Guest
Shen Hong
Interview Background
Under the strong leadership of the Jing'an District Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Jing'an District People's Government, the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District has long been focused on core tasks such as foreign investment, branding, and consumption, steadily advancing the high-quality business and commerce development in Jing'an.
Host:
Hello, everyone. Joining us today is Shen Hong, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Director of the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District. Welcome!
Shen Hong:
Hello, host. Hello, everyone.
Host:
Under the strong leadership of the Jing'an District Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Jing'an District People's Government, the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District has long been focused on core tasks such as foreign investment, branding, and consumption, steadily advancing the high-quality business and commerce development in Jing'an.
Shen Hong:
We aim to further consolidate and expand our significant advantages in the headquarters economy and open economy to continuously enhance the level of foreign investment utilization. Jing'an District stands out as one of the most open and internationalized regions in Shanghai. For several consecutive years, its foreign economy has consistently accounted for over 50%, and the foreign-related economic scale and its proportion have remained at the top among central urban areas. In recent years, the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District has persistently advanced the development of the headquarters economy. A headquarters enhancement plan has been established to bolster the services for multinational regional headquarter enterprises and enhancement services. The district now hosts 130 regional headquarters of multinational companies.
Host:
Could you share with us the specific initiatives?
Shen Hong:
Okay. First, we extend our reach to attract prominent participants and strengthen cooperation with business associations of key countries. In 2023, the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District initiated the Foreign Partner Service Season and Foreign-funded Enterprise Roundtable Mechanism, aiming to understand and support the growth of these enterprises. To date, six roundtable meetings focused on specific countries have been conducted. In addition, we have established a whitelist for regional headquarters of multinational companies and key foreign-funded enterprises, focusing on promoting the implementation of foreign-funded projects in key industries such as commerce and trade and biomedicine.
Shen Hong:
Furthermore, enterprise services have been comprehensively optimized. We have implemented the 7.0 version of the Action Plan for Continuously Creating a World-Class Business Environment, firmly grasping the connecting role of initiatives such as "extensive visits and surveys" and the "service packages" for key enterprises, to expand the scope of our services for enterprises and ensure comprehensive support. From project negotiations to the implementation of overseas investments and enterprise operations and development, we have provided full lifecycle services and continuously enhanced the sense of gain for foreign-invested enterprises.
Host:
What has Jing'an done for nurturing domestic enterprises?
Shen Hong:
The commercial sales and social retail growth rates of domestic brand enterprises have continued to increase, contributing more to Jing'an year by year. In the future, we plan to accelerate the development of high-quality domestic enterprises in the commerce and trade sectors, continually boosting the internal drive for economic growth in the region and generating new momentum for development.
Host:
Could you provide us with some specifics on this?
Shen Hong:
Okay. In terms of industrial clustering, Jing'an has consistently enhanced policy support. It has launched a special funding support policy for brand development and encouraged high-quality brand enterprises and related service organizations to carry out new product unveiling activities, enhancing enterprises' brand influence and visibility, and strengthening their determination and confidence to deepen their development in Jing'an. It has also rolled out the Growth Plan for Hundred Enterprises and the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Private Enterprise Headquarters, providing additional support for domestic brand companies in areas such as talent, innovation, and international expansion, and helping quality domestic brands to cluster and grow in Jing'an.
Shen Hong:
At the same time, Jing'an has placed great emphasis on tiered cultivation. In line with the Growth Plan for Hundred Enterprises for commerce and trade enterprises, it has led relevant functional departments to develop tailored policies for different enterprises. The aim is to create a "headquarters influence area" for large domestic brands, a "first-store gathering place" for emerging domestic brands, a "diverse testing ground" for small specific shops, a "brand incubator" that connects industrial resources, and a "global showcase" for brands expanding overseas. These efforts have fostered a positive environment for the rapid growth of emerging brands and the revitalization and upgrading of traditional brands. Moreover, in response to market changes, Jing'an has actively developed new consumption trends such as digital consumption, green consumption, healthy consumption, smart home products, and trendy domestic products, seizing opportunities in new consumption markets.
Host:
Jing'an District is among the first group of International Consumption Center City demonstration zones in China. What did it take to achieve such remarkable success?
Shen Hong:
We have focused on advancing the construction of business districts to high standards, continuously promoting the effects of the unveiling economy, and accelerating the coordinated development of commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and exhibitions, to build world-class landmark business districts and "RMB 100-billion-level business districts" with global influence and reputation". The