As the world's first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Beijing has once again attracted the world's attention by hosting a grand event.
From "Beijing Welcomes You" to "Together for a Shared Future", Beijing has been a window to showcase the practice of China's major-country diplomacy in the new era, demonstrating to the international community the highest standard of serving China's overall diplomacy.
On February 26, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Beijing and instructed on the capital city's strategic roles as "four centers"—the national political center, cultural center, center for international exchanges, and center for scientific discovery and technological innovation, calling for efforts to build Beijing into a world-class cosmopolis that is harmonious and livable.
A Panorama of Phase II of the China National Convention Center, symmetrical to Phase I
Reshaping Beijing's city pattern is the need for its development, while improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges is a strategic choice to break new ground in advancing China's major-country diplomacy in the new era. In recent years, by adopting the highest standards and with focus on the strategic roles as the capital city, Beijing has gained substantial progress in developing the center for international exchanges. In particular, in the past five years since 2017, Beijing has established the spatial layout for international exchanges featuring "one core, two axes, and multiple sections", planned the building of a number of major landmark projects such as Yanqi Lake International Conference Center, China National Convention Center Phase II, and the fourth embassy quarter, and received more than 100 foreign heads of state and government and more than 700 party and state visiting groups totaling over 9,000 people, contributing to China's major-country diplomacy in the new era and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
After the Winter Olympics: Venues remain open to every sports lover
In the recently-concluded Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, China National Convention Center Phase II (CNCC-II) made its debut as the Main Press Center for the events.
Its role started on January 4th when it became part of the "closed-loop" and lasted until March 17th when the Winter Paralympics closed. Although the Winter Olympics have already come to a successful conclusion, some of their elements have stayed in the venue—Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon may become its permanent exhibits.
Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon and other Winter Olympics decorations are still hanging in the China National Convention Center Phase II
CNCC-II boasts a concave curved façade with a huge reception canopy which extends as far as 20 meters from the façade, its curvature echoing perfectly with the curved rooftop of CNCC-I. At the end of April, construction resumed at CNCC-II with mechanical and electrical system modification and fit-out works. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and put into use in 2025.
"China National Convention Center Phase II is not just a venue for the Winter Olympics, but also an important facility for improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges." said Li Xiaolin, deputy general manager of Beijing North Star Exhibition Investment Company.
At present, CNCC-II is being prepared for high-level international conferences. After completion, it will serve as an important facility for China's diplomatic events and for Beijing's role as the international exchange center. Together with CNCC-I, it will become an super-large exhibition complex covering a total of 1.3 million square meters which can further enhance Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges.
A bird's-eye view of the Olympic Forest Park from the Asia Financial Center
In June, the Beijing Olympic Park became a sea of luxuriant trees. In the Park, not far from CNCC-II, stood the National Speed Skating Oval, nicknamed the "Ice Ribbon", where new national record and world record was created during the Winter Olympics. To revive Beijing's Olympic legacy, it is crutial to reuse Winter Olympic venues, such as the National Alpine Skiing Centre and the "Ice Ribbon" which can be used for other international sports events. In fact, such reuse has already been taken into account since constraction started at the "Ice Ribbon". Its 12,000-square-meter ice surface is spacious enough for 6 categories of ice sports games including speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating, and curling, and can also allow 3,000 people to go on ice at the same time.
After the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the venues are being prepared to be open to the public. They are not exclusive to athletes and they welcome every sports lover.
Spatial planning: one core, two axes, and multiple zones
In 2021, the blueprint for improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges was drawn up.
The Plan for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, the first such five-year plan, was reviewed and approved. It proposed a clear spatial planning for Beijing's endeavor—"one core, two axes, and multiple zones". According to the Plan, by 2025, Beijing will be equipped with a full suite of functions and well-planned areas for its role as the center for international exchanges. With this, the city will be better prepared to support China's diplomatic events, become more active in international exchanges, attract more global resources, offer more world-class services, and enjoy a higher reputation in the world.
Right now, the "one core, two axes, and multiple zones" are gradually taking shape. Renewal programs in traditional centers for national events, such as Tiananmen Square and Zhongnanhai area, have delivered encouraging results; Chang'an Avenue and its extensions now boast greater capability and a more enabling environment to serve international exchanges; the Central Axis, which is now under application for UNESCO world heritage status, has seen functions improved in its norther extensions to better serve international events, and development plans implemented in its southern section.
