From my WBL experience at the Foreign Affairs Office of Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, several key findings emerged regarding the issue of cadres’ relatively homogeneous professional background.

Skill Gaps Limit Strategic Capacity

While staff members are highly competent in language and communication, the lack of training in international relations, negotiation, and policy analysis reduces the office’s ability to respond proactively to complex diplomatic challenges.

Routine-Driven Work Hinders Innovation

Daily tasks are often dominated by translation, document preparation, and event logistics, which leaves little space for deeper analysis or the development of forward-looking strategies in city diplomacy.

External Expectations Exceed Current Capacity

Foreign partners frequently expect comprehensive dialogue and policy insights, not just protocol-level interaction. The current skill set sometimes falls short of these expectations, creating a gap in mutual understanding.

Handbook

My development of a handbook on international relations knowledge and problem-solving approaches demonstrated the effectiveness of providing staff with accessible resources. This initiative can serve as a starting point for capacity building, helping the office move beyond passive execution toward more strategic engagement.