Beijing Municipal Administrative Center Daily
"Welcome to Beijing!" "I love you, China!" On the evening of October 21, 2019, a fleet of 500 drones flew across the night sky, staging a spectacular light show above the administrative complex in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC).
A fleet of 500 drones stage a spectacular light show
This is a photo of the 2019 Reception in Honor of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China attended by diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations from 120 countries and their spouses. This is the first large-scale foreign affairs event held at the BMC after Beijing's municipal-level government bodies moved in.
2019 Reception in Honor of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China
Improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges is a glorious mission entrusted to Beijing by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. It is a major strategic decision made as China moves closer to the center of the world stage to help break new ground in China's diplomacy as a major country, and build a global community of a shared future. It is also an imperative for Beijing to play its role as the four centers and provide four services.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, a world-class harmonious and livable city will take shape in Beijing, enabling it to play a greater role in hosting major diplomatic and foreign affairs activities. With vigorous development, the BMC has become better able to support major national events, attracted international high-end resources at a faster speed, engaged in more frequent international exchanges, and aligned its services with international standards. With such progress, the BMC has turbocharged Beijing's ability to serve the country's overall diplomatic endeavors, as well as the city's efforts to become the center for international exchanges.
Hosting commemorative events to better serve China's diplomacy as a major country
"I congratulate Beijing on its achievements in environmental protection, technological innovation, opening-up, and public services. I wish Beijing even greater development in the future", said Abdullah Saleh Al Saadi, Omani Ambassador to China, who extended great blessings to Beijing on behalf of foreign diplomatic envoys to China at the 2019 Reception in Honor of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China.
Foreign envoys and representatives of international organizations from 120 countries and their spouses gathered in the administrative complex of the BMC that night. The reception was the first of its kind held after Beijing's municipal-level government bodies moved into the BMC. Foreign envoys and representatives of international organizations visited the Millennium Forest and the BMC planning and construction exhibition.
Foreign journalists' first visit to the BMC
Just one week after the reception, foreign journalists paid their first visit to the BMC. "I have been paying attention to the BMC for a long time and I am deeply impressed by its beautiful environment and advance planning. In particular, traditional culture was well-protected in the development of the BMC. This is something we can learn from." The reporter from The Hindu sincerely praised. On October 29, 2019, the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, the Management Committee of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, and Tongzhou District invited a group of foreign journalists based in Beijing to visit the BMC. Nearly 30 reporters from 16 foreign media outlets, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), Russia Today (RT), El País, and Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, joined a one-day tour to the BMC and gained deep insights about its planning and construction, environment protection, and the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage such as the Grand Canal and the Dipamkar Pagoda Scenic Area. Foreign journalists said that, after this visit, they wanted to let more people know the changes taking place in the BMC.
Foreign journalists visiting the BMC Planning Exhibition Center
In recent years, Beijing worked hard to support China's overall diplomatic endeavors and diplomatic events. As part of such efforts, the BMC hosted a number of large-scale foreign affairs events, with a highlight on the pragmatic cooperation among capital cities.
Light shows carry a message of friendship. February 14, 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico. At that night, two buildings at the Canal Business District in the BMC were lighted up in colors representing the national flags of the two countries. The light show demonstrated the deep friendship between China and Mexico over the past 50 years and also presented a vibrant picture of the BMC to the world.
Shining light in the colors of the national flags of China and Mexico casted on the Grand Canal
Diverse cultures can co-exist in harmony. On the other side of the world, Beijing's sister city, Mexico City, also lighted up its landmark structure—Angel of Independence—in Chinese red. Though separated by the ocean, the effervescent Mexico City and the vibrant Beijing BMC were connected by the brilliant light. The light shows not only showcased the charm of the two ancient civilizations, but also spread the seeds of friendship and the aspiration for exchanges and cooperation. Right after the event, Marcelo Ebrard, Foreign Secretary of Mexico, shared the event pictures on his personal Twitter account. On May 24, 2022, a light show commemorating the 200th anniversary of Ecuador's independence also took place at the Canal Business District. In February 2022, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and paid an official visit to China.
By the glistening Grand Canal lies the Canal Business District where historical heritage meets state-of-the-art industries. As an important part of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Canal Business District is a pilot demonstration zone of the development of the BMC, as well as a pillar for international exchanges there. It is being built as a global wealth management center and a global green financial center to serve the district's core functions of wealth management, green finance, and financial technology, and meet the requirements of technological innovation and development. Light shows are taking the BMC beyond Beijing and toward the world stage.
Strengthening sister-city cooperation through international exchange activities
With a beautiful canal and exciting development progress, the BMC has also attracted distinguished guests from sister cities, witnessing increasing international exchanges.
Tokyo is the first international sister city of Beijing. At the 40th anniversary of Tokyo and Beijing's sister-city relation, Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo, Japan, visited the BMC where she met with Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and signed a memorandum of cooperation with Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing. The two cities will expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation in 10 areas including scientific and technological innovation, urban planning, health care, and the youth. Yuriko Koike also visited the Millennial Forest, the model of the BMC, and the exhibition on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the 40th anniversary of the Beijing-Tokyo friendship. Yuriko Koike said that, taking the opportunity of the 40th anniversary, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will work with Beijing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two cities and contribute to Japan-China friendship.