At the north end of the Central Axis is an impressive building that looks like a giant Chinese knot. It is the Asia Financial Center, where the headquarter of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is located, and is often said to be a perfect end of the northern extension. This building is a fine combination of both Eastern and Western styles as its design was solicited worldwide and eventually took up by GMP Architekten and the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University.
Inside the Asia Financial Center
On the exterior, the building has elements that resemble the traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon structure, or the "Luban lock", with its shape of the Chinese knotting representing China's tight connection to the rest of the world, and its five connected buildings symbolizing the five continent. In the interior, a continuum of green spaces leads through the building and the temperature and humidity remain constant throughout the year. The 80-meter-high atrium and 7 open courtyards allow natural light into almost all working areas and the tropical and subtropical plants in open spaces make this business building greener, more diverse, and more dynamic.
In 2020, the AIIB officially moved to the Asia Financial Center and started its new journey in this new and permanent headquarter. Later, the Sino-Nordic Promotion Association for Green Sustainable Development (SNPA), the University of Hong Kong, the China-US Green Fund, Elekta, and other institutions also settled in. The Center is financed and constructed by Beijing Investment Group (BIG). At present, 90% of its office space has been leased out, mostly to international organizations and foreign companies.
In addition, a diverse group of world-class functional zones are located all over Beijing: the embassy areas, the Capital International Airport, and Beijing Municipal Administrative Center in the east; the Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort – Huairou Science City area and the Badaling Great Wall – Olympic Winter Games venues – International Horticultural Exhibition Park area in the north; the new Shougang area and the Zhongguancun – "Three Hills and Five Gardens" area in the west; and a new functional zone centered around Beijing Daxing International Airport that will soon take shape in the south.
In the next five years, Beijing will also create dedicated functional zones for hosting national events, attracting international organizations institutions, staging international exhibitions, facilitating international communication, and boosting international cultural and sports exchanges. It will continue to level up the environment of the core zone of capital functions, optimize the spatial layout of the two axes, and cultivate stronger and more diverse capabilities to enhance international exchanges.
Connected to the world: Security staff can speak English
Efforts to strengthen Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges are reflected in every detail. According to Liu Ke, deputy general manager of Commercial Real Estate Operation Company of BIG, every security guard in the Asia Financial Center can speak basic English as they are security staff of "the center for international exchanges". Apart from patrolling the parking lot, the security check room, the lobby, and the office area on a regular basis, they can also act as professional guides for visitors. Their knowledge about the Center and their expression skills have impressed many visitors who said that these security guards are even more capable of attracting businesses than most professionals.
Beijing Center of the University of Hong Kong
Upon entering the Asia Financial Center, one would immediately feel that this is a place steeped in refined culture, which is exactly what has attracted the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to set up its Beijing Center here in 2021. Inside the building, teachers and students of the HKU often organize exchange activities, and speakers can deliver wonderful speeches without even using a microphone.
Wang Jianrui, director of the HKU Beijing Center, said that, since its inception over one year ago, the Beijing Center has been committed to connecting Beijing with Hong Kong and the rest of the world in the hope of attracting high-end talents and keeping cultural, educational, and academic exchanges with other countries.
Establishing the Beijing Center is the first step for the HKU to expand its global presense, and thus has a greater strategic significance. After settling in Beijing, the HKU Beijing Center has been contributing its efforts to improving Beijing's role as the center for international exchanges by leveraging its academic strength to participate in innovation and entrepreneurship and by promoting its outstanding projects and resources via the academia to attract more international talents. Wang Jianrui said that the HKU Beijing Center plays a leading role with great significance in combining Hong Kong's experience in international financial management with China's vigorous domestic market.
Wang Jianrui, director of the HKU Beijing Center in the interview
As a world-class university, the HKU Beijing Center provides educational services for those who want to study more after gaining rich working experience and these people are exactly the type of talent that Beijing needs. Zhang Xiang, President of the HKU, said that the university was founded in 1911 for China. After more than 100 years of development, it has grown into a top international university. "The establishment of the HKU Beijing Center is a new milestone as the HKU embraces the future. We hope that this institute for cross-cultural talent will serve as an ideal platform for developing international education in the Chinese mainland."
World No. 1: Attracting high-end resources
In order to attract more international enterprises and organizations, Beijing has made great efforts to create a world-class business environment underpinned by both powerful "hardware"—infrastructure, facilities, etc., and enabling "software"—services, policies, etc. Such efforts have already proven effective.
