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 showcasing the capital's image and the charm of its culture, Dongcheng District is writing a new chapter in improving Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges to the highest standard, which is embodied by better service support for major state events, faster clustering of high-end resources for international industrial cooperation, and an ever-improving environment for international exchanges.
I. Sound Mechanism Empowers Service Support
The regular service support mechanism has been refined through the formulation of the "Mechanism for Regular Service Support of Major State Events in Dongcheng District" and the "Standards for the Construction and Management of Venues for Foreign-Related Activities in Dongcheng District". The district has provided service support for 9 batches of delegations of foreign leaders from countries like Argentina and Luxembourg, embassies, and heads of international organizations to visit the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven during the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg Visits the Temple of Heaven
Ongoing efforts were made to improve the environment in traditional venues for state events, such as Tiananmen Square and Chang'an Avenue. The application of the Beijing Central Axis as a World Heritage Site and the spatial design for diplomatic activities also witnessed progress, with more than ten "small but aesthetic" venues for diplomatic activities, such as the Dongyuan Peking Opera Theater, the Beijing Time Museum, and the Huangcheng Art Museum, creating visit routes on history, humanities, and "red" themes.
II. Coordinate Resources to Boost International Exchanges
Dongcheng District has staged a series of international exchange activities, including the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Beijing-Copenhagen Sister-city Relations, Diplomatic Envoys to China Visiting Shijia Hutong, and the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Normalization of China-Japan Diplomatic Relations. The following events also took place here: Beijing Design Week, Beijing Wangfujing International Brand Festival, Wangfujing Forum 2021, ZGC Forum China Nordic Global Innovation Forum on Digital Medicine, etc.
Diplomatic Missions to China Visit Shijia Hutong
More friendly interaction is happening between cities. For example, the Cloud Dialogue of the China-Germany International Friendship City themed "Intelligent Business District and Dynamic City", and intended deals with the authorities and business associations of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin. Also, there were activities like video communications between teenagers and calligraphy and painting exchanges between children in China, Japan, and South Korea; the 2022 CIFTIS "Belt & Road" Culture and Tourism Promotion Exhibition inviting cities from Austria, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea; and online celebration of Malaysia Kuching South City Day.
Cloud Dialogue of International Friendship Cities on "Building an International Consumption Center City" 2022
III. Innovation-driven Aggregation of International High-end Resources
As Dongcheng District pursues higher-level opening up, it has become home to the city's first QFLP pilot program, and attracted the presence of famous financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse AG, and Amundi Asset Management.
Impressive results have been achieved in the construction of the demonstration zone of the international consumption center city. Wangfujing Shopping District, the national demonstration pedestrian street and national-level cluster areas for night culture and tourism consumption, boasts a total of 234 first and flagship stores of international brands. The upgrading of the traditional business districts is gathering pace. They will play a demonstrative role in international consumption and provide services for international exchanges and opening up.
Dongzhimen Business Cluster
With a sound international investment and financing system in culture, Dongcheng District witnessed the establishment of the Service Center of the National Demonstration Zone for Cultural and Financial Cooperation. A series of events were held such as “Jingtan Journey” to help new cultural and creative enterprises to expand their global footprint, and "Seeing China" to popularize excellent Chinese audiovisual programs abroad.
IV. Pool Talent to Take International Services to New Highs
A package of service support policies was introduced for international talents in terms of housing, children's education, and medical care. A community of innovation for global talents was built, attracting the talent projects and eight alumni associations of Swedish colleges and universities in China. Joint application service for work permits and work-type residence permits became available for foreign nationals, and 75 services in 20 categories are available for Chinese and foreign enterprises. A total of 469 APEC Business Travel Cards have been issued to enterprises.
Joint Application Service Counter
The language environment for international exchanges continues to improve. Examination and monitoring of foreign-language signs have been conducted in 43 major public places throughout the district. English training was provided to hotel and retail staff to better serve foreigners. A talent pool covering seven languages has been built to engage professionals in the prevention of imported COVID-19 cases, and sign examination.
