To deeply implement the work deployment of CPC Shenyang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, on December 20, a symposium was held by Foreign Affairs Office of Shenyang Municipal Government at Liaoning University to solicit the opinions and suggestions of experts and think tanks on the construction of Shenyang as an International CentralCity in Northeast Asia. Chen Shuangwei, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Shenyang Municipal Government, Wang Yahong, Chief Economist of ShenyangMunicipal Development and Reform Commission, Li Yanzhi, Dean of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of Liaoning University, Meng Yueming, Director of the Northeast Asia Research Institute of Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, Li Gang, Dean of the City Brand Research School of Shenyang City University, and experts in related fields attended the symposium and conducted in-depth discussions on how to promote the construction of Shenyang as an international central city in Northeast Asia.

At the symposium,  experts shared their research findings based on their respective research fields and practical experience, and put forward forward-looking, strategic, and directive suggestions. Professor Huo Weidong, Deputy Director of the Division of Economics of Liaoning University, Chief Expert of Major Project of National Social Science Fund, proposed to create an open and inclusive urban culture, strengthen international cultural exchanges, advance the construction of international featured community, standardize the management and use of foreign language signs, and enhance Shenyang’s international reputation and appeal. Xu Yuelei, Deputy Director of the Institute of Japan Studies of Liaoning University and Chief of the Editorial Department of the Journal of Japan Studies, proposed to seize the significant opportunities presented by Japan’s economic recovery, and deepen exchanges and cooperation with Japan in areas such as smart manufacturing, healthcare and elderly care, and high-end medical services, attract more Japanese-funded enterprises to settle in Shenyang, and to build Shenyang into a hub and model city for Sino-Japanese economic and trade cooperation. Meng Yueming, Director of the Northeast Asia Research Institute of Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, proposed to properly address the current shortcomings and deficiencies in Shenyang in terms of stabilizing foreign investment and trade, expanding opening up, developing new productive forces, and enhancing the international quality of citizens, benchmarking and comparing with the advanced experience of international city construction in foreign cities such as Tokyo and Seoul, and to effectively strengthen the function of international friendship cities, actively pursue high-end international conferences and acitivies to be held in Shenyang, strengthen international cooperation in higher education and vocational education, and establish international exchange and communication mechanisms at various levels. Li Gang, Dean of the City Brand Research School of Shenyang City University, put forward forward-looking suggestions on building a system for international cultural communication in Shenyang, creating an international We-media publicity matrix, and enhancing Shenyang's international influence and reputation. Wang Yahong, Chief Economist of Shenyang Municipal Development and Reform Commission, introduced the overall thinking, action objectives, and action plans for building Shenyang into an international central city in Northeast Asia as set out in the drafting Outline for the Action Plan for Building Shenyang into an International Central City in Northeast Asia, and expressed that the speeches by experts provided valuable inspiration, and would be used as a basis to further refine the Action Plan.

In his concluding remarks, Director Chen Shuangwei expressed his gratitude to all experts for their valuable contributions and suggestions towards the construction of Shenyang as an international central city in Northeast Asia. He stated that the positioning of an “International Central City in Northeast Asia” is the first time that Shenyang has been approved as a city featured with an international orientation, marking an important mission entrusted to Shenyang by the nation. In recent years, Shenyang’s internationalization level has significantly enhanced, and its foreign-related public service system has been continuously improved. Its international attraction, influence, and competitiveness have been comprehensively enhanced, showing a positive and promising development trend. It has a good foundation and conditions for building an international central city in Northeast Asia. Next, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal Government will adhere to the principles of "strengthening the foundation, making breakthroughs in innovation, raising the benchmark, and enhancing comprehensively", and persistently “improve the opening up environment, strengthen the opening up platform, provide excellent foreign affairs services, and expand investment promotion”, focusing on seven aspects: "Hello, Shenyang" global promotion brand, foreign-related public services, international friendship city work, exchanges and cooperation with embassies and consulates, people-to-people exchanges, foreign affairs services, and investment promotion. It would continuously strengthen the “foreign affairs +”, continue to build an upgraded version of "International Shenyang", and strive to build a benchmark city for international friendship city work and a central city for international exchanges in Northeast Asia, contributing greater foreign affairs strength to the construction of Shenyang as an international central city in Northeast Asia.

This symposium is a pragmatic measure taken by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal Government to promote Shenyang’s accelerated construction as an international central city in Northeast Asia. By integrating resources from both the universities and local government, and soliciting expert opinions and suggestions, the symposium aims to further clarify the direction and practical path for future efforts. Next, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal Government will gather think tanks’ wisdom and strength from universities and research institutes in Shenyang, share advantageous resources, and jointly promote Shenyang’s construction as an international central city in Northeast Asia to achieve new results.