2025 Beijing International Talent Carnival Series Kicks Off in Beijing

On May 24, guided by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Talent, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Committee and Government, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and the Zhongguancun Science Park Administrative Committee, the 2025 Beijing International Talent Carnival series of events was grandly launched at the Beijing City Library. The event was co-hosted by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, together with the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and the districts of Dongcheng, Tongzhou, Changping, Mentougou, and Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. The GNIS Secretariat (Beijing Foreign Enterprise International Education Consulting Co., Ltd.) acted as the organizer, providing organizational support and professional services for this international talent carnival.

As the opening event, the “Foreign Experts Tour Beijing—‘Canal Very City’ Special Session” was held at three major cultural landmarks in Beijing’s sub-center: the Grand Canal Museum, Beijing City Library, and Beijing Arts Center. The event attracted active participation from foreign experts and their families in Beijing, including Vladimir Malakhov, Professor and Head of the Ballet Department at Beijing Dance Academy, and Lance Rodewald, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Senior Advisor for Immunization at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Leaders such as Huang Yan, Director of the Comprehensive Service Division of the Department of Foreign Experts Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Liu Guangyi, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Talent, and Zeng Fulin, Party Committee Member and Deputy Director of the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, attended the opening ceremony.

As guests poured grains into the "Granary of Harvest," a canal cargo ship slowly set sail on the Grand Canal, sending a sincere invitation from Beijing to international talents worldwide. Over the next six months, the 2025 Beijing International Talent Carnival will carry the theme “Gathering Global Talents, Shining into the Future” and feature nearly 20 events across five modules: colorful culture, cutting-edge technology, shared opportunities, popular sports, and world cuisine. International experts and talent representatives will explore the Central Axis to trace Beijing’s rich cultural heritage, visit BAIC factories to unlock the innovation of Xiangjie Motors, and enjoy the Beijing International Food Festival to experience the achievements of Beijing as an international consumption center city and the unique charm of “A Bite of China.” International young talents will also have face-to-face exchanges with recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, participate in international talent job fairs and entrepreneurship camps, and share in the development opportunities of Beijing.

Speeches from Leaders and Guests: Gathering New Momentum for Talent Development

In her opening speech, Huang Yan stated that the National Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs will further improve policies and optimize services to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign experts, creating a favorable environment for more foreign experts to innovate, start businesses, and realize their ambitions in China, ensuring a comfortable, smooth, and secure work and life experience.

Liu Guangyi, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Talent, emphasized that Beijing has always regarded talent as the “number one resource” for high-quality development. The city strives to ensure that the wisdom of every talent finds fertile ground and that people from diverse backgrounds can exchange ideas and create the future together.

Vladimir Malakhov, Professor at Beijing Dance Academy, spoke on behalf of foreign experts, sharing that working and living in Beijing is a new challenge every day. He enjoys listening, experiencing, and feeling the city’s history and cultural charm, and looks forward to more opportunities to work with fellow experts to make the city even better.

Cultural Exploration and Experiences: A Colorful International Talent Carnival

At the “Canal Very City” special event, foreign experts gained a deep appreciation for the achievements and cultural richness of Beijing’s sub-center. At the Grand Canal Museum, they “traveled through millennia” in dialogue with history; at the Beijing City Library, they experienced the fusion of knowledge and architectural art; and at the Beijing Arts Center, they were captivated by the Majestic Trio concert performed by artists Lü Siqing, Qin Liwei, and Sun Yingdi. Professor Mark Howard Levine of Minzu University of China shared that he has always been interested in the Grand Canal, and the museum visit gave him a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of its development history. Professor Sergii Markovych of Beihang University said he loved the technological and modern atmosphere of the City Library and looked forward to frequent visits to better understand China and integrate into Beijing.

From rich cultural explorations to cheerful “coffee time” gatherings, the Beijing International Talent Carnival provides foreign experts in Beijing with a platform for communication, learning, and mutual exchange. It has also become an important window for international friends to get to know, experience, and settle in Beijing, shining as a hallmark of the city’s internationalized services.

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