Editor's Note: Strengthening the role as the center for international exchanges is a glorious mission entrusted by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to Beijing. Districts across the city have faithfully implemented the overall plan by the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and made concerted efforts in view of their respective strong edges in location and resources in pushing ahead with relevant tasks and achieved impressive results.
To celebrate the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, the official WeChat account of the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office (WeChat ID: bjszfwb) posted a collection of "Highlights in Strengthening Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges by Each District", showcasing the progress and achievements made by each district in related tasks and how they will build on past successes to further advance the capital city's development in the new era.
By taking well-planned measures and playing out its strengths, Fengtai District has advanced friendly international exchanges and created a more enabling environment with greater capacity for international exchanges in a bid to boost Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges.
I. Deepen Sister City Interactions and Explore New Friendships
Fengtai District has strengthened its relations with sister cities by holding the youth art exhibition to mark the 30th anniversary of the relations between Fengtai District and Katsushika City, Tokyo, Japan, and the 23rd China-Japan-ROK Sister City Exchange Conference. It also established communication with Amsterdam in the Netherlands and relevant cities in Serbia through a new approach of exploring friendly exchanges and cooperation by focusing on the flower industry.
Signature programs for youth exchanges have been continued. In 2021 and 2022, Fengtai District and Gangdong District of Seoul, ROK, held online events for young people to exchange with each other and build friendship and mutual understanding.
II. Accelerate the Construction of Major Projects to Increase its Capacity as a Carrier of International Exchanges
The development of the Lize Financial Business District has picked up steam, represented by such events as China (Beijing) Digital Finance Forum 2022, the "UK Business Dialogue with Beijing Municipal Government & Promotion of Lize Financial Business District of Beijing", and the establishment of the Digital Finance Innovative Development Alliance. The main part of the Lize City Terminal, an integrated transportation hub, started construction .
Fengtai has actively promoted the development of the new capital business district and Zhongguancun Fengtai Park which have attracted substantial investment from high-quality foreign companies. In an effort to upgrade the southern section of the central axis, the district has drawn up the overall plan for the museum cluster and its supporting service area, and turned the Dahongmen Trade Center of Clothing into the Beijing South Central Axis International Culture and Technology Park.
Service support has been further improved. The Lugou Bridge-Wanping area has been developed into a symbolic tourism route of China's revolutionary history. In August, foreign journalists from 27 countries, including the Philippines, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, were invited to cover the Lize Business District and Fengtai Railway Station and see for themselves the vitality of Fengtai's high-quality development.
III. A Foreigner-Friendly Environment Leads to More Robust International Exchanges
Fengtai District formulated a dedicated work plan to implement the "Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving Language Environment for International Exchanges" as part of its continuous efforts to standardize foreign-language signs at key sites and improve the language environment.
Fengtai has made continuous efforts to promote the APEC Business Travel Card and streamline its approval procedures to help Chinese companies "go global".
The layout of international schools was improved with the opening of Beijing Lize International School. Diverse cultural events, including the Beijing International Kite Festival and the Chinese Opera Culture Week, were held to promote exchanges. The Second "Silk Road Craftsman" International Skills Competition was held online to boost the global influence of Beijing's vocational education.
