Recently, the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality held the 2024 Officials’ Training Program on International Competence to Improve Beijing’s Role as the Center for International Exchanges. This program brought together 101 participants from districts, ministries, commissions, offices, administrations, and Beijing affiliated universities across the city.

Clear Focus

Aiming to Enhance Officials’ Global Competence

This year, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office has organized over ten training programs focusing on improving Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges. These include bureau- and division-level specialized seminars, as well as themed programs covering topics such as legal affairs, journalism, language, and immigration. With a focus on enhancing the global competence of our officials, this training session aims to help them comprehend policies, adopt fundamental work principles and methods in further improving Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges, and achieve progress from initial exposure to proficiency in global competence.

Engaging Content

Inviting Experts and Scholars with Firsthand Experience in Theory and Practice

The program was closely aligned with the selected topics, delving into major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, the guiding principles from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the international landscape, diplomatic theories, international communication, and Beijing’s development as the center for international exchanges. Scholars specializing in theoretical research, experts in diplomatic practice, and personnel directly involved in the building of the international exchange center were invited to deliver lectures. These lectures were tailored to the foreign affairs work of the capital, featuring lively and engaging content that blends theory with practice. After the lectures, the participants had lively interactions with the instructors.

Immersive Experience

Visiting the Venues of Major State Events

The training program offered the participants an opportunity to visit the Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort and the venue of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). In the golden autumn, the participants learned about the work processes and details, while admiring the grandeur of the venues for major state events and reflecting on the those grand occasions. This immersive experience gave them a vivid understanding of the high standards of such significant events, deepening their comprehension, confidence, and determination in carrying out foreign affairs work in the capital.

Positive Feedback

Looking forward to demonstrating improved capabilities and competence in future work

During the discussion, participants actively engaged in critical thinking, offered constructive suggestions, and had in-depth exchanges based on the practical work of their departments, as well as the insights and reflections gained from the courses. At the closing ceremony, representatives of the participants delivered inspiring speeches, sharing their takeaways and reflections on future work. They stressed their readiness to review what they learned from the training, looking forward to meeting again in the course of strengthening Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges, and jointly contributing to the foreign affairs work of the capital.