Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Democratic Supervision Group for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges held its first plenary session on the afternoon of April 27. Cui Shuqiang and Chen Jun, Vice Chairmen of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended.

At the session, the decision of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee Chairman's Meeting to establish a Democratic Supervision Group was announced and the working guidelines for the Democratic Supervision Group were reviewed and approved. Officials in charge of ten units including the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, Huairou District Government, and Beijing Enterprises Group reported on the functional improvement of the Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort in accordance with the Work Plan for Improving the Functions of Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort. Members of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee including Li Weidong, Tu Xinquan, Tao Ye, Mao Daqing, and advisors from the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese put forward suggestions on the following aspects: enhancing the Resort's service capacity to better serve major diplomatic events; strengthening the commercialization of the Resort to further promote sustainable development; leveraging Beijing's cultural resources in improving the functions of the Resort; and adopting a multi-dimensional approach to improve the Resort's soft power and affinity for international exchanges.

Chen Jun said that the democratic supervision on improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges reflect distinctive characteristics of the capital and the CPPCC, embodying the CPPCC's efforts to focus on the central task and serve the overall situation. Members of the Democratic Supervision Group should adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and further enhance the overall understanding of improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges based on the Party and the country's overall diplomatic endeavors. The Group should also actively exercise democratic supervision and provide forward-looking and strategic suggestions timely, so as to effectively leverage the unique advantages and play the important role of the CPPCC in democratic supervision.

According to Cui Shuqiang, improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges is a glorious mission entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, and a major strategic decision to adapt to the new situation that China is moving closer to the center of the world stage and breaking new ground in advancing its distinctive major-country diplomacy in the new era. The Democratic Supervision Group was established as an innovative initiative of the 14th CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee to focus on the capital's functions, strengthen its position as the "four centers" and improve its capacity for "four services". The Group should understand the significance of improving the functions of Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort and accurately grasp the role of consultative supervision, integrating consultation and supervision, offering suggestions for state affairs and building consensus. To implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, the Group should combine supervision closely with the ongoing thematic education on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and find an appropriate angle for supervisory research, striving for broader and deeper democratic supervision with more highlights. The expertise and main role of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee members should be fully utilized in conducting investigation and research to truly understand the situation, identify problems, put forward solutions and form high-quality supervision results, thus contributing wisdom and strength to writing the new chapter in improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges.

The session was held both online and offline. Zhao Hongsheng, Director of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee, presided over the first plenary session, and Yan Weiqun, Head of the Democratic Supervision Group, presided over the briefing. Over 100 people attended the session, including Huang Saixi, Vice Director of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs, Xiong Jiuling, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs and Director General of the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, members of the Democratic Supervision Group, members of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee, as well as advisors from the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese.