Shenzhen's 2026 Work Plan for Optimizing the International Business Environment

To thoroughly implement the important remarks of General Secretary Xi Jinping on fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and to seize the significant historical opportunity presented by Shenzhen hosting the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Informal Meeting, this work plan has been formulated to substantially enhance the city’s level of internationalization, accelerate the cultivation of a globally competitive, world-class business environment.

1. Steadily advancing the opening-up of the service sector.Deeply advancing the comprehensive pilot program for expanding service sector openness, achieving a number of significant institutional innovations in key areas such as finance, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and culture, promoting Shenzhen’s service industry nationwide and globally, and driving the implementation of landmark projects across various service sectors.

2. Expanding space for foreign investment cooperation.Actively implementing the tax credit policy for reinvestment of profits by overseas investors to leverage and encourage foreign businesses to increase their investments in Shenzhen. Encouraging multinational corporations to establish headquarters in Shenzhen, attracting foreign-funded enterprises to set up R&D centers, innovation centers, concept validation centers, and new product introduction centers, and actively soliciting high-quality greenfield investment projects.

3. Optimizing the service system for foreign-invested enterprises.Strictly implementing the pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list management system, improving the roundtable meeting mechanism for foreign-invested enterprises, enhancing public services for promoting foreign investment, and fully leveraging the role of the Shenzhen Service Workstation for Protecting the Rights and Interests of Foreign-Invested Enterprises. Completing specialized service engagements with over 300 foreign-invested enterprises throughout the year, thereby strengthening protection of their rights and interests.

4. Upgrading internationalized registration services.Systematically integrating services covering the entire lifecycle of business entities, prominently featuring a Chinese–English bilingual section titled “Shenzhen Business Entity Registration Services” on the commercial registration interface, and continuously standardizing core, frequently used procedures in both Chinese and English.

5. Elevating the internationalization level of the financial market.Supporting eligible foreign financial institutions to participate in pilot programs such as “Cross-Border Wealth Management Connect.” Fully utilizing the Shenzhen–Hong Kong Private Equity Connect mechanism to attract more qualified overseas venture capital firms to engage in domestic investments under controllable risk conditions.

6. Aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules.Replicating and promoting the free trade zone’s comprehensive alignment with international high-standard economic and trade rules, piloting high-level institutional opening-up measures, formulating an 81-item task list covering areas such as upgrading goods trade and innovating digital trade, and accelerating the implementation of 77 innovative pilot initiatives within the free trade zone and across the city.

7. Deepening cross-border financial cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.Encouraging local banking and insurance institutions to explore offering more cross-border financial services and products tailored to market demand. Piloting simplified settlement mechanisms for cross-border insurance funds, providing personal accident insurance, health insurance, and other cross-border insurance fund settlement services to residents living or working in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area who legally hold Hong Kong/Macao current account insurance policies.

8. Further enhancing interconnectivity of the financial markets.Supporting the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in building itself into a premier innovation capital center and a world-class exchange. Establishing a sound cross-border financial service system to promote integrated development of the Shenzhen–Hong Kong capital markets. Continuously identifying and nurturing listed company candidates, strengthening cooperation with overseas exchanges, and supporting eligible enterprises to list abroad.

9. Improving the comprehensive overseas service system.Perfecting the “1+N+X” enterprise overseas service framework, relying on the Shenzhen e-Station platform to build an online–offline one-stop comprehensive service platform for companies going global. Optimizing dedicated zones for foreign-related legal services and compliance guidance to effectively guide and regulate outbound investments. Creating a dedicated financial services zone for foreign banks to facilitate precise engagement. Supporting third-party legal, tax, financial, and intellectual property service providers in their international expansion. Accelerating construction of the Guangdong (Shenzhen) Game Export Service Center.

10. Launching a special campaign to assist private enterprises in expanding into international markets.Focusing on specific industrial sectors, countries/regions, and APEC member economies, making full use of platforms such as the Shenzhen Private Enterprise Overseas Comprehensive Service Port, and regularly organizing supply–demand matchmaking events to support private enterprises in entering international markets, holding over 200 such events annually.

11. Implementing the Trade Fair Empowerment Plan.Actively participating in the “Thousand Delegation Outbound” initiative, launching the “Shenzhen Brand Global Tour,” and intensifying support for enterprises exhibiting overseas. Organizing more than 15 Shenzhen exhibition delegations to participate in overseas exhibitions and fairs throughout the year. Establishing a city-wide policy framework to support small and medium-sized enterprises in overseas exhibitions. Supporting enterprises in attending exhibitions and conferences in APEC member economies, backing over 100 exhibition events annually.

