Mid-Autumn Festival gala for foreign talents held in Beijing

The 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival Gathering for Foreign Talents in Beijing and the "Hi Beijing" Launch Event was held on Sept 9. The goal was to make foreign talents enjoy the festival and build a platform for international communication. The gala was held under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Talent Work Bureau. It was hosted by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center (BOTC) and co-hosted by the Organization Department of Beijing Xicheng District Committee of the CPC.

Hu Yixiong, secretary of the Party committee of the BOTC; Zhu Baoxia, editorial board member and secretary-general of China Daily; and He Huanping, deputy director of the Organization Department of Beijing Xicheng District Committee of the CPC delivered speeches. About 50 foreign talents from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries gathered to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The event was held at Zhengyici Theater where foreign experts experienced the charm of Chinese culture by painting Peking Opera facial masks, weaving Chinese knots, making painted eggshells and paper-cuts and enjoyed a Kunqu Opera performance. Foreign experts also participated in the premiere of "Hi Beijing" videos with international talents who talked about their lives in Beijing. "Hi Beijing" is a series of videos co-produced by BOTC and China Daily to show a dynamic and comprehensive Beijing to the world with foreign talents sharing their stories in the last 10 years.

Foreign experts were very happy to spend a wonderful afternoon amid the backdrop of the festival. Roberta Lipson, founder of Beijing United Family Hospital, said the activity provided an opportunity of mutual communication for foreign talents, which not only widened their circle of friends but also deepened their understanding and love of traditional Chinese culture. Erik Robert Nilsson, senior reporter of China Daily and winner of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, said that the debut of "Hi Beijing" videos brought back many of his fond memories of Beijing. Over the past years, Beijing has made rapid development in business, and the livability index has been increasingly improving. Erik is willing to tell his Chinese and Beijing story and contribute to the effort for the development of both China and Beijing.

To support Beijing’s building of the "four centers" (namely political center, cultural center, international communication center and science and technology innovation center) and the "two zones" (namely the Comprehensive Demonstration Zone for Further Opening up the National Service Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone), the BOTC will play its advantages in providing effective and convenient services for foreign talents working and living in Beijing.