Cai Qi met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike
2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria. On this occassion, Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, met with Bulgarian President Ruman Radev and his delegation at the BMC. Before the meeting, the Bulgarian side visited the model of the BMC and was briefed on the BMC's planning and construction. Ruman Radev said that he was deeply impressed by the planning and development vision of the BMC. He said that Bulgaria attaches great importance to the cooperation with Beijing and will continue to support the China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum. He hoped that capital cities of the participating countries could make good use of the forum to deepen exchanges and cooperation, so as to better benefit the people of all sides.
On April 19, 2021, Thomas Østrup Møller, Danish ambassador to China paid a visit to the BMC. After visiting the BMC's sponge city project, Ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller learned more about how Denmark's approach to collect and recycle rainwater and related technologies were applied in the BMC's residential areas.
The BMC's sponge city project drew on Copenhagen's principles and technologies in green and sustainable development. Ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller visited the green space, outdoor pergolas, roof gardens and "green valleys" in the residential area, and spoke highly of the community's water recycling system, vegetation, and livable environment. Beijing and Copenhagen have deepened cooperation on green development, creative industries, city planning and other fields.
Gathering high-end resources to improve the quality of its international services
2022 is the year of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the year of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and also a critical year to speed up Beijing's efforts to become the center for international exchanges. All districts in Beijing are implementing the Beijing Municipal Regulations on Improving International Language Environment by taking multiple measures to create a bilingual environment.
The BMC launched the "Open Tongzhou" website in both Chinese and English. The simplistic design of the navigation bar allows overseas companies to find regional overview, preferential policies, and other information easily. This website serves as a channel between foreign businesses and the government, and helps improve the quality of government services. As a result, the BMC is able to play out its strengths in foreign affairs, improve its international language environment, and provide better services to foreign nationals and enterprises via foreign-language portals.
"Open Tongzhou" Website
Sister city programs such as the Chinese Language Training Program for Officials from Beijing's International Sister Cities and the Beijing Sister City Youth Camp also organized visits to the BMC. The visits allowed participants to learn about Beijing's development path and strategic role as well as the BMC's development plan. They also appreciated how water channels blended into the urban landscape and felt the charm of Beijing as China's capital both in history and at present.
Beijing has built platforms to open itself wider to the world. In recent years, Beijing held a number of international events such as the China International Fair for Trade in Service (CIFTIS), the Zhongguancun Forum, and the Financial Street Forum, gathering high-end international resources. The city also delivered remarkable performance in holding international cultural and sports events, which has made Beijing more attractive and influential as a tourist destination. Here at the BMC, diverse cultures learn from each other and prosper together.
The China-Brazil Forum of the 27th World Congress of Architects and China Architecture Exhibition
On July 12, 2021, an international event was held at the modernistic Future Design Park in Zhangjiawan. The event—the China-Brazil Forum of the 27th World Congress of Architects and China Architecture Exhibition—was jointly organized by the International Union of Architects, the UIA2021RIO Executive Committee, the Beijing Municipal Government, and the Architectural Society of China. Architects from both home and abroad engaged in academic discussions around technological revolution, urban renewal, urban space quality and cultural heritage. With the theme "Rational & Human—The Openness and Diversity of Chinese Architecture", the China Architecture Exhibition presented Chinese architectural style to the world.
In 2020, the China International Fair for Trade in Services Special Promotion Seminar in the BMC, and the 3rd Global Wealth Management Forum were held at the Beijing International Fortune Center along the Grand Canal, attracting renowned scholars including Michael Spence, a Nobel Laureate in Economics, as well as representatives of financial companies and foreign envoys in China. Such events have effectively enhanced the BMC's influence in international financial services.
China International Fair for Trade in Services Special Promotion Seminar in the BMC
Launched in 2009, the Beijing Design Week is an important international cultural event held annually in Beijing. The permanent venue for Beijing Design Week, located in Zhangjiawan Design Town, is now under interior renovation and is planned to open later this year.
Trying times can make one stronger and better. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing has made every effort to prevent inbound cases and engage in international cooperation. It offered high-quality services to the overall diplomatic endeavors of the central government and the preparation for the Winter Olympics, and broke new ground in district-level international exchanges. By making full use of foreign affairs resources and channels, it has helped promote high-level opening-up and the resumption of work and production, worked hard to create an international language environment, and promoted the work of consular protection in various forms. All these are remarkable results achieved at an extraordinary time. The BMC has also seized every development opportunity and improved its facilities and soft power by adhering to its advance planning and international standards. With such efforts, the BMC has elevated Beijing's status as an international metropolis and enhanced the city's role as the center for international exchanges.
(Reporter: Guan Yiwen)
(Photos from Beijing Daily, Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Video from Beijing NEWS)
