On the morning of April 9, the Leading Group for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges convened a meeting to deliberate on its 2024 work plan and 2023 work report, and hear the report on the progress of enhancing the quality and accessibility of payment services. Yin Li, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee and Head of the Leading Group, presided over the meeting. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing; Liu Wei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; and Guo Yezhou, Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting.
The meeting highlighted that as major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics enters a new stage, Beijing, as the capital city, shoulders greater responsibilities and heavier tasks in supporting foreign exchanges. We should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference, so as to ramp up efforts from all aspects to improve Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges in an all-round way. With an accurate understanding of the current situation and tasks ahead, we should take greater initiative to serve and contribute to the central government's diplomatic efforts, ensure successful head-of-state diplomacy, and facilitate the CPC's foreign exchange efforts. This will help strengthen international communication, exhibit China's national image, and tell better stories about Beijing. We should align with world-class standards and continue to enhance the city’s facilities and capacity building as the center for international exchanges. To this end, we will upgrade both infrastructure and services, give priority to key areas and major projects, and continue to uplift the overall carrying capacity, thus creating more spaces for international exchanges. In addition, by removing barriers to foreign nationals in the entry process, as well as in their work, life, and travel in Beijing, we will build the city into an attractive place to live and work with a market-oriented, law-based, and accessible environment in keeping with international standards.
The meeting emphasized the need to attract international high-end resources to better support Beijing's high-quality development. To bring in global investment, expertise, and talent, emphasis should be placed on investment promotion in carrying out foreign affairs events, along with more matchmaking and negotiation between supply and demand sides in science and technology, finance, and industry. This will inject new impetus into high-standard opening-up and the fostering of new quality productive forces. We will ensure the success of the four major international events and make them a magnet for more foreign-funded projects that fit Beijing’s development needs, and attract more international organizations and prestigious exhibitions in the city. We should stick to a holistic approach to strengthen organizational support. The leading group will take lead in deepening collaboration between ministries and the municipal government, and enhancing coordination between municipal and district levels. Departments in all districts and bureaus should take the initiative and fulfill the tasks in view of their unique resources.
The meeting underscored that enhancing the quality and accessibility of payment services is not only an important decision and arrangement by the Central Government, but also a groundwork for Beijing to improve its role as a center for international exchanges and to become an international consumption hub. As the capital city, Beijing should lead the nation and set an example in this regard. We will take into account the diverse consumption scenarios and consumer needs, and focus on key locations such as shopping malls, hotels, and scenic spots, and sectors including dining, accommodation, transportation, and shopping. By strengthening both the infrastructure and services, we will improve the accessibility of payment services. We will reinforce organization, leadership and inter-departmental coordination, and establish a municipal-level coordination mechanism to elevate payment services. Member authorities should expedite the implementation of key tasks, and each district should develop a dedicated mechanism to ensure that every detail is accounted for. Greater efforts in supervision, inspection, and promotion are also essential for quality and efficiency.
The attendees also deliberated on the List of Supportive Measures of Members from the Central Party and Government Departments of the Leading Group for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges (2024), the revised regulations for the leading group, and the revised detailed regulations for the office of the leading group. They heard the Monitoring and Evaluation Report of Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges in 2023.
Heads of relevant ministries of the central government and Beijing Municipality, including Hua Chunying, Zhao Chenxin, Li Fei, Zhang Zheng, You Jun, Xia Linmao, Sun Junmin, Tan Xuxiang, and Sima Hong, attended the meeting.