12. Deepening external liaison and economic–trade engagement.Leveraging regular liaison mechanisms with embassies, consulates, and chambers of commerce, jointly planning and organizing more than ten economic–trade events such as “Kunpeng Forum: Spring Harvest & Autumn Abundance” and “Multinational Enterprises Visit Shenzhen,” to promote exchanges and cooperation between Shenzhen and business communities worldwide.

13. Exploring the establishment of a guidance mechanism for managing overseas competition risks faced by enterprises.Drawing upon resources from platforms such as the Guangdong Provincial Market Supervision Administration’s Shenzhen window for handling operator concentration cases, the Shenzhen Corporate Competition Compliance Alliance, and the Golden Bay Cross-Border Trade Secret Protection Base, integrating multi-disciplinary expertise to provide assistance and guidance to enterprises confronting anti-monopoly and trade secret disputes. Conducting at least two specialized training and advisory sessions to help enterprises better penetrate overseas markets.

14. Enhancing the internationalization level of intellectual property services.Establishing export enterprise directories categorized by industry, forming specialized IP protection service mechanisms for key exporters. Conducting risk assessments of exported products’ intellectual property rights related to patents, trademarks, etc. Providing “one-on-one” guidance and expert consultations for overseas IP disputes involving exporting enterprises, strengthening professional pro bono advice and intensifying rights protection assistance.

15. Elevating the level and capacity of international commercial arbitration services.Hosting arbitration-themed seminars such as the “South China Business Law Forum” and “SCIA Open Day,” successfully organizing the APEC China Year International Arbitration Series, promoting the commercial arbitration system and its services, and soliciting feedback from business entities.

16. Upgrading the international aviation hub.Actively securing air rights resources, strengthening strategic coordination among base airlines, optimizing Shenzhen Airport’s international and regional route network, and guiding domestic and foreign carriers to launch or increase frequencies on more than ten new international routes. Comprehensively advancing major airport construction projects including Terminal 2 and the North Cargo Area, commissioning the South Domestic Transfer Warehouse, East International Express No. 1 Cargo Terminal, and East International Transfer No. 1 Cargo Terminal.

17. Strengthening the functions of the international shipping hub.Developing modern shipping services, significantly elevating port and shipping service capabilities, and accelerating the construction of an internationally recognized hub port. Deepening strategic cooperation with major liner companies, focusing on expanding routes to countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and Belt and Road partner nations, scaling up international transit operations, completing 3.9 million TEUs of international transit containers annually. Further deepening port cooperation between Shenzhen Yantian and Hong Kong Kwai Tsing.

18. Enhancing the intelligence level of shipping management.Researching and formulating professional competency standards and training systems for crew members transporting new energy vehicles by ship. Promoting the digital transformation and safety management upgrade of Shenzhen shipping companies. Advancing point-to-point “one-vessel-one-policy” services for international cruise ships, optimizing and enhancing intelligent inspection and supervision at the Shekou Cruise Homeport, and fostering the development of Shenzhen’s cruise economy.

19. Promoting innovative development of bonded operations.Expanding bonded repair capacities, developing high-value-added repair projects for advanced equipment and precision instruments. Strengthening bonded fuel refueling services for international vessels and improving customs clearance convenience for bonded fuels. Exploring trial regulatory models for bonded testing operations.

20. Intensifying support for the development of Customs Advanced Certified Enterprises.Issuing additional measures to further promote the high-quality development of Customs Advanced Certified Enterprises (AEO enterprises), enhancing AEO enterprises’ sense of gain and elevating their international competitiveness. Building an intelligent cultivation support system for AEO certification to improve enterprise certification efficiency. Formulating joint incentive measures spanning departments and fields to comprehensively establish a positive interaction mechanism of “policy incentives–enterprise participation–quality improvement in foreign trade,” effectively enhancing enterprises’ customs clearance facilitation.

21. Driving innovation in the service trade.Striving to become a national demonstration zone for service trade innovation, vigorously developing services such as game exports, cross-border finance, cross-border tourism, international conventions, intellectual property, architecture, creative design, and foreign-related legal services. Precisely cultivating business entities and continuously supporting the growth of new momentum in service and digital trade. Achieving annual service trade imports and exports exceeding US$160 billion.

