On April 18, Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee) held a briefing on “Promoting the capital’s people-to-people diplomacy by utilizing strengths and integrating resources” and a kick-off meeting for joint inspections. Cui Shuqiang, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, attended and delivered a speech.

At the meeting, Zhao Hongsheng, Director of the Committee for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee, briefed on the topics for inspection and the progress of the key proposals, and announced the work plan of the inspection and consultation. Officials from Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-council (CCPIT Beijing) gave an overview of Beijing’s people-to-people diplomacy, as well as the challenges and the next step.

The members said that Beijing, as the capital and a center for international exchanges, has made outstanding achievements in people-to-people diplomacy, including a number of platforms and brands with Beijing characteristics, and abundant experience that can be replicated elsewhere. Based on the topics for inspection, members and advisers, including Yang Jinsheng, Shao Xinming, Ling Junjie, Miao Lyu, and Wang Feiling, have made the following suggestions: Giving full play to the role of international organizations registered in Beijing to introduce the city to the world and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in global governance; Incorporating the recovery of inbound tourism into the city’s efforts to improve the international business environment, and rolling out policies on visas, mobile payment, and network accessibility, in order to attract more foreign tourists and residents to come to Beijing for tourism, study visits, and cultural exchanges; Tapping into the advantages of Hong Kong and Macao, namely, strong  support from the motherland and close connection with the world, as well as the role of overseas Chinese, to better tell the stories of Beijing and China and contribute to the capital’s people-to-people diplomacy.

Cui Shuqiang said that the topic is critical for the inspection and consultation of the CPPCC this year, and also serves as a key proposal. In order to better understand Beijing’s role as a center for international exchanges, it is necessary to follow the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, as well as General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions on Beijing. Members and advisers should get deeply involved in the process by leveraging their expertise, pooling global wisdom, giving advice, and building broad consensus. It is also vital to launch relevant events, ensure unimpeded communication, and improve efficiency of inspection through CPPCC’s role as a special consultative body, so as to make suggestions on how to improve Beijing’s role as a center for international exchanges, tap into the entities and resources of the capital’s people-to-people diplomacy, strengthen resource matching and cooperation in various fields, and allow people-to-people exchange to better support the country’s overall diplomatic endeavors.

The meeting was held online and offline with more than 100 participants, including advisers and the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao members of the Committee for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs, experts and scholars, and members of mock consultation groups.