Foreign-language service windows at the "doorstep", 12345 hotline that provides service in English, increasingly standardized foreign-language signs, and continuously expanding volunteer teams ... the first local regulation on improving international language environment, the Regulation of Beijing Municipality on Improving Language Environment for International Exchanges, came into effect on January 1, 2022. After one year of its implementation, the language facilities in public services, standardization of foreign language signage, and public engagement have improved Beijing's Language Environment for International Exchanges, making Beijing more and more "international."

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At present, 435 government service centers across the capital have set 369 foreign-language service windows, 7700 foreign-language signs, 349 foreign-language service staff, 255 foreign-language communication facilities and 50 foreign-language guiding groups, providing services in foreign languages like English, French and Spanish at municipal, district and town levels, in contrast to the past when foreigners could only go to a few designated government service centers for consultation.  By the end of 2022, over 50,000 people and 15,000 companies have benefited from such foreign-language services at government service centers at all levels, getting international service at the "doorstep".

To facilitate foreigners to ask for information, raise questions and access services by telephone, Beijing has set up a multilingual call center to provide third-party telephone translation services in eight languages for public service hotlines such as 12345, 110, 120 and 119, and the provided telephone translation services has increased by more than 90% year-on-year in 2022. The heart-warming 12345 hotline for people's livelihood has also expanded its service to foreigners, with a special English-speaking desk.

The official international portal of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality has been launched in eight languages, and all kinds of policy information can be viewed at the fingertips. Up till now, the website has over 70 million hits from 201 countries and regions. Eight pilot international medical hospitals have been set up in the city, and more than 50 hospitals have been preliminarily equipped with  whole-process foreign-language services that eliminate language barriers to medical treatment. Bank branches in Beijing have also set up foreign language service demonstration sites to further facilitate the process for foreigners to handle financial business. 

In addition, Beijing has also stepped up efforts on foreign-language signage, starting with every single word. All relevant departments at all levels in Beijing have carried out fine checks on foreign language signage in key public places, and rectified those with wording, grammatical and spelling errors immediately. Currently, the standardization of foreign language signs has been greatly improved. The 2022 annual special monitoring and evaluation results show that the accuracy rate is higher than 94 percent in all districts, and the city's overall accuracy rate reaches 98.27 percent.

In light of these, the management norms related to foreign language signs have been gradually improved. Guidelines for the Use of English for Public Signs has been published and implemented, including 2,203 sight words and phrases and setting a "template" for the translation of foreign language signs in the city. The number of public places where foreign language signs should be installed in the city has increased from 773 to 832, achieving full coverage of key public places such as venues for large-scale international events, communities with international talents, venues of transportation, culture and tourism.

Nowadays, volunteers from foreign language volunteer service teams are not only active at the important international events, but also engaged in behind-the-scenes translation for city hotlines and foreign language interpretation for museums. At present, there are 12 foreign language volunteer teams registered on the "Volunteer Beijing" platform, further expanding the team base. (Source: Beijing Daily)