22. Attracting and cultivating high-caliber trading entities and platforms.Scaling up and strengthening the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearings Qianhai Joint Trading Center and the International Trading Center for Electronic Components and Integrated Circuits, striving to establish more industry-specific trading platforms. Pushing forward the construction of a national-level quality and safety assessment center for import/export commodities (Shenzhen).

23. Vigorously developing new forms and models of foreign trade.Deepening the construction of the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive experimental zone, promoting the implementation of the Shenzhen cross-border e-commerce export “inspect first, load later” regulatory pilot project, significantly improving export trade facilitation through cross-border e-commerce. Actively applying to establish a Silk Road E-Commerce Cooperation Pilot Zone, creating a six-in-one transparent regulatory service system encompassing commerce, customs, foreign exchange, taxation, loans, and insurance, adding over 400,000 square meters of overseas warehouse space throughout the year, and maintaining the nation’s leading scale in cross-border e-commerce imports and exports.

24. Exploring the establishment of an efficient, convenient, and secure mechanism for cross-border data flows.Advancing the construction of the Network Data Security Compliance Laboratory (Shenzhen Qianhai), operating the Shenzhen–Singapore cross-border data verification platform, and expanding its applications in cross-border financial credit. Improving and perfecting the “green channel” mechanism for assessing data export security for foreign-invested enterprises and key businesses.

25. Strengthening talent immigration integration services.Exploring the establishment of a high-tech talent immigration system to provide conveniences for high-tech professionals regarding entry, temporary stay, and permanent residency. Deeply carrying out Shenzhen Pioneer Demonstration Zone’s foreign talent immigration integration services, offering foreigners insurance, education, housing rental, Chinese language training, medical care, and commercial registration services.

26. Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship among Hong Kong and Macao youth.Hosting the 18th China Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition—Hong Kong and Macao University Preliminaries—and the 8th University Park Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, providing effective pathways for local conversion of Hong Kong and Macao youth projects.

27. Facilitating cross-border travel for researchers.Offering entry–exit conveniences for start-ups and emerging enterprise institutions within the Shenzhen campus of the Hetao Cooperation Zone when conducting business visits to Hong Kong. For newly established enterprises registered within the first year and duly approved, waiving corporate income tax for the initial year and reducing social insurance registration fees; registered personnel may obtain multiple-entry visas valid for one year or three months.

28. Facilitating cross-border movement of research materials.Within the Shenzhen campus of the Hetao Cooperation Zone, exploring a “whitelist” registration management system for research institutions and enterprises, exempting eligible self-used imported research goods from tariffs, import value-added tax, and consumption tax, and adopting a customs-facilitated clearance management model.

29. Facilitating convenient cross-border travel for economic and trade personnel.Deepening market trade cooperation with APEC member economies, guiding and supporting enterprises in need to apply for APEC Business Travel Cards. Implementing the 240-hour transit visa exemption policy to enable business travelers from 55 countries to transit through Shenzhen or temporarily engage in economic activities.

30. Deepening the connection of foreign-related rule-of-law talents.Promoting trials of Sino–foreign joint law firms, introducing more such partnerships. Conducting pilot programs for Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao partnership joint law firms and allowing Hong Kong lawyers to practice in the mainland Guangdong region, facilitating the establishment of more such partnerships. Hosting the 2026 International Investment Arbitration Competition (FDI Moot) – Shenzhen Cup and global rounds – to cultivate foreign-related rule-of-law professionals.

31. Creating a favorable consumer environment.Combining activities such as Shenzhen Shopping Season and Shenzhen New Consumption Season, hosting 1,000 promotional events throughout the year, introducing over 1,000 first stores, flagship stores, and new-concept stores, and staging 10 globally influential launch events.

32. Optimizing the consumption environment at border checkpoints.Expanding the radiation range of border checkpoints, creating checkpoint commercial districts, optimizing airport commercial layouts, enhancing the commercial functions of the Shekou Cruise Homeport, actively seeking to expand duty-free shop layouts and assortments, raise duty-free allowances, explore the potential of departure tax refund policies, and converting inbound traffic to Shenzhen into incremental growth for retail, wholesale, accommodation, and dining industries.

33. Elevating the level of all-chain public services for culture, tourism, and sports.Accelerating the development of a world-class sightseeing, tourism, and leisure destination city, meticulously planning and constructing a high-standard, world-class all-scenario, all-chain service system covering entry–exit, accommodation, dining, transportation, sightseeing, consumption, and medical care. Further improving the city’s tourist service center infrastructure, adding or renovating at least two tourist service centers throughout the year. Producing and distributing high-quality cultural and tourism promotional materials, designing signature Shenzhen souvenirs, and continuously crafting a world-class, shared tourism service environment. Rebuilding or constructing 100 urban and building-type community sports facilities.

