Capital Government

The Beijing Municipal People

 Congress exercises state power in areas under the Beijing Municipal Government's jurisdiction. Deputies to district and county people's congresses were chosen through direct election. Deputies to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress are elected by the people's congresses of the districts and counties. The Municipal People's Congress elects a standing committee to serve as its permanent body. The city's mayor and deputy mayors are chosen at congressional sessions through elections. Members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress serve a five-year term in office.
The People's Government of Beijing Municipality is the executive body of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress and the administrative body that exercises state power in the area under jurisdiction of the municipality. It functions under the State Council, China's central government.
The Beijing Municipal Government has a mayor, several deputy mayors, a secretary-general, and directors of different municipal commissions, offices and bureaus. The People's Government of Beijing Municipality is elected to a five-year term.
(Source: Beijing Municipal Government 2005)

International Exchanges
Beijing now has "sister-city" relationship with 28 foreign cities. The city is home to 155 foreign embassies and consulates and 23 international organizations. Some and 223 foreign news organizations have offices here, along with representative offices of more than 7,000 foreign companies. More than 40,000 overseas students are studying in the capital's schools.       In recent years, Beijing has successfully hosted the 11th Asia Games, the United Nations?Fourth World Conference on Women, the 21st World University Students?Games. Since 1998, Beijing has held the China Beijing International High-tech Expo annually. In addition, a great variety of exhibitions and cultural exchanges have enriched the daily lives of people residing in Beijing. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Sino-France Cultural Year has been held since the beginning of 2004. Chinese traditional performances excited audiences around Champs-Elysee, exhibitions of Impressionism masterpieces and the splendid performance of Jean Michel Jarre delight people in Beijing. The 2005 FORTUNE Global Forum will be held in the capital. 
(Source: The Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government 2005)

Sister City

Cities Country  Sister City Date
Tokyo  Japan  March 14, 1979
New York United States  February 25, 1980
Belgrade  Serbia and Montenegro  October 14, 1980 
Lima  Peru  November 21, 1983
Washington D.C.  United States May 15, 1984
Madrid Spain  September 16, 1985
Rio de Janeiro  Brazil  November 24, 1986
Paris Province France  July 2, 1987
Cologne  Germany  September 14, 1987
Ankara  Turkey  June 20,  1990
Kairo  Egypt  October 28, 1990
Jakarta  Indonesia  August 4, 1992
Islamabad  Pakistan  October 8, 1992
Bangkok  Thailand  May 26, 1993
Buenos Aires  Argentina  July 13,  1993
Seoul  South Korea  October 23, 1993
Guelph Ukraine  Deceber 13, 1993
Berlin  Germany  April 5, 1994
Brussel Belgium September 22, 1994
Renoir  Vietnam  October 6, 1994
Amsterdam  Netherlands  October 29, 1994
Moscow  Russia  May 16, 1995
Paris  France  October 23, 1997
Rome  Italy  May 28, 1998
Gauteng  South Africa  December 6, 1998
Ottawa  Canada  October 18, 1999
Canberra  Australia  October 14, 2000
Madrid Autonomous Region Spain January 17, 2005