Editor's Note: As spring approaches, the new year is about to begin. Over the past three years, Beijing has carried out Covid-19 response and pursued economic and social development in a well-coordinated way, and also made unremitting efforts in foreign exchanges, especially the people-to-people diplomacy. National industry associations and chambers of commerce based in Beijing, municipal-level social organizations, and municipal universities and enterprises have taken the initiative to adapt to the evolving developments with new approaches, and achieved remarkable results.
Among these achievements are bold actions of standing up for the country to uphold justice, concrete moves of spreading Chinese culture and contributing China's wisdom to global governance, gratifying results of fulfilling social responsibilities to improve people's lives, and the tremendous compassion of reaching out to each other to fight against the Covid-19.
Now, let's take a look at some highlights in this endeavor and work together to write a new chapter of people-to-people diplomacy in Beijing in the year of rabbit.
International exchange and cooperation conducted by the national industry associations and chambers of commerce in Beijing accounts for a large part of the capital's diplomatic endeavors. With rich resources, broad platforms, and professional perspectives, they have played an active role in promoting Chinese-foreign interaction through extensive cooperation with government agencies, international organizations, research institutes, and multinational enterprises around the world.
I. Leverage expertise and actively participate in the formulation of international rules
As of January 9, 2023, a total of 48 national associations and chambers in Beijing have joined 76 international organizations, with some of their leaders holding high positions in the latter. Granted observer status at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2022, the Patent Protection Association of China (PPAC) and the China Trademark Association (CTA) have played a part in WIPO's rulemaking, resolution-making, and establishment of the international normative framework, thus making China's voice heard. The China Electricity Council (CEC), taking advantage of China's rapidly growing electricity industry, has been deeply involved in the institutional development of the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific (AESIEAP) by promoting the establishment of professional cooperation mechanisms. It has made 16 proposals of new international standards from 2020 to 2022 and presided over the drafting of the Information Exchange for Electric Vehicle Charging Roaming Service - Part 1, the first international standard in this field led by China.
II. Create platforms and channels to help enterprises and social organizations "go global"
Businesses and social organizations are encouraged to expand their global footprint through international exchange and cooperation. To this end, the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO) launched a project titled "Exchange and Dialogue on Promoting Platform Mechanisms for Chinese NGOs Going Global" in 2021, helping social organizations involved in overseas projects learn from the good practices of Japan and South Korea. The China Association of Environmental Protection Industry (CAEPI), with the aim to help companies crack global markets, launched the "Seminar on Investment Opportunity in Global Environmental Protection Industry" in 2021 to facilitate environmental protection firms in China to invest and develop globally. In addition, in 2022, it partnered with the China Overseas Development Association (CODA) to hold the Seminar on Environmental Protection Companies Serving the Belt and Road Cooperation, which aimed to help them participate in the Belt and Road Initiative by raising their consciousness of interest protection and legal risk prevention abroad.
Seminar on Environmental Protection Companies Serving the Belt and Road Cooperation, and Seminar on Investment Opportunity in Global Environmental Protection Industry
III. Contribute Chinese wisdom and better tell China's story in the new era
Raising the voices of the Chinese people at major international events has given the world a better insight into Chinese modernization and China's role in the new era. In recent years, CANGO has participated in major international conferences like the Session of the UN Human Rights Council, C20, and BRICS Civil Forum for multiple times, sharing what China's NGOs have done for sustainable social development and contributing China's wisdom in side events, press conferences, exhibitions, and through making policy proposals. Designed by China Flower Association, the "China Bamboo Garden" at Floriade Expo 2022 in the Netherlands was a mosaic of China's long-standing flower culture, bamboo culture, and garden culture, allowing visitors from around the world to enjoy the beauty of Chinese horticulture. Concurrently, activities like exhibitions on the popular flower of peony, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and Chinese costume have demonstrated the distinctive charm of China's traditional culture and made it better known and understood by the world.
CANGO Participates in C20 Summit Side Event
IV. Introduce high-quality resources to support socioeconomic development
High-quality international resources are brought in to boost socioeconomic development by taking full advantage of various platforms. With the European Commission's approval of the application for the project of social organizations' participation in social governance, CANGO has carried out policy dialogues and exchange visits in Beijing and beyond to strengthen the capacity of social organizations in China. There were 28 partnership projects with overseas NGOs from 2020 to 2022, with focuses ranging from climate change, biodiversity conservation to education and poverty alleviation. During the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2021, China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation (CEATEC) hosted the China-EU Economic and Trade B2B Meeting, introducing a number of promising investment and partnership projects from Europe to Chinese businesses, covering fields like energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. The China Association of Environmental Protection Industry (CAEPI) worked with the commercial departments of embassies in China to facilitate dialogues between its member companies and foreign businesses in China, thereby catalyzing business relationships between Chinese and foreign companies.
2021 China-EU Economic and Trade B2B Meeting
