Editor's note: On January 1, 2022, the Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving Language Environment for International Exchanges came into force, providing a reliable reference for the city to foster an enabling language environment for international exchanges in accordance with the law. All districts and supervisory authorities of relevant industries in Beijing have followed the requirements of the regulations and promoted its implementation in a well-panned manner, achieving positive outcomes.

To celebrate the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Beijing Foreign Affairs Office has launched a special feature on its WeChat official account, Implementing the Regulations of Beijing Municipality on Improving Language Environment for International Exchanges. The special feature focuses on the city's progress and achievements in improving its language environment to strengthen its role as the national center for international exchanges.

Affiliated with Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services, government service centers at all levels have intensified efforts to improve the language environment for international exchanges and foster a favorable international business environment. Efforts have been made to make foreign language signs more accurate, consistent and concise to satisfy people's demands.

1. Set up foreign language service windows. Information desks and service windows for special groups offer foreign language services so that enterprises, citizens and foreign nationals can access the help they need via one window.

2. Add foreign language signs in government service centers, including bilingual lintels or signboards outside the centers, bilingual floor plans next to entrances and other highly visible locations, bilingual signs at information desks and service windows as well as bilingual bathroom signs.

3. Make staff who can speak foreign languages available. People who can speak foreign languages should be provided for the government service centers which have such needs and requisite conditions. Also, government service centers at the district level should be equipped with foreign language staff to help people navigate procedures. Multilingual volunteer services are available in areas in which there are more foreign nationals, thus more demands for foreign language services.

4. Make foreign language service equipment accessible. Important bilingual information is broadcast or shown on LED displays and other facilities to meet the needs of foreign nationals in various ways.

To date, 435 government service centers at municipal, district and subdistrict levels have set up 369 foreign language service windows, put up 7,700 foreign language signs, had 349 staff members who speak foreign languages, established 255 facilities for foreign language services, and organized 50 foreign language groups. In these centers, services in English, French, Spanish and other languages are available. So far, the centers have offered foreign language assistance more than 50,000 times and helped nearly 15,000 enterprises, thus upgrading their international services.