On September 10, the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) opened at Shougang Park. This year, the International Web Portal of Beijing set up booths simultaneously at both Hall 11 (main venue) and the core exhibition area of the Colourful World (a constituent event of the fair) in Hall 9 of the fair, hosting on-site interactive activities such as distribution of souvenirs to the new followers of the "BeijingService" WeChat account and those helping promote both the website and the WeChat account. A dedicated promotion session for the two platforms was also held on the main stage of the Colourful World, highlighting their featured services and functions in areas such as investment attraction, culture, tourism, and government services.

As Beijing's international service gateway, the International Web Portal of Beijing offers content in nine languages: English, Korean, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese. It provides foreigners in Beijing, including investors, with a wide range of convenient services spanning payment, transportation, studying, daily life, tourism, and enterprise establishment, among others. The "BeijingService" WeChat account delivers the content most requested by foreigners in Beijing, such as policies, weather alerts, and weekend travel tips, and is therefore reputed as the "Essential Guide for Living in Beijing" among foreigners.

At both booths, a great number of foreign visitors scanned the designated QR codes to access the website and follow the WeChat account. They also expressed their appreciation for the two platforms' convenient services. Some loyal users even shared their usage experiences on-site.

James, a visitor from Pakistan, during an interview

James, who is from Pakistan and is a long-term resident in Beijing, said that he frequently relies on "BeijingService" and its associated followers' groups to access information on a wide range of events. He noted that the WeChat account provides foreigners in Beijing with timely weather alerts, introductions to tourist attractions, and work-related updates, thereby offering great convenience.

Juliet Ebele, a student from Nigeria, during an interview

Juliet Ebele, a student from Nigeria, said that she often checks "BeijingService" for the information on all kinds of events in Beijing. It was from the same platform that she learned about this year's CIFTIS. She said that she will recommend all her foreign friends in Beijing to use the website and follow the WeChat account.

George (left) and Daniel, two tourists from Slovakia, during an interview

This time, both the website and the WeChat account have also attracted many new users, with their features such as nine-language support, a diverse range of content and one-stop services.

George, a Slovak tourist visiting Beijing for the first time, said that after browsing the International Web Portal of Beijing, he found there is a great deal of practical travel-related information on it, which is very helpful for his current trip to the city.

Ayizha (left), Amina (middle), and Ali, three visitors from Pakistan, during an interview

Ali, Ayizha and Amina, three Pakistani visitors who attended the fair together, were full of admiration for the comprehensive and practical service information available through the two platforms after learning about their services on-site. They said that the life-related guidelines provided by the two platforms, such as those featuring SIM card purchases and bank account opening, as well as information on employment and studying, precisely addressed their urgent needs. They affirmed their intention to continue using these services in the future.

(Source: CRI Online)