Compared to the major capitals and cities in Asia, let alone in the rest of the world, it is still rare for Beijing and China's other booming cities to host an international organisation. That may soon be changed, however.
In recent years, China's embrace of multilateralism has been momentous. In addition to accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and improved co-operation with a variety of international organisations, one equally important aspect of China's embrace of multilateralism is that it has become a major force in pushing for new regionalism in Asia.
China has been behind a series of initiatives for new Asian regional organisations - economic, political and technological; governmental as well as non-governmental.
For example, China was one of the six original members of the Shanghai Co-operative Organisation (SCO). Although the SCO initially focused on security issues, its members have agreed to expand its role into economic co-operation. The increase in the SCO's importance is underlined not only by its moving forward to address economic integration but also by applications for membership from other Asian countries such as India.
An outstanding example of China's active involvement in regionalism is its sponsorship of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), a non-governmental Asian forum modelled on the World Economic Forum in Davos. Located in Hainan province, the BFA has so far convened three successful annual conferences along with many seminars and workshops. It has arguably become an important platform for exploring Asian issues and strengthening partnerships between Asian governments and business sectors in promoting regional economic development and co-operation.
China has also been at the centre of initiating several new technological organisations. The Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery, for example, is the first office from the UN Secretariat to have its headquarters in Beijing. More significantly, last month, 15 nations decided that the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Co-operation Organisation would be based in Beijing.
Perhaps the most influential move China has made in promoting Asian regional economic integration was its agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to establish the China-Asean free-trade area in 2010. After this agreement was reached, India and Japan soon followed suit and agreed to establish similar free-trade zones with Asean in 2011 and 2012, respectively.