Recently, Pinggu District held the 2024 Plenary Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee & the District Leading Group for Improving Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges. The meeting conveyed the guiding principles of the plenary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the plenary meeting of the Municipal Leading Group for Improving Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges. During the meeting, Pinggu District announced the monitoring and evaluation results of its work on improving Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges in 2023, as well as plans for future priorities. Tang Hailong, Secretary of the CPC Pinggu District Committee, Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee, and Head of the District Leading Group presided over the meeting. Di Tao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Pinggu District Committee and District Mayor, attended the meeting.

During the meeting, it was pointed out that over the past year, Pinggu District has made proactive efforts to improve Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges and achieved significant progress in foreign affairs. Building on the district’s values of confidence, openness, inclusiveness, innovation and its pioneering spirit, Pinggu aims to expand its “circle of friends” for open cooperation. This will facilitate the high-quality development of Pinggu District and contribute to the Beijing chapter of Chinese modernization through foreign-related work.

It was emphasized at the meeting that all participants should earnestly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, the guiding principles of the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, as well as the arrangements made at the Foreign Affairs Work Conference and the plenary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and the Municipal Leading Group for Improving Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges. It is also vital to maintain a forward-thinking and comprehensive approach, and actively contribute to the high-quality development of the capital through concrete efforts in foreign affairs.

It was also stressed at the meeting that leveraging resources from foreign affairs and from Hong Kong and Macao affairs is crucial for driving international development and attracting high-end international resources. This should include a specific focus on high-tech agriculture, high-capacity logistics, and new forms of entertainment. Efforts should also be made to expand channels for international cooperation, attract investment, and promote projects. Additionally, establishing a follow-up mechanism for companies participating in major meetings and activities can help turn them from mere “exhibitors” to actual “investors”. The investment and trade environment should be continuously optimized to deliver higher-quality public services related to foreign affairs.

During the meeting, the importance of upholding the Party’s leadership in foreign affairs and effectively leveraging the roles of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee and the District Leading Group was emphasized. It is essential to prioritize policy promotion and specific tasks for official visits to attract investment. Strict adherence to rules and regulations must be maintained in all foreign engagements to uphold foreign affairs discipline. In addition, concerted efforts should be made to provide facilitation measures for international talent with a view to comprehensively enhancing Pinggu District’s capabilities in foreign affairs.

At the meeting, important issues were discussed, including the key tasks of 2024 for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee and the District Leading Group. Additionally, the Regulations for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee (revised) and the Detailed Regulations for the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Pinggu District Committee (revised) were reviewed.