On July 11, the 2020 Consular Protection Monthly Lecture Program launched by the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government presented its first lecture online. Given the new normal of COVID-19 prevention and control and the importance of preventive consular protection measures, the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing chose the form of live online lecture to build the safety awareness of Beijing citizens travelling abroad. Professor Xia Liping, doctoral advisor of China Foreign Affairs University, member of the Beijing Foreign Security Expert Group, and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Institute of International Relations, share knowledge concerning consular services and personal safety and security with Beijing citizens working or studying in the UK.
Professor Xia said that Beijing citizens working or studying in the UK must raise personal safety and security awareness, protect themselves, help each other, and if necessary, they can seek help from the nearest embassy or consulate or dial 12308.
More than 1,200 people watched the lecture and participated in interaction online. Representatives of Beijing citizens in the UK were invited to share stories about their life and work in the UK, and exchanged views on issues of general concern such as the scope of consular protection, consular document handling, and general precautions for personal safety. Both the invited representatives and the viewers watching the live online course said that they have learned more about consular protection through this event.
The event received support from Beijing Association of the UK and Beijing Students Association UK.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 abroad, the Foreign Affairs Office has attached great importance to the personal safety and health of overseas Beijing citizens, and has adopted various methods to help them protect themselves in a scientific manner.
April 15 this year is the 5th National Security Education Day. The Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing, together with the Xicheng District Government, and the Beijing Western Returned Scholars Association, launched the "Personal Safety and Consular Protection of International Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic" Awareness Raising Week. The program promoted consular protection and overseas safety knowledge for nearly 700 international students and parents at home and abroad through online meetings and lectures and taught them how to correctly and scientifically protect themselves during the pandemic.
The Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing will continue to carry out various forms of activities to promote consular protection knowledge for Beijing citizens. For more information, please visit the official website of the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing and WeChat official accounts "Beijing Foreign Affairs" and "Consular Protection Publicity".
Additional Information
COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Beijing Citizens Abroad
The Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing has also invited some overseas Beijing citizens to participate in the COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance Program for Beijing Citizens Abroad to promote personal safety and infection prevention knowledge to friends and family. At present, 18 people have been invited to join the infection prevention team to popularize consular protection knowledge and advocate scientific prevention methods.
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