electra-supply.comOn September 25, Shanghai hosted a global promotional event titled “Gathering in Shanghai, Creating the Future Together – Building a First-Class Business Environment with Marketization, Rule of Law, and Internationalization.” The event brought together overseas Chinese and individuals from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, representing 30 countries and regions. It was live-streamed from various international locations, including San Francisco, Vancouver, Manila, and Jakarta.
This gathering highlighted the regional policies and industrial strengths of Shanghai’s Xuhui, Changning, and Songjiang districts. The aim was to foster collaboration between Chinese and foreign businesses, business associations, and relevant government agencies by signing memorandums of understanding. Attendees also had the chance to tour key sites like the Caohejing Technology Park, G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, and Beiyang Artificial Intelligence Town, all with the goal of attracting high-quality projects to Shanghai and encouraging mutually beneficial partnerships.
The event marked the welcoming of the first group of companies to the Hongqiao Overseas High-Level Talent Service Base and the Hongqiao Overseas Alumni Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Base. These specialized platforms, backed by the Hongqiao Overseas Chinese Business Association’s global network, aim to nurture high-tech enterprises and support innovation service institutions and social investment collaborations.
In a significant move to enhance cooperation between China’s new energy vehicle sector and international partners, the Hongqiao Overseas Chinese Business Association, along with relevant firms, launched a collaboration platform specifically for the new energy vehicle industry, designed to meet overseas demands. The event also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at international cooperation in this sector.
Li Changhong, President of the Kenya Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and Executive Vice President of the Kenya Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, shared his insights gained from years of experience exporting agricultural products from Kenya to China. He emphasized that recent agreements signed at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing reaffirm China’s vast market as a key opportunity for Africa. Currently, he is working to establish a new company in Shanghai for exporting new energy vehicles to Kenya, along with plans to set up an assembly base there.
In an interview, Li expressed optimism regarding the potential for Chinese new energy vehicles in the African market, particularly Kenya, with the advancement of China-Africa cooperation. Having spent 16 years conducting business in Kenya, he noted that he sometimes feels out of touch with the evolving policies in China, especially concerning partnerships with Chinese firms, which can result in information gaps. “Government support is essential, and this global promotional event in Shanghai offers a fantastic opportunity,” he stated.
Ding Yi, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Thailand Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, attended the event along with several chamber members. He noted that many of the attendees are third- and fourth-generation overseas Chinese who grew up in Thailand and may not be familiar with the current economic and social developments in Shanghai. However, they are enthusiastic about reconnecting with their heritage and are eager to invest. “We participated in this event to gain insights from the investor and entrepreneur perspectives, and it has proven very beneficial,” Ding remarked.
He further shared that chamber members came with diverse goals. Some early members who introduced traditional Chinese medicine overseas are now planning to invest in wellness centers in China to contribute to the nation’s health industry. Ding also mentioned plans to set up a liaison office in Shanghai’s innovation parks to leverage the city’s technological advancements for innovation cooperation between Thailand and China.
As many overseas Chinese entrepreneurs seek to launch new businesses in China, Lyu Zhu, a board member of the Canada Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and a law firm manager, visited Shanghai to explore suitable locations for setting up an intellectual property agency. After her site visits, she discovered various supportive policies, including ready-to-move-in facilities, rental discounts, tax incentives, and special funds, validating that her trip was indeed fruitful.
“Our team includes many lawyers from overseas who can provide unique support for Chinese businesses aiming to expand abroad. We plan to establish operations related to intellectual property in Shanghai’s parks, focusing on sectors like artificial intelligence, gaming, medicine, and new energy,” Lyu explained. She intends to relay this information to her international partners and facilitate the creation of collaborative platforms.