So far, 207 multinational enterprises, including top players such as Seragon and LafargeHolcim, have set up regional headquarters in Beijing, and nearly 50,000 foreign companies have established presence here, including the three major international rating agencies, Moody's, S&P, and Fitch, as well as two major bank card clearing agencies, Mastercard and Visa. In addition, Deloitte has established a Deloitte University in Beijing and BMW China Investment, Daimler Truck China, and about 300 other projects have been implemented.
Located in Shunyi District, the China-Germany Industrial Park is the first national-level industrial park focusing on economic and technological cooperation between China and Germany. Since its establishment one year ago, it has attracted more than 70 German-funded enterprises with a total annual output exceeding 30 billion yuan.
China-Germany Industrial Park
Etienne Alexandre, director of Wilo Group's product management and emerging markets coordination, is a foreigner working in the China-Germany Industrial Park. He said that Wilo chose to settle in the China-Germany Industrial Park because the Park provides a good business environment for companies. The Park offers a variety of high-quality services such as policy interpretation, favorable talent policies, and businesses supports that are tailored to German SMEs, allowing them to focus on business operation without other concerns.
At present, the Park has more than 100 senior managers and engineers from Germany, forming a solid foundation for attracting global resources and engaging in international cooperation.
Besides attracting resources, the China-Germany Industrial Park is also in "going global". With the support of municipal departments, the Park organized targeted promotional events in Beijing's sister cities in Germany. It also built a German Center in addition to its center in Beijing. The German Center, which is connected with China's domestic innovation, industrial and financial resources and aims to facilitate the commercialization of innovation, has formed a positive interplay with its twin in Beijing, creating a new model of development for industrial parks.
In the next five years, Beijing will continue its endeavor to create a cluster of high-end international resources. The city will introduce more favorable policies to attract international organizations and institutions that meet Beijing's strategic roles and needs for high-quality development. At the same time, it will facilitate the implementation of foreign investment projects and attract more regional headquarters of multinational companies, R&D centers, and international functional platforms.
Under the pandemic: Beijing remains steadfast in international exchanges
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economy recovery have brought challenges to international exchanges. After the start of the pandemic, Beijing organized multiple foreign affairs event via the Internet to ensure the continuity of international exchanges during such special times.
According to the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing has coordinated municipal, district, and non-government channels to donate supplies to 57 cities and regions in 29 countries since the beginning of the pandemic. At the same time, Beijing also helped foreign companies in the city to resume business and assisted more than 10,000 foreigners to return to Beijing from abroad.
Foreign media reporters reporting Beijing's resumption of work and production
To make life easier for foreign nationals in Beijing, the city improved the English version of Beijing Health Kit and provided COVID-19 vaccination and other services for them. In the Guomen Smart City, Houshayu Towship, Shunyi District, the mixed-use buildings hosts more than 2,200 property owners and tenants from all over the country, including some foreigners. Ru Jiayi from the Commercial Building Management Service Center of Houshayu Township said that in order to better serve foreigners living in the buildings, the township organized volunteers who are good at foreign languages to provide support.
Apart from attracting international talents, Beijing is also making efforts to retain them. For instance, the Beijing Service Center for First-Time Loans opened a service window dedicated to foreigners to help them access new channels of financing. In nine districts including Chaoyang and Tongzhou, foreign professionals can apply for and claim work permits and residence permits at one unified service window. In addition, Beijing has streamlined the review process for foreigners who repeatedly purchase foreign exchange or make foreign exchange payments with their income and kept the channel open for the return of foreigners' social security fees. Through these measures, Beijing has enables foreigners and their families to settledown. In addition. The city has also improved employment services for the spouses of foreign nationals, planned to establish 105 international schools, supported Chinese enterprises and individuals to establish schools for the children of foreign nationals to enhance the supply of international education.
Mayor of Cologne, Germany, thanked Beijing for donating medical supplies
Since the start of the pandemic, Beijing has consolidates its group of true friends and good partners around the world through donations and cooperation. Up to now, the number of sister cities of the Beijing Municipality and Beijing's districts has reached 245. In the past five years, Beijing has made great achievements in China diplomatic endeavor as a major country in the new era, which demonstrates its confidence and strength. Indeed, the ongoing pandemic and the complicated international and domestic landscapes have added uncertainties to international exchanges. However, in the next five years, Beijing will deliver outstanding results and break new ground in improving its role as the center for international exchanges.
(Reporter: Geng Ziye)
(Photos from Beijing News, Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Beichen Group, China-Germany Industrial Park)
