The 2023 Workshop for Officials from Beijing’s Sister Cities & The Summer Program on “An Overview of Modern China and City Development” has recently concluded. Fifty participants from 28 countries were able to witness Beijing’s development in the new era and gain a firsthand and more vivid understanding of Chinese modernization.

This workshop, jointly hosted by the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and Beijing International Studies University (BISU), demonstrated how Beijing is advancing Chinese modernization in an authentic and multi-faceted way through thematic courses and field trips. The aim is to leverage the resources of sister cities to attract foreign participants and spread Beijing’s stories, especially those in building the city into the center for international exchanges. These efforts can enhance mutual understanding and friendship, help align urban development strategies, and facilitate the exchange of urban governance experience between Beijing and its sister cities, thus contributing to a favorable international environment for Beijing’s development.

International Curriculum

Given the diverse nationalities and backgrounds of the participants, the workshop thoughtfully selected common themes in the development of modern cities and provided a multi-dimensional interpretation of the theory and practice of the Chinese path to modernization. The courses included topics such as “Introduction to the Chinese Path to Modernization and China’s Urban Development”, “Consumption Trends and Behavioral Characteristics of China’s Outbound Tourism in the New Era”, and “Urban Green Economy”. Valentina, a participant from Germany who spoke highly of these courses said, “The professors illustrated the progressive and balanced advancement of urbanization in China with real cases, elucidating the idea that the fruits of development are shared by all the people.”

Practical Field Trips

As one gazes down upon the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC), a panoramic view unfolds, revealing the Canal Business District, the Cultural Tourism Area, and the Administrative Office Area. The vitality along the banks of the ancient Grand Canal left the participants in awe of this livable and business-friendly new area, featuring lush forests and lucid waters. The journey on the “Fuxing” high-speed train to Xiong’an gave international participants a more tangible experience of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development. “Wow, it’s so fast! It felt like we arrived in the blink of an eye!” Excited participants took out their phones for selfies and enthusiastically discussed their impressions. A French participant remarked, “The urban planning in Xiong’an is well-considered, employing many modern and innovative ideas and methods. It can serve as a model for the development of modern cities.”

At the Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center, hundreds of operators were answering calls from citizens and addressing online inquiries. Curious international participants also donned headphones to see how the calls were answered. An Argentine participant said, “In a metropolis like Beijing, this convenient approach ensures that ordinary people’s needs are heard and heeded, which is truly remarkable.”

Pragmatic Bridges for Cooperation

In the New Energy Vehicle R&D Center of the BAIC Group and the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area in Beijing E-Town, participants were impressed by the development of China’s new energy vehicles and the V2X technical route for autonomous driving. A Polish participant expressed, “Here (at BAIC), everything is incredibly modern. The development of new energy vehicles has injected strong impetus to China’s economic growth, so I believe our country should explore this field as well.” A Thailand participant said that Bangkok should learn from Beijing’s experience and cooperate with Beijing in autonomous driving.

During the workshop, international participants visited landmarks such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall to learn about rich historical and cultural traditions of Beijing and China. They also experienced the unique charm of Beijing as a dual Olympics city at the Yanqing Olympic Zone.

From long-range national projects to primary-level governance, and from cutting-edge technologies to antique lanes in the city, the two-week workshop enabled international participants to experience Beijing's fast yet people-centered urban development. They all hailed Beijing's impressive achievements and valuable experience in pursuing Chinese modernization and conveyed their willingness to promote sister-city exchanges and pragmatic cooperation.

What They Said

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To showcase the capital's cityscape that seamlessly blends ancient grandeur with modern vitality, and to strengthen people-to-people exchanges with sister cities, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office has been running training programs for Beijing's sister cities since 2009. A total of 192 officials and Chinese language teachers from sister cities have been invited to Beijing to participate in these programs, which are widely recognized among Beijing's sister cities.