To promote and explain the concept of “Swift Response to Public Complaints”, enhance international exchanges in urban governance, and collaboratively improve the modernization of urban governance, the 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints took place at the China National Convention Center from December 18 to 19. The forum was co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Media Group, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, and the Beijing Municipal Government. CUEB attended the main forum, organized parallel sessions, and sent volunteers to ensure its smooth running.

On the morning of December 18, the 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints kicked off. Yin Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of Beijing Municipal Party Committee, delivered a speech. Also present were Wu Hansheng, Minister of the Social Work Department of the CPC Central Committee; Gao Xiang, Dean of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Yin Yong, Chairman of the Municipal People’s Congress; Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress; and Wei Xiaodong, Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC. Wang Wenju, CUEB Party Secretary, and Wu Weixing, Deputy Party Secretary and President, were invited to attend both the opening ceremony and the main forum.

On the morning of December 19, the 2024 Beijing Forum titled “Common Goal: Metropolitan Development and Regional Coordinated Governance” was successfully held at the China National Convention Center. This session was organized by Tongzhou District Government and CUEB. Over 220 representatives from various sectors, governments, and universities at home and abroad are invited to discuss models of collaborative and efficient governance from Chinese and international metropolitan areas. Municipal leaders, as well as leaders of Tongzhou District Government and CUEB, were also present.

Wang Wenju chairs the leaders’ address session.

The leaders’ address session was hosted by Wang Wenju. During their speeches, the leaders emphasized that, the governments of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei should thoroughly implement Xi Jinping’s spirits, using the swift response to public complaints as a tool to promote the coordination of the 12345-service hotline, facilitate deeper integration within the metropolitan areas, and enhance the extensive consultation and joint contribution of public services. Meng Jingwei, Secretary of the Tongzhou District Committee, emphasized that the development of the Beijing sub-center, led by the capital’s overall growth and driven by the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, has solidified the “11311” work system and advanced the modernization of grassroots governance structures and capabilities.

Yang Xiuling delivers a speech             Tony Prosser delivers a speech

Li Guoping delivers a speech               Noriko Akita delivers a speech

In the keynote speeches, Yang Xiuling, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, introduced the achievements of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei in advancing regional collaborative governance to promote the development of a modernized capital metropolitan area. Tony Prosser, an academician of the British Academy, shared insights on the UK’s multi-level urban governance experience. Li Guoping, Dean of the Beijing Development Institute of Peking University, proposed strategies to promote the spatial collaboration and cross-regional governance in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region driven by public demands. Finally, Professor Akita Noriko from Chiba University presented urban transformation practices within the dual structure of metropolitan and living circles in Japan.

Wu Weixing hosts practical exchanges, hot topics commentary and forum summary

The practical exchanges, hot topics commentary, and forum summary sessions were hosted by Wu Weixing. In the practical exchange session, Liu Xinjia, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government Service Office, shared Tianjin’s experience in promoting regional governance modernization in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Cui Yadong, former Party Secretary and President of the Shanghai High People’s Court, gave a speech on digital urban governance. Hu Weixing, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Macau, discussed the innovative public administration systems in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Professor Charlotte Williams from the University of Bristol in the UK shared insights into the UK’s collaborative governance  for robust social welfare systems. Finally, Ye Tanglin, Executive Dean of Academy of Metropolis Economic and Social Development at CUEB, shared research on exploring ecological collaborative governance in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region based on public demands.

Liu Xinjia delivers a speech                  Cui Yadong delivers a speech

Hu Weixing delivers a speech                Charlotte Villiers delivers a speech

Ye Tanglin delivers a speech

During the commentary session, Bai Yansong, a famous host narrated how “Swift Response to Public Complaints” has facilitated the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, showcasing the mechanism’s achievements in addressing cross-regional issues, improving the efficiency of government services, and enhancing public satisfaction.

Bai Yansong delivers a speech

Over 80 representatives of teachers and students at home and abroad participated in this parallel session, including Ouyang Qin, Deputy Party Secretary of CUEB and Mao Baizhan, a member of Standing Committee of CUEB Party Committee and Secretary of Commission for Discipline Inspection of CUEB. A total of 36 student volunteers from CUEB engaged in reception, translation and interpreting, hotel guidance, conference support and other services, totaling 1,500 hours of volunteer work.

Before the parallel session themed “Metropolitan Development and Regional Coordinated Governance”, CUEB leaders held a symposium with guests from both China and abroad. During the session, on behalf of CUEB’s Party Committee, Ouyang Qin greeted volunteers on duty.

Students and teachers of CUEB gained a lot by engaging in voluntary services in supporting the 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints.

CUEB teachers and students share their experience in “2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints”

Yang Yifei, a teacher from the School of Law, expressed her deep feelings after the liaison and support work for foreign guests. She said, “I am glad to ‘work together’ with my colleagues during the forum preparations, jointly contributing to its great success; and to ‘work together’ with teachers, discussing governance issues. I give my sincere thanks to the School of Law of CUEB, Academician Tony Prosser, and Professor Charlotte Villiers. They help me to build a bridge between the University of Bristol and CUEB, and to fulfill the promise to my country during my state-sponsored study abroad.”

Chen Xuan, a full-time counsellor from the School of Law, said, “As a transferred officer, I am honored to have an opportunity to engage in the preparation work of the forum. During the ‘Working Together’ parallel session and foreign affairs service support, I feel that “Swift Response to Public Complaints” deals with the urgent needs of the people, and answers the fundamental question of how to ensure people’s happiness. This experience also deepened my understanding of President Xi’s great philosophy that ‘Cities should be built by the people and for the people’.”

As a volunteer, Han Qi, a postgraduate of Grade 2024 from the School of Finance, was responsible for guiding guests at the parallel session to ensure guests’ attendance. He said, “Through this volunteer service, we have not only improved communication and adaptability skills, but also realized the importance of teamwork. I will continue to dedicate myself to volunteer services in the future to spread love and warmth through my actions, contributing to the development of Beijing.”

After attending the “Walking Together” parallel session on the morning of December 19, Ji Chenhao, an undergraduate student of Grade 2023 from the School of Law, said, “After listening to the speeches of Chinese and foreign guests, I was deeply inspired. As a university student and a resident in Beijing, I will enrich my professional knowledge and strive to offer suggestions for the innovative development of “Swift Response to Public Complaints”. Meanwhile, I will participate in community governance, contributing to the metropolitan development and regional coordinated governance through actions.”