Beijing's service hotline 12345 brings specific public service authorities closer to people in need to address their concerns.
All sub-districts, communities, functional departments, and public service enterprises in Beijing are connected through this phone number to easily help individuals and enterprises.
A CGTN's documentary "Hotline Beijing" introduces how citizens are using this service every day to settle disputes and help the city improve its governance.
One episode of the documentary highlights how dialing the hotline helps a resident deal with her shopping standoff.
Ma Ning is a successful businesswoman and the mother of a three-year-old. When she tried to get a replacement for clothing she'd bought her daughter, she had problems.
"I wasn't satisfied. My daughter needed an outfit. I clearly told the vendor I wanted size 110, but he still sent me size 120. And then he refused to exchange it. I called all day, without reply. Are there no regulations governing vendors? I wanted him to realize there are people overseeing such things. So I called 12345," she said.
After three days of arguing, the vendor still rejected Ma Ning's demand. So, backed into a corner, she called 12345.
"We're the masters of our city. I've got the right to criticize and make suggestions. This city is my home. I'm entitled to report it, if something's wrong. Even if I'm not the one who's been badly treated or whose interests have been impaired, I can still call 12345 to report it," Ma explained.
Her complaint to the hotline was relayed to Shuguang Sub-district in Beijing. Within an hour the vendor had completed the exchange. The trivial issue that had bothered Ms. Ma for three days was finally resolved. Ma later praised this service on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
"I was very happy with the outcome. The response was quick, efficient and warm. It was like dealing with a friend or neighbor. It felt genuine and sincere. Later, I posted on Weibo that Beijing's 12345 Hotline never lets you down," she said.
Beijing service hotline helps address residents' concerns
A 25 percent import tariff on all foreign-built vehicles entering the United States has raised serious concerns for manufacturers in South Africa.
Automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW have long used South Africa as a base for global exports -- but those plans may be shifting into reverse gear after the U.S. announced the punitive measures.
"If you take, for example, BMW, 97 percent of the X3 that we are producing in Rosslyn is exported out of the country. We only sell 3 percent in South Africa, and there's a huge number of those vehicles that also go into the U.S. So there are companies in South Africa that are purely here not because they are selling vehicles in South Africa; they are here to produce vehicles for the global market, and it's important for them to remain globally competitive," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.
U.S. automaker Ford, which has deep roots in South Africa, is also in the crosshairs.
The company recently invested over 300 million U.S. dollars to upgrade its Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, for the production of the world's only plug-in hybrid Ranger, which has just entered production but could face delays or restrictions.
"If an American citizen wants to buy specifically a Ford Ranger that is a plug-in hybrid, they can only place an order in South Africa, nowhere else in the world. So, that means, obviously, the capacity of Ford to be able to produce those vehicles in big volumes is going to be constrained, because Americans are going be looking at another Ford that is produced in another country, or even in the United States," said Mabasa.
South Africa has long enjoyed duty-free automotive exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, but that relationship now hangs in the balance.
A sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy threatens to derail an industry that employs thousands and contributes around 5 percent to the country's economy.
"We produce less than 1 percent of global automotive vehicles, so to say. So, in reality, the impact on us is likely to be more disproportionate than those of our peers that produce at the same level. And the risk is actually created -- a concentration risk -- in countries that have greater capacity and are building more; in those countries will be able to absorb some of this," said Parks Tau, South Africa's minister of trade and industry.
Amid growing concerns about overreliance on the U.S. market, Amith Singh, national manager for manufacturing at Nedbank Commercial Bank, emphasized the importance of tapping into regional trade opportunities.
"I think we need to make better use of some of our local agreements, our African continental agreements. How do we leverage that? How do we partner with the government and private sector to start benefiting the countries and the economies aside from the United States? So, those could be the catalyst to drive our localization projects; it could be what we need to drive the African economy as opposed to being completely reliant on the States (United States)," he said.
South Africa is for now standing firm in its decision not to retaliate against steep U.S. import tariffs, set to take effect in just a few days.
Officials in Pretoria acknowledge the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration but are pursuing a diplomatic approach in hopes of maintaining stable relations and preserving the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
US tariffs rock South Africa’s auto industry
