On the evening of May 7th, Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, in collaboration with Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Information Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, hosted “The Heart of Beijing — A Tour of Dongcheng for Foreign Diplomats Experiencing the Cultural and Commercial Hub of Beijing” at the Longfu Cultural Center in Dongcheng District. This event was a reflection of the efforts made by the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office to promote the theoretical study program of studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era while acting on Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Organized by Dongcheng District People’s Government, the event invited nearly 200 diplomatic envoys, senior diplomats, and representatives of foreign chambers of commerce from over 50 countries including Cameroon, Switzerland, Italy, and Luxembourg, to visit Dongcheng District and see the integration of culture and commerce there.

In addition to the great performance, which provided the guests with an opportunity to experience the beauty of traditional Chinese culture, the event also featured the East of the Forbidden City — Pearl of Culture and Commerce exhibition, highlighting Dongcheng’s efforts to enhance its role in building Beijing into the center for international exchanges by revitalizing the cultural heritage and promoting urban renewal through the integration of culture and industry.

Feeling cultural charm

From the observation deck on the ninth floor of the Longfu Cultural Center, the guests were treated to a picturesque view of Beijing’s central axis, showing the distinctive charm of Beijing as a historical and cultural city and a modern international metropolis. The event also included demonstrations of intangible cultural heritage like paper art, cloisonne, and Beijing Lord Rabbit figurine as well as performances of Peking Opera The Fairy Scattering Flowers and traditional Chinese dances such as Ink Dance and The Art of Martial Arts, which enabled guests to fully appreciate the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. Many diplomats took photos to capture the wonderful moment.

Learning about development achievements

The diplomats also visited the East of the Forbidden City — Pearl of Culture and Commerce exhibition, which presented Dongcheng’s high-quality development through texts, pictures, audio-visual-electronic technology, and more. Impressed by the exhibition, the diplomats gained a comprehensive understanding of the district’s dynamic growth and promising prospects.

Acclaim from diplomats

The diplomats expressed that the event gave them a clearer picture of the historical and cultural development of Dongcheng District, and they were impressed by Beijing’s high-quality development in recent years.

Swiss Ambassador to China Jürg Burri found the “Foreign Diplomats Experiencing Beijing” event series very meaningful, as it helps diplomats in China to better understand Beijing’s growth, and he expressed his desire for more of such opportunities in the future.

Cristian Mancheno Egas, Minister of the Embassy of Ecuador in China, was impressed by the event tonight and spoke highly of both the cultural preservation and the technological development of Dongcheng District.

In recent years, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office has organized the “Foreign Diplomats Experiencing Beijing” event series under the guidance and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through in-depth visits, diplomats in Beijing are presented with a full picture of the capital’s high-quality development and its achievements in improving its role as the center for international exchanges. With the aim of promoting exchanges and cooperation across the board, more than 10 events have been held so far, which have been well received by diplomats from all over the world. Going forward, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will make good use of foreign affairs resources to support the capital’s development in the new era through a series of activities organized from multiple perspectives at all levels.