“International Organizations in Beijing” Series

Editor’s Note

International organizations serve as important platforms for gathering high-end resources. As Beijing works to improve its role as a center for international exchanges, it is essential to attract international organizations that align with the capital’s functions. In 2022, Beijing introduced the Measures to Support the Settlement of International Organizations, the first policy package of its kind in China. The measures aim to offer key international organizations all-dimensional, butler-style services covering all aspects and every step of their operations, as well as the work and lives of their core personnel. Leveraging their strengths, a group of international organizations benefiting from these policies have helped to enhance Beijing’s role as a center for international exchanges, attract global high-end resources, and support local industries, contributing to the capital’s high-quality development.

Showcasing “Beijing Miracle” to the World

In September 2024, with red walls and green tiles of ancient Beijing standing out vividly against the blue sky, an international event held in the city, themed “Technological Innovation Leads Clean Air and Climate Action”, drew global attention. “As a megacity, Beijing has slashed its PM2.5 concentration from 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to 32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, a feat hailed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the ‘Beijing Miracle’ in air pollution control,” a speaker shared at the event. The speech was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Blue Skies and White Clouds Outside the Venue

Participants included representatives from international organizations such as the UNEP, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), cities and regions including California, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, and Seoul, as well as companies actively exploring green transition such as State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company and BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd. Over 40 guests from more than 10 countries and regions shared new ideas, approaches, and experiences in air pollution control. Their discussions focused on how to leverage new quality productive forces to drive the green transition of cities. Tens of thousands of people participated in this event either online or offline.

This international dialogue, the 2024 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air and Climate Actions, was hosted by the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau under the auspices of the BRIGC. As an international organization headquartered in Beijing, the BRIGC has been enjoying the policy support outlined in Beijing’s Measures to Support the Settlement of International Organizations since 2023. Actively aligning with the city’s green development needs, the coalition leveraged its international network to invite top experts in the field of ecology and environment to participate in the forum. The aim is to bring cutting-edge research findings, technologies, and outstanding cases in air pollution control and climate change response to Beijing, while also sharing with the international community the city’s experience in cutting carbon emissions, reducing pollution, expanding green development, and pursuing economic growth.

Video Speech Delivered by Erik Solheim, Vice President of BRIGC

In his speech, Erik Solheim, Vice President of BRIGC, and former Under-Secretary-General of the UN and UN Environment Executive Director, spoke highly of Beijing’s achievements in air pollution control over the past decade. He shared that it was a wonderful experience to breathe in the fresh, crisp winter air while jogging through the streets of Beijing. He also expressed confidence that Beijing could play an even stronger exemplary role in energy transition, low-carbon transportation, and afforestation in the future.

Thumbs up from Forum Attendees

Since its establishment, the BRIGC has hosted nearly 50 high-level dialogues in Beijing, including the Roundtable on BRl Green Development. At the High-Level Forum on Green Development of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), the coalition, along with over 30 co-initiators from 21 countries comprising government departments, environmental authorities, international organizations, research institutions, financial organizations, and enterprises, released the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development.

Fostering “ New Drivers of Green Development” in the Historic District

The BRIGC’s Beijing office is located in the International Environmental Convention Implementation Building, the city’s first building to receive the Certificate of Green Building Label (Three-Star) from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. The building has embraced sustainable development from its construction to operation, making meaningful contributions to energy conservation and emission reduction in Xicheng District. The BRIGC has established regular communication channels with Xicheng District since it started to benefit from Beijing’s supportive policies, actively supporting regional industrial development and key activities, which has deepened exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

The New Actuation Fintech Center, transformed from the Zoo Clothing Wholesale Market, is a flagship project of Xicheng District’s “emptying the cage for new birds” initiative, a strategy aimed at replacing traditional manufacturing industries with higher-value alternatives. In August 2024, the BRIGC hosted one of the supporting events of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), titled Sino-African Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development: EVs and New Initiatives, at this location. Over 100 Chinese and international guests engaged in discussions on topics such as green investment and financing, as well as innovative cooperation mechanisms.

Sino-African Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development: EVs and New Initiatives

Officials from foreign affairs, commerce, economic promotion, among other authorities of Xicheng District were invited to the event, where they provided detailed introductions to the district’s resource advantages, industrial layout, and policy measures for promoting high-quality development. Xicheng, a historic district of Beijing, extends a sincere invitation to domestic and international representatives, welcoming them to the district for exchanges, cooperation, investment, and business development. Attendees remarked that through the platform established by the BRIGC, they gained insights into the “new drivers” of Beijing’s green transition and Xicheng’s strong commitment to open development, making them optimistic about further cooperation in the future.

New Actuation Fintech Center

Strengthening Green Cooperation, and Enhancing Development Quality

Moving forward, the BRIGC, as an international organization, will continue to leverage its role to build platforms, pool resources, and promote cooperation. It aims to create an international collaboration platform in Beijing, one that offers a wealth of expertise, resources, and opportunities to support the development of the capital in the new era.

Further Reading

The BRIGC was initiated by President Xi Jinping during the opening ceremony of the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The goal of this international non-governmental organization is to promote international consensus on the green development of the BRI, supporting the green, low-carbon, and sustainable growth of BRI partners. The coalition was officially registered as an international social group with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in June 2023. Headquartered in Beijing, it currently has 42 members, including social groups, foundations, research institutions, and enterprises of the environment and development sectors from Asia, the Americas, and Europe.