As biological risks evolve alongside rapid technological change, cities around the world are confronting mounting challenges in safeguarding public health and ensuring uninterrupted urban operation. Breakthroughs in biotechnology, deepening globalization of travel and trade, and shifting geopolitical dynamics have elevated biosecurity to a core pillar of national and urban security frameworks.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30)​ identifies biosecurity as a strategic priority for strengthening security in emerging domains. For major metropolitan hubs, bolstering preparedness against biological risks is no longer merely a public health imperative—it is foundational to sustainable development and long-term social stability.

As the country's capital and a mega-city of over 20 million people, Beijing has been pioneering integrated approaches to biosecurity governance and urban resilience building.

Biosecurity risks on the rise 

Recent convergence of life sciences and digital technologies is reshaping the global biosecurity landscape. The integration of AI and biotechnology has drastically accelerated research and development cycles: AI-powered modeling streamlines pathogen analysis, lowers technical thresholds and expands access to research capabilities once confined to elite laboratories.

Simultaneously, the democratization of synthetic biology tool-kits and falling costs of DNA synthesis have raised alarms over potential misuse. Biological supply chains are increasingly fragmented and cross-border, complicating oversight. Experts warn that these trends could lower barriers for non-state actors, or even individuals, to acquire capabilities previously restricted to advanced institutions.

Geopolitical competition has further strained international biosecurity cooperation. In recent years, several countries have tightened export controls on biotechnology, restricted cross-border scientific collaboration, and overhauled supply chain regulations. While framed as national security safeguards, these moves risk fragmenting global research networks and weakening collective public health responses.

Urban frontlines 

Cities stand on the frontline of biosecurity risks. Without effective governance, high population density, dense transportation networks and interdependent critical infrastructure can amplify the impact of biological emergencies.

China has built a relatively comprehensive national biosecurity governance system in recent years. Yet implementing this framework at the urban level remains complex: Related legislation and regulations still require refinement, particularly in addressing emerging bio-crimes and biosecurity-related data governance.

Early warning systems also face constraints. Existing monitoring networks prioritize naturally occurring infectious diseases, and detection capabilities for engineered or drug-resistant pathogens are still under development. Surging international mobility adds further complexity to disease surveillance, requiring tighter alignment between port health controls and city-level monitoring systems.

Urban infrastructure networks pose additional risks. Many parts of modern cities still rely on systems that are in close physical proximity—water supply, ventilation, underground pipelines. They could accelerate the spread of airborne or waterborne pathogens in the absence of strict and targeted containment measures.

Emergency preparedness remains a work in progress. Most contingency plans remain siloed by disaster type, while biological crises demand cross-sectoral coordination spanning healthcare, transport, utilities and public security. Increasing reserves of specialized supplies, enhancing emergency production capacity and conducting large-scale stress testing are essential next steps to shore up urban resilience.

Beijing's practice 

Over the past decade, Beijing has advanced its urban safety governance through integrated public health upgrades, institutional reform and expanded emergency capacity, aligning with China's overarching principle of coordinating development and security and its holistic national security vision.

Beijing has worked to build a modern safety governance system integrating risk prevention, coordinated management and whole-of-society participation.

Strengthening primary-level public health services has been a central priority. By 2025, Beijing had established 2,136 community health centers and stations across its urban and rural areas, achieving full coverage of basic medical and public health services. These facilities serve as the first line of defense for disease surveillance, health education and essential care.

The city has also scaled up its family doctor system to improve continuity of care. More than 6,600 family doctor teams now operate across the capital, serving key demographic groups such as the elderly, patients with chronic diseases and children. This network not only improves healthcare access but also strengthens early detection and management of public health risks.

Public health literacy has risen markedly. Through sustained health campaigns and community outreach, Beijing's health literacy rate, namely, the percentage of people with essential health-related knowledge, reached 44.6 percent in 2024, ranking first among Chinese provincial-level regions. The number of healthcare workers at community health institutions has grown steadily, surpassing 35,000 by 2024.

Beyond healthcare, Beijing has reinforced its broader urban safety architecture. The city established a municipal emergency response commission and enacted pioneering local regulations on emergency management, laying a solid institutional foundation for coordinated risk governance.

A three-tier emergency management system covering municipal, district and sub-district/township levels is now fully operational, supported by comprehensive contingency plans and streamlined coordination mechanisms that enable rapid, whole-of-government responses to major public emergencies.

A resilient emergency ecosystem 

The expansion of Beijing's emergency rescue capacity has been carried out as part of the city's resilience agenda, with teams specializing in flood control, hazardous chemicals, transportation safety, construction and energy supply.

Technology empowerment has become a defining feature of emergency management, with upgraded information systems, specialized equipment and innovation-driven response solutions improving operational efficiency.

Public participation has emerged as a vital pillar of Beijing's model. Volunteer organizations and non-governmental rescue teams play an increasingly prominent role in disaster response and community preparedness.

Via the Volunteer Beijing platform, the city has registered more than 7,000 emergency volunteer teams with over 120,000 volunteers. Groups such as Blue Sky Rescue have become indispensable partners in relief operations, complementing professional response forces.

Coordination between official responders and volunteers has been institutionalized through joint training, contingency exercise integration and standardized drill protocols. Public education programs covering first aid, emergency response skills and psychological support have been rolled out citywide to boost community readiness.

Regional synergy has also advanced. Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and neighboring Hebei Province have conducted joint emergency drills involving non-governmental rescue forces, enhancing cross-regional coordination and collective disaster preparedness across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

As global urbanization accelerates, a city's capacity to manage complex risks, including biological threats, has become a make-or-break factor for sustainable development. Strengthening urban resilience demands not only upgraded governance and infrastructure, but also deeper public engagement and international cooperation.

Beijing's experience offers a replicable model for mega-cities worldwide: integrating public health governance, emergency management and community participation into a unified safety framework. While challenges remain, sustained efforts in these domains will help cities become safer, more resilient and better prepared for emerging risks in an increasingly interconnected world. BR

Yuan Zhenlong is a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences and Zhang Can is an assistant researcher at the academy  

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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