen inspection and guidance on enterprises and give instructions and tips, and promptly help enterprises solve difficulties they encounter.

Participating enterprises expressed their gratitude to the online safety inspection and on-site guidance and showed desire for participating in relevant events again. Through the event, they acquired useful information and their overseas employees felt the warmth and care from the municipal government. Taking the meetings as an excellent platform for exchanges, they would further improve overseas security work. The representative of Anton Oilfield Services Group stated that the enterprise would take the meeting as a new start to further improve security measures, strive to prevent the worst case scenario and work towards the best to ensure that the risk of overseas project is controllable. The representative of China Geo-Engineering Corporation International Ltd said that the enterprise would maintain its excellent performance in overseas safety management and make its contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. The enterprises stated that they would immediately rectify problems identified in the inspection, including insufficient technical defenses, the lack of emergency drills, and unfledged emergency evacuation plans, etc.