Recently, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality held the Reception for in Honor of the Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China in Shougang’s new high-end industrial comprehensive service area, where foreign diplomatic missions and representative couples of international organizations in China from more than 110 countries were invited. Chen Jining, the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee and mayor, attended the reception and gave a speech. Relevant departments of the central government and Beijing’s leaders such as Qian Hongshan, Qin Gang, Du Feijin, Sui Zhenjiang, Yang Yiwen, Jin Wei, Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, and Han Zirong, Secretary-General of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games attended the reception. The leaders of Shougang Group, such as Zhang Gongyan, Liang Zongping, Zhao Minge, Bai Xin, Wang Shizhong, Liang Jie, Wang Hongjun and heads of relevant departments were also present.

In his speech, Chen Jining thanked the embassies and international organizations of various countries in China for their long-term concern and support for the construction and development of Beijing. He said, “This year is the first year of implementing the spirits of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, as well as the 40th anniversary of reform and the opening up. We adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping’s socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and promote the development of dispersed functions, steady growth, reform promotion, structural adjustment, and the benefit of people’s livelihood. The capital economic society has maintained a steadily progressive and improved development trend. We will focus on the  followings: reforming and optimizing of the business environment, taking the rule of law, the internationalization and facilitation as a guide to create a world-class business environment highland, to vigorously promote comprehensive opening up, to implement a more proactive opening strategy, to continuously improve the ability of the capital’s financial industry to open up to the outside world in order to fully promote the preparations for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games and Winter Paralympic Games to lay a solid foundation of achieving the “Excellent, Extraordinary and Outstanding” goal of holding the Olympic Games. At present, Beijing has entered a new stage of high-quality development, a transformational development, and an innovative development. The new Shougang Park is transformed from an old industrial park with a history of 100 years. It will be built into a new landmark to show the urban revival in the future. I hope that you can continue to pay attention and support the construction and the development of Beijing, and we will also do an excellent job in ensuring the service to create a better working and living environment for you.”

Desinov, the Russian Ambassador, gave a speech in Mandarin the on behalf of the foreign diplomatic missions to China. He congratulated Beijing on its great achievements in economic and social development and thanked Beijing for creating such a harmonious atmosphere for their work. He said, “The diplomatic missions will continue to promote the development of the good friendship and the cooperation between the cities of different countries and Beijing.”

Before the reception, the foreign diplomatic missions to China and the representative couples of the international organizations in China who were invited to the reception visited the West Ten Olympic Winter Games Square, the No. 3 blast furnace, and the Xiuchi Lake, to feel the unique charm of Shougang’s Beijing Park with a history of 100 years. If you look out from the 40-meter-high viewing platform of No. 3 blast furnace, the natural scenery of undulating mountains and peaks will greet you. Trees are lush in Mount Shijing in the distance as well as the Xiuchi Lake at the foot of the mountain sparks; while the landscape of the nine dragons gushing out the water is bubbling, giving a spectacular view. The mountains and rivers echo to each other, boasting its incomparable beauty. The industrial heritage such as the site of the skiing platform competition event, the “four ices” of the winter training center, the West Ten Olympic Winter Games Square, and the Qunming Lake are scattered around in picturesque. A picture with a perfect combination of historical sediment and modern light and shadow, followed by the industry and art, greets the people.

The foreign diplomatic missions took photos for commemoration. While praising about the concepts and practices of the protective transformation in Shougang Park were very advanced and wise, they asked in detail about the related situations such as the protection and utilization of the industrial heritage and the construction of the venues for the Olympic Winter Games. Many people are very concerned about the use of Shougang’s venues for the Olympic Winter Games after the game. They hope that this area of Shougang will develop more and more vigorously, while saying that they will visit the Shougang Park again if they get an opportunity.

In an interview of the reporters from Shougang’s News Center, Denisov, the Russian ambassador, replied in Mandarin, “In Moscow, the capital of Russia, some old industrial bases also need to reference Shougang. I will introduce the advanced practices of transforming the old industrial park of Shougang to them; to vigorously promote the cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.”

In an interview with the reporters from Shougang’s News Center beside the Xiuchi Lake, the Canadian Ambassador, McCallum, said, “I am impressed by this first visit to Shougang. The relocation of Shougang and the transformation of the old park shows that China attaches great importance to environmental protection and the green development. Shougang’s relocation and transformation for environmental protection is a real action, which is better than a thousands of words. Especially when looking out on the viewing platform of the No. 3 blast furnace, I can see the beautiful and unique site of the skiing platform in Shougang Park. I think there was no such venue in the history of the Winter Olympic Games. Both the athletes and the audience will have a unique experience in this venue, and it may also be the first and only experience for many of them.”