“International Organizations in Beijing” Series VIII

Editor’s Note

International organizations are important platforms for gathering high-end resources. Attracting international organizations that fit the capital’s functions is a key step to improve Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges. In recent years, Beijing has made continuous efforts to improve its international environment and services. In 2022, the Leading Group for Improving Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges reviewed and adopted measures to attract international organizations and facilitate their settlement and operation in Beijing.

Up to now, a total of 115 international organizations have established headquarters and representative offices in Beijing, the highest number in the country. As these international organizations gather here, they serve as bridges and channels in their respective fields to attract high-end international resources and promote Beijing's high-level opening up and high-quality development. This column, “International Organizations in Beijing”, will take you closer to these international organizations and share with you the behind-the-scenes stories about their settlement, operation and development in Beijing.

In 2022, Beijing introduced the Measures to Support the Settlement of International Organizations, the first policy package in China for international organizations, covering the entire process of their settlement and operation. Since the policy's implementation, a number of high-quality international organizations that align with the strategic positioning of the capital city have settled in Beijing under the coordination of the international organization task force of the Leading Group.

The WAPA set up in Beijing

On November 13, 2023, the Inauguration of World Association for Performing Arts (WAPA) took place in Beijing, marking the official settlement of WAPA in the city. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the event and delivered a speech. Initiated by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), this international non-governmental organization aims to create an open multilateral platform for communication, take more outstanding works of performing arts to the international stage, incorporate more technologies with performing arts, and facilitate mutual exchanges and shared prosperity in the world. The WAPA has completed its registration at the Ministry of Civil Affairs as an international social organization headquartered in Beijing. Wang Ning, President of the NCPA, serves as Chairperson of the WAPA. As of now, 30 art organizations from 19 countries have joined the association, including the Philadelphia Orchestra from the U.S., the Royal Opera House from the U.K., and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden from Germany.

Beijing News Report

The heads of art organizations from various countries highly appraised the establishment of the WAPA, highlighting the leading role of the association in the global community of performing arts. They are willing to actively participate in related activities and jointly build and utilize this platform. Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House and Vice Chairman of the WAPA, said, "It's great that we can work together under the WAPA framework. I believe the association, advocating international exchanges, has enormous potential and is established at the right time. I look forward to contributing to this cause."

Deepening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations

The Association has aligned its own development with Beijing’s roles as the national cultural center and the center for international exchanges. To do so, the WAPA has leveraged its strengths to host high-level international conferences on a regular basis, such as the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts, the Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music, and the NCPA Taihu Art Centre International Forum. A series of outcome documents such as the Beijing Declaration and Beijing Consensus have been released. Moreover, the association has organized signature events such as the NCPA International Opera Film Exhibition and the International Ballet in HD, launched the “Music from Around the World” series of online concerts, and engaged in bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects for drama production. These endeavors have yielded significant results in promoting the performing arts industry, introducing high-quality performances, and facilitating cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The 2022 Beijing Forum for Performing Arts held online

In the face of the severe challenges posed by the pandemic to the global theater industry, the WAPA was not stalled by such difficulties. Instead, it employed new forms of media and new technologies to organize online conferences. These efforts have not only showcased how Beijing used technological means to support artistic performances but also spread the positive energy of art to thousands of households. In 2022, the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts and the NCPA Taihu Art Centre International Forum were held concurrently, bringing together more than 300 representatives in the performing arts industry from over 30 countries. Among them, more than 50 guests delivered speeches on the inheritance and renewal in the performing arts industry. The two forums were broadcast live on various online media platforms such as CCTV.com, with over 15 million online views and widespread acclaim.

Attendees visit the Beijing Performing Arts Center (the BMC Theatre)

Attendees visit the Shougang Park

During the Inauguration of WAPA and the Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music, attendees from around the world took part in a variety of visits to internet-famous cultural destinations in Beijing, such as the Beijing Performing Arts Center and Taihu Stage Art Centre in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC), as well as No. 3 Blast Furnace and Big Air Shougang in the Shougang Park. They marveled at the city’s profound historical and cultural heritage, urban renewal, and technological innovation, which generated a unique charm blending tradition and modernity.

Launching favorable policies to support high-quality development

Beijing will leverage the international organization task force of the Leading Group for Improving Beijing's Role as the Center for International Exchanges to introduce more favorable policies to attract international organizations, promote the development of international organization clusters, and encourage the settlement of more international organizations that meet the needs of the city's high-quality development. The goal is to pool high-end international resources to contribute to the capital's development in the new era.