On April 18th, a fine drizzle moistened the earth. The 2025 “Beijing International Friendship Forest” Tree Planting event themed “iBeijing” was held in Yangfang Town, Changping District. Organized by the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People’s Government of Changping District, and co-organized by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, the event saw the participation of approximately 200 diplomats, foreign experts, and international students from 50 countries. Together, they planted the Friendship Forest, jointly painting a new picture of a greener Beijing.

北京海外学人中心组织来自中央广播电视总台、中国外文局、清华大学、北京外国语大学等单位的40余位外籍专家参与其中。蒙蒙春雨中，外国友人们铲土造坑，培土育苗，经过大家的共同努力，白皮松、国槐、海棠等600余株树苗昂然挺立，在春风中展现出蓬勃生机，这片新绿不仅是自然之美，更是中外友谊的生动见证。

The Beijing Overseas Talents Center organized over 40 foreign experts from organizations such as China Media Group, China International Communications Group, Tsinghua University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University to participate in the activity. Amidst the light spring rain, the international participants dug holes, filled them with soil, and nurtured saplings. Through their collective efforts, more than 600 saplings, including white pine, Chinese scholar tree, and crabapple, stood tall and vibrant in the spring breeze. This new expanse of greenery is not only a testament to the beauty of nature but also a vivid symbol of the friendship between China and other countries.

中国工合国际委员会主席、中国政府友谊奖获得者柯马凯发表感言，表示自己和家人连续10年参加国际友好林植树活动，为绿色北京贡献力量感到很有意义，相信活动能激励更多中外青年投身环保事业，让中外友好情谊在绿色行动中生根发芽。

Michael Crook, the President of the China International Committee for the Promotion of Industrial Cooperatives (CICIC) and a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, delivered his remarks. He expressed that it was highly meaningful for him and his family to participate in the tree-planting activity in the International Friendship Forest for 10 consecutive years, contributing to a greener Beijing. He believed that this activity could inspire more Chinese and foreign youth to engage in environmental protection, allowing the friendship between China and other countries to take root and grow through green actions. 

外交官与外国专家们还前往昌平区大健康领域企业参观交流。在全球最大的蜜蜂主题园区——知蜂堂蜂博园，国际友人饶有兴致地参观蜂巢馆、蜂产品馆、国际馆，深入了解蜂产业的发展历史、现状及未来合作需求，沉浸式领略世界各国蜜蜂文化的独特魅力；在康比特运动营养产业基地，现场体验健康智能设备，深入参观营养食品生产线，真切感受到昌平区在医药健康产业领域的独特优势，为未来的务实合作播下希望的种子。

Diplomats and foreign experts also visited and exchanged ideas with enterprises in the large health field in Changping District. At the Zhifengtang Bee Museum, the world’s largest bee-themed park, international friends visited the Beehive Pavilion, the Bee Product Pavilion, and the International Pavilion with great interest. They gained an in-depth understanding of the development history, current situation, and future cooperation needs of the bee industry, and immersed themselves in the unique charm of bee cultures from various countries around the world. At the Beijing Competitor Sports Science Technology Nutrition Industry Base, they experienced health intelligent devices on the spot, took an in-depth tour of the nutritional food production line, and truly felt the unique advantages of Changping District in the field of the medical and health industry, sowing the seeds of hope for future practical cooperation.

北京国际友好林植树活动始于2015年，今年是第10届。累计120多个国家2900人次驻华外交官、外籍专家和留学生参与，共种养各类苗木12100余株，是北京规模最大的外国友人义务植树活动，旨在践行绿色发展理念，促进中外民心相通，助力北京国际交往中心功能建设。

The Beijing International Friendship Forest Tree-planting Event, launched in 2015, marks its 10th edition this year. Over 2,900 diplomatic envoys, foreign experts, and international students from more than 120 countries have participated cumulatively, planting and nurturing over 12,100 saplings of various species. As Beijing’s largest voluntary tree-planting event for foreign friends, it aims to implement the philosophy of green development, enhance people-to-people bonds between China and other nations, and support the construction of Beijing’s role as an international exchange hub.