Recently, foreign guests attending the China International Friendship Conference and Events Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) visited Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC), where they embarked on an exploration tour of a "millennium city".

Guests learning about the planning and construction of BMC

[Photo via Beijing Daily]

Their first impression of BMC was its green landscape. The district features a “two belts, one ring, and one center” spatial design, with more than 400 kilometers of greenway running from north to south, and eight forest parks, each covering approximately 6.67 square kilometers, that connect the east and west. According to McGarry Miguel, acting president of the Micronesia-China Friendship Association and vice speaker of the Pohnpei State Legislature, "Beijing is an amazing city that continues to flourish every year, and a model for the international community in terms of sci-tech innovation and development experience."

Boat tour

[Photo via Beijing Daily]

The foreign guests were treated to a boat tour along the North Grand Canal, where they had a clear view of the Canal Business District, Beijing Municipal Administrative Center Station Hub and several other buildings. At Beijing "Two Zones" Reception on the canal's bank, they learned about BMC's progress in planning and developing industrial clusters in digital economy, modern finance, and advanced manufacturing, so as to foster new quality productive forces. Korn Dabbaransi, former deputy prime minister of Thailand and president of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, believed that BMC serves as a prime example for studying Beijing's development path. "Here, you can see exactly how the government seeks to build the city orderly and scientifically through forward-looking planning and effective management while also raising the quality of life."

Foreign guests at Beijing Library

[Photo via Beijing Daily]

The Grand Canal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Over the past decade, Beijing has vigorously promoted the construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt. Three major cultural facilities inspired by the Grand Canal, namely Beijing Performing Arts Centre, Beijing Library, and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing, were unveiled in 2023, immediately becoming new cultural landmarks of BMC. The foreign guests visited these venues to learn in detail about BMC’s cultural development.

The foreign guests commended BMC’s impressive planning and development efforts, which showcase the vitality of Chinese modernization.

(Source: CRI Online)