34. Steadily developing digital renminbi.Continuously optimizing intelligent and convenient measures for departure tax refunds, increasing scenarios for using physical wallets, and promptly promoting citywide metro acceptance of major international bank cards such as Mastercard and Visa, as well as digital renminbi physical wallet tap-passes, aiming to achieve over 90% coverage of aggregated payments with digital renminbi physical wallets in key core commercial districts, satisfying diverse public transport payment needs of visiting foreign nationals.

35. Enhancing the experience of foreigners in Shenzhen.Building a higher-level international visitor service ecosystem, establishing a one-stop service system providing 24-hour consultation for overseas guests, optimizing and upgrading checkpoint smart inspection facilities and equipment, comprehensively elevating foreigners’ overall experience in Shenzhen. Mandating the installation of multilingual signage wherever required, ensuring precise standardization, and guaranteeing full foreign-language signage coverage in core APEC meeting areas and critical venues.

36. Strengthening engineering meteorological data services.Prior to the allocation of socially invested land plots, providing the “Shenzhen Urban Planning Controlling Engineering Meteorological Parameters” free of charge in accordance with the “multi-plan integration” requirements, saving time and costs for land-use enterprises, improving the efficiency of project approval, and serving over 100 projects throughout the year.

37. Optimizing educational services for Hong Kong籍 students.Focusing on the unique educational needs of children of Shenzhen–Hong Kong residents, encouraging three schools to open “Hong Kong籍 student classes,” providing more suitable educational services, and promoting alignment and integrated development of Shenzhen–Hong Kong educational rules.

38. Promoting international hospital accreditation to high standards.Throughout the year, helping one to two additional overseas medical institutions obtain international hospital accreditation. Encouraging Shenzhen medical institutions to utilize the Shenzhen–Hong Kong cross-border secure and convenient data channel to connect with platforms like “MediLink” in Hong Kong, enabling safe, compliant, and efficient cross-border transmission of medical data between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

39. Advancing park expansion and quality improvement.Deeply excavating the distinctive floral landscapes, cultural heritage, historical features, and other resources of parks, focusing on building a series of high-standard ecological corridors, natural parks, countryside parks, sports parks, and pocket parks. Constructing or renovating 25 parks throughout the year, bringing the city’s total park count to 1,370. Building an international mangrove center at a high level, accelerating the construction of a mangrove wetland museum, and comprehensively creating an international wetland city.

40. Creating a positive public opinion atmosphere.Centering around the theme of “Building the Asia-Pacific Community and Promoting Shared Prosperity” and key milestones throughout the year, comprehensively carrying out APEC publicity efforts, launching dedicated APEC sections, special issues, and exclusive interviews, inviting media from APEC economies to visit Shenzhen (“invite them in”), conducting interviews and reports on APEC economies (“go out”), and ensuring a citywide APEC atmosphere.

41. Creating a window for promoting the city’s image.Developing the “Amazing Shenzhen” city IP, upgrading the multilingual external portal website to “Amazing Shenzhen,” and building platforms for external information services, digital sharing of the city’s image, international friend community engagement, and international salon visits.

42. Leveraging overseas resources to spread Shenzhen’s voice.Actively inviting mainstream overseas media representatives to visit Shenzhen and conduct reporting tours. Utilizing overseas influencers, sinologists, and international students to amplify external voices, continuously encouraging overseas influencers to visit Shenzhen, and inviting overseas sinologists to share stories about Shenzhen externally.

43. Telling the “Shenzhen Story” well.Promoting the short drama “Miracle” domestically and internationally, spreading Shenzhen through the touring performance of the dance drama “Wing Chun.” Hosting the Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Season, the “My City, My Song” New Era Urban Folk Song Gathering, and the Lianhuashan Grassland Music Festival—brand cultural events inviting artists and artistic groups from home and abroad to perform in Shenzhen, consistently supplying high-quality cultural resources.

44. Elevating the internationalization level of the convention and exhibition industry.Seizing the opportunity of hosting the APEC meeting in Shenzhen, deeply embedding ourselves in the global convention and exhibition industry chain, organizing exhibition visits and exchange activities, and comprehensively raising the industry’s internationalization level.

45. Building a world-class conference destination.Completin

46.展示城市风采魅力。继续办好高交会、文博会、西丽湖论坛、全球招商大会等有国际影响力的品牌活动，充分展现城市风采和魅力。