On June 5, the “Motherland Backing You Up” 2026 Consular Protection Sitcom Competition was officially launched. Under the guidance of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event is co-hosted by Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and Beijing Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and organized by Beijing Radio & Television Station (BRTV).

Launch Ceremony of the Consular Protection Sitcom Competition

The sitcom competition is a flagship public outreach initiative of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, created under the guiding principle of “foreign affairs for the people”. Through the engaging and accessible format of sitcoms, the competition raises public awareness of consular protection and overseas safety, helping citizens better understand risks abroad and respond effectively in emergencies. Held both online and offline, the competition welcomes submissions from compatriots at home and abroad. Since its inception in 2017, it has been held for eight editions, producing a large number of outstanding works and reaching an audience of over 20 million. Award-winning entries have been featured on the CMG Spring Festival Gala and BRTV.

This year’s competition comprises four stages: entry submission, preliminary review, intensive training, and the finals. Six sitcom entries will advance to the finals, competing for one first prize, two second prizes, and three third prizes. For the very first time, short videos will be accepted as a new competition category, with a number of outstanding works to be selected.

The competition provides a platform for participants to share stories of consular protection and experience the care behind the principle of “foreign affairs for the people”. Beijing citizens and compatriots at home and abroad are encouraged to participate and create compelling works that spread consular protection knowledge and consular protection work, inspiring more people to become practitioners and advocates of consular protection.

Remarks by Guan Zhongqi, Counselor of the Center for Consular Assistance and Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Guan Zhongqi, Counselor of the Center for Consular Assistance and Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that Beijing Foreign Affairs Office has been actively advancing preventive consular protection efforts, establishing a comprehensive publicity and education system that integrates online and offline channels, balances broad outreach with targeted messaging, and links educational content with real-life scenarios. These efforts have continuously enhanced the awareness and ability of Beijing citizens and enterprises to prevent and respond to overseas safety risks. He expressed confidence that this year’s competition will be more engaging and impactful, enabling more people to understand the overseas safety landscape, raise risk awareness, strengthen self-protection capabilities, and feel the warmth and care of the motherland.

Sitcom Performance by Students from Beijing International Studies University

At the launch event, students from Beijing International Studies University performed a multilingual sitcom themed on consular protection.

Further Reading

Interested teams or individuals may register by scanning the QR code below or by emailing the word “Registration” to the official address at lingbao2026@163.com. The registration deadline is June 30.

Video entries, scripts, and profiles of creators, cast, and crew must be submitted to lingbao2026@163.com by July 30.

Registration QR Code