On November 3rd, MID 2016, MIDG 2016 and IMPA 2016 international students from 10 countries, led by Associate Dean Meng Bo, took part in the field study trip to Tongzhou District, Beijing. As the biggest satellite district of Beijing, Tongzhou has been Beijing’s eastern gateway, communications hub and a strategic point. It is planned to move most of Beijing’s municipal departments to the suburban district of Tongzhou in 2017 to ease the pressure on public services. Tongzhou is positioned as a new city as well as comprehensive service district for the regional sustainable development.
SPPM Students were warmly received by Ms. Lei Xiaoning, the Deputy Director of Tongzhou District and other officials from different departments. Ms. Lei hoped Tongzhou District and SPPM would have more opportunities to promote cultural exchanges in the future. Students subsequently visited the Songzhuang Artist Village Gallery, the northern end of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and proceeded to Tongzhou Convention Center for a discussion and sharing session with officers from respective departments.
Arrived in Songzhuang Artist Village Gallery, they learned its development course and agglomeration advantages and also appreciated the contemporary Chinese art crafts. Subsequently, they proceeded to the northern end of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Standing on the Qikong Bridge, students learned the long history and splendid culture of this Grand Canal, as well as the construction plan of the canal eco-park. Overlooking the canal, students saw the under-constructing ecological projects and gained a better understanding of Tongzhou’s blueprint for modernization construction as well as its passion for ecological protection.
During the discussion with officials of different departments of Tongzhou government in Tongzhou Convention Center, international students have gained the basic information of Tongzhou District, including history, culture, transportation, geographic advantages, ecological environment, etc. Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tongzhou District, introduced the construction planning and development blueprint of the new city. In order to release the burden of the central part of Beijing and enhance the economic and ecological development of the modern new city, Tongzhou government plans to build up three core functional zones in this district, namely top-end commercial & residential zone, administrative office zone and cultural tourism zone. Highlights in the planning and construction of Tongzhou New City are waterside ecology, low-carbon environment-friendly and sustainable development. Taking the construction of Universal Studio and CBD center as examples, Mr. Zhang emphasized that Tongzhou government has been paid highly attention to international cooperation and exchanges and will continue to attract foreigners to travel and work here.
SPPM students gained a better understanding of the process of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration and the urban planning and development prospect of Tongzhou district during this successful field study trip. By holding in-depth discussion with local officers, students gained an insight into the feasibility of drawing lessons from the China's development experience and public management practices and implementing them in other countries and regions.
