On May 13, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held in Phase II of the China National Convention Center (CNCC), Beijing, which marks the official launch of the landmark building, known as “national reception hall”. This facility is designed to strengthen Beijing’s position as the “four centers” and improve Beijing’s services.

CNCC Phase II (Photo by Li Bo, reporter of People’s Daily Online)

Since its construction in 2019, CNCC Phase II carries the mandate of improving Beijing’s role as the center for international exchanges and advancing a new paradigm for the capital’s convention and exhibition industry. After six years of meticulous work, Beijing North Star Group has delivered a “national reception hall” that embodies distinctly Chinese characteristics, style, and ethos.

During the planning and construction of CNCC Phase II, the designers integrated Chinese traditional rituals with modern open aesthetics. Its glass curtain wall evokes the vibrant image of a group of flying birds, while the steel structure resembles a giant Peng bird (a huge mythical bird from ancient Chinese texts) ready to take off. This design not only shows the open and inclusive spirit of the times but also echoes the Chinese traditional culture.

CNCC Phase II (Photo by Li Bo, reporter of People’s Daily Online)

As a world-class convention and exhibition complex, CNCC Phase II improves the carrying capacity of Beijing’s core convention and exhibition areas with its super-sized space. The Phase II project covers an area of nearly 780,000 square meters, with an 8,000m2 meeting hall featuring large-span, steel-structured, and column-free spaces, a 20,000-square-meter exhibition hall featuring single-level and column-free spaces, and nearly 100 multi-functional meeting halls equipped with sound field systems. It can host a full spectrum of conventions and exhibitions from small to large scale, with capacities spanning 30 to 50,000 attendees. Its 6,000-square-meter central kitchen and 3,000-square-meter production kitchen allow over ten thousand people to dine simultaneously.

The smart operation center of CNCC Phase II leverages the all-in-one service management system, Metaverse-based virtual tour platform, and AI-powered virtual seating arrangement technology to establish a digital innovation ecosystem across the whole process. This significantly improves exhibition planning efficiency and optimizes visitor experience.

At the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, CNCC was responsible for hosting key events such as the opening ceremony, lunch, and ministerial meetings. “With extensive experience in supporting major state and political activities, we have customized a service plan for this forum. We have also implemented standardized requirements across all aspects, including ceremonial reception, banquet services, and emergency response,” said a person in charge from the Beijing North Star Group. “We have selected top personnel from nine companies under our group to form a 182-member service support team with CNCC staff, and carried out special trainings themed by “the spirit of craftsmanship”, refining every detail from tableware spacing to tablecloth smoothness and decorative aesthetics.”

During pre-forum systems validation, the service support team accomplished 273 specific checks, including high load testing for equipment and facilities and electrical circuit tracing and verification. Regular inspections on air-conditioning units, supply and exhaust fans, and escalators, were carried out to eliminate hidden dangers. A total of 19 types of emergency drills across various scenarios, including air conditioning failures, were also performed. Later, service support plans were improved in multiple rounds of review. Utilizing the intelligent building system (IBS), the service support team implemented real-time monitoring and optimization to ensure a comfortable environment for visitors.

CNCC Phase I&II (Photo by Beijing North Star Group)

After becoming operational, CNCC Phase II, together with Phase I, formed a convention and exhibition complex covering an area of over 1,300,000 square meters. The complex is set to become an important platform for Beijing’s international exchanges. Its high-level convention and exhibition planning, characterized by the synergy between its southern and northern hubs, will enhance the global competitiveness, specialization, and brand strengths of Beijing’s convention and exhibition industry.