On the morning of March 14, the Foreign Affairs Work Conference was convened by the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, stressed the need to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, as well as the guiding principles of the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference. The objective is to support the undertakings of the Party and the country and the development of Beijing in the new era. By providing high-standard services for major diplomatic and state events and improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges, we will strive to promote the high-quality development of the capital's foreign affairs work. This will contribute to the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The conference was presided over by Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, and attended by Liu Wei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.
According to Yin Li, since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has achieved historic milestones and undergone transformative changes in foreign affairs work, along with greater strategic autonomy and initiative in diplomacy. Drawing on the success and experience of the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, we should further bolster our political and historical confidence in excelling in Beijing's foreign affairs work in the new era, and take it to a new stage through a deeper understanding of the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and a resolute commitment to the "Two Upholds". Considering the international environment and the historical mission of our foreign affairs work in the new journey, we should aim to create a more favorable external environment for the undertakings of the Party and the country with a stronger sense of responsibility and mission. Adhering to the strategic arrangements of the CPC Central Committee on foreign affairs work, we should undertake new initiatives and achieve greater success to ensure thorough implementation of the arrangements and translate them into a vivid practice.
In addition to fully recognizing accomplishments, he also laid out short- to medium-term plans for future foreign affairs work. He underlined the growing responsibilities and missions of Beijing, the main venue of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, as China moves to the center of the global stage. To this end, it is necessary to fully implement the arrangements and requirements of the CPC Central Committee, and open new ground for the city's foreign affairs work. It is crucial to bear in mind the country's fundamental interests and better serve the country's overall diplomacy. To enhance the reputation of "Beijing Services", we will improve the mechanism for regular service support for major state events, and develop more quality venues with distinctive features for diplomatic activities. Actions will be taken to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen and expand cooperation in fields like economy and trade, digitization, and environmental protection, and generate more deliverables with global impact.
He emphasized that it is essential to enhance the guiding role of planning while improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges. Equal priority should be given to the development of both facilities and services. To optimize the spatial layout of international exchanges, the planning and construction of key facilities such as Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort, the fourth embassy zone, and the China National Convention Center Phase II will be accelerated. We will strengthen the role of the two aviation hubs as international gateways, and make forward-looking plans that define the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) and Beijing Daxing International Airport as service providers for international exchanges. The cultural resources of the Great Wall will also be used to expand global interactions. Efforts will be made to enhance the language environment and the quality of foreign-related services, and create an international urban environment that is pleasant to visit, work and live in.
He emphasized the importance of promoting the capital's high-quality development by leveraging foreign affairs resources. This includes attracting more regional headquarters of multinational corporations, international functional institutions, and key international organizations in areas such as finance, technology, and environmental protection to establish their presence in Beijing. The "two zones" policy will be harnessed to help launch more landmark and leading foreign-funded projects. The business environment will be further improved with the implementation of the "service package" and "service steward" systems. Hosting prestigious events such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), ZGC Forum, Financial Street Forum, and Beijing Culture Forum will bolster platforms for international cooperation and yield tangible outcomes. There will be broader investment channels and targeted promotion and project negotiation to bring about greater economic and trade cooperation. We will better tell Beijing's story and develop a multi-level foreign exchange pattern. To strengthen the international communication capacity, we will tap into the resources such as traditional and innovative culture and the "dual Olympic city" and introduce novel promotion methods, thus boosting mutual learning among civilizations and telling the story of Chinese modernization and the capital city of a major country in a globally comprehensible language and manner. We will continue to cooperate with the capitals of key countries and the provinces and regions where they are located, and intensify coordination in people-to-people diplomacy. Meanwhile, on no account should we compromise the security and stability when it comes to the foreign affairs work in Beijing.
He called for strengthening the Party's overall leadership of foreign affairs work and enhancing Beijing's capacity for such work. With an improved foreign affairs work system, overall planning, and collaboration, we will see that governments at all levels shoulder their responsibilities and foster greater overall synergy, thereby implementing the tasks well in improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges. Efforts should be made in the following areas: creating platforms and channels, pooling resources and increasing synergies; making foreign affairs work more institutionalized, standardized and science-based; and guarding against political and diplomatic risks while elevating performance on all fronts. We will further strengthen our teams by fostering ideals and convictions among them and improving their political, thinking and practical abilities across the board.
Guo Yezhou, Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Deng Li, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered speeches.
Heads of the Beijing Municipal Government, leaders of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chiefs of all institutions and departments of all districts, and officials from centrally-administrated universities in Beijing attended the conference.
