The Beijing Municipal Regulations on the Management of Foreign Language Public Signs took effect on July 1. First of such regulations adopted by the Beijing Municipal Government, they are intended lay a solid foundation for Beijing's endeavor to promote its role as an international exchange center and make sure services are up to international standards.

Comprising 20 articles, the Regulations make clear the scope of application, language requirements for public signs in foreign languages, the management system in this regard, coordination mechanism between different authorities, government service, and relevant legal liability. A basic principle is stressed, i.e. those who erect the foreign language public signs should see that such signs are translated into foreign languages in the right way. It is also set down that public signs in foreign languages are required in six types of public places. The Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Government has worked with relevant authorities to formulate and publish a catalogue of public places and information that require signs in foreign languages.

Beijing has always attached great importance to the standardization of foreign language signs. After Beijing's successful bid for the Olympics in 2001, the Beijing Municipal Government established a leading group for standardizing English signs in public places and set up an expert advisory group to advance standardization of foreign language signs throughout the city. In 2006, Beijing led the country in issuing a series of local standards - English Translation of Public Signs.

The adoption of the Regulations is intended to improve foreign language public signs in the nation's capital. It is not only an integral part of the government's mandate to deliver basic public services in accordance with the law, but also a necessary move to address the misuse and abuse of foreign language signs and improve the city's international language environment. Going forward, foreign affairs offices will provide such services as providing professional advice on how to deal with signs that are hard to be translated into foreign languages, supporting volunteer services, and providing an online platform for searching related information. They will also work with relevant authorities to step up monitoring and management to ensure the implementation of the Regulations.