On November 12, a special session of the press conference series on the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan in Beijing was held under the theme "Continuously Strengthening Beijing's Capacity as a Center for International Exchanges and Enhancing the City's Global Influence and Attractiveness". During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Beijing will enter a new stage in its development as a center for international exchanges, transitioning from function enhancement to capacity building. Guided by the mission to support the nation's overall diplomatic agenda and drive the capital's high-quality development, the city will take capacity building its overarching priority, focusing on strengthening "four capacities".

The first is the capacity to support and facilitate diplomatic activities. Beijing will improve the service and support mechanisms for major state events and uphold the principles of "routine execution with minimal disruption to daily life" and "frugality"; attract global governance initiatives and projects, host major international conferences, and promote the development of more initiatives and declarations bearing the name of Beijing; coordinate sister-city ties, people-to-people exchanges, and public diplomacy to expand its international network of friends; and firmly safeguard political security while enhancing risk prevention in non-traditional security domains involving foreign interests, such as data, finance, energy, and cyberspace.

The second is the capacity to allocate high-end international resources. Beijing will promote a higher-level open economy, advance the development of the "Two Zones," build an international demonstration zone for integrated legal and commercial services, and support foreign-invested enterprises in establishing regional headquarters and R&D centers in the city, as well as hosting high-level events such as board meetings. It will also enhance the professionalism, market orientation, and international reach of its convention and exhibition industry, attracting more internationally renowned brand exhibitions to Beijing. Active efforts will be made to attract international organizations in key sectors, including science and technology, finance, and green and low-carbon development, to establish a presence in the capital. In addition, Beijing will proactively serve the development of new quality productive forces, deeply integrate into the global innovation network, and effectively tap into international innovation resources.

The third is the capacity to foster a high-quality international environment, cultivating a welcoming city atmosphere that appeals to locals and visitors alike. To this end, Beijing will continuously optimize services for foreign nationals across key touchpoints, including ports of entry, transportation, payments, language assistance, and daily amenities. The city will strengthen its dual aviation hubs, add more international flights, capitalize on national visa-free policies, and enhance customs clearance and travel convenience. Digital services for foreign visitors and residents — covering transit, payments, and communication — will be improved, while one-stop service centers for foreign talent will be set up in international talent-intensive areas. The city will also upgrade the end-to-end inbound tourism experience and polish the "Study Beijing" brand. Furthermore, Beijing will innovate its international communication approaches, leveraging foreign affairs channels, media platforms, and cultural and sporting events to present a multi-dimensional narrative of the city's story.

The fourth is the capacity of spatial facilities and infrastructure to provide robust physical support for diverse international exchanges. Beijing will coordinate the use of resources in the core area, the Central Axis running from north to south, and urban renewal areas to develop differentiated spaces for foreign affairs activities. It will advance the upgrading of the 4th embassy district and the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center, and revitalize resources along the Great Wall Cultural Belt, the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens," the "Two Parks and One River" area, and cultural venues in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center to expand settings for foreign affairs events. Beijing will also expand the international exchange functions of the capital metropolitan area, promote synergy among the pilot free trade zones in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, coordinate the development of a world-class airport cluster, and curate premium international cultural and tourism routes.

According to the briefing, Beijing has compiled a key task list comprising 136 specific items, laying out a clear roadmap and blueprint for the next five years. The city will drive the implementation of these tasks to build an open, inclusive, and globally connected capital of a major country, sharing development opportunities with the rest of the world.(Souce: CRI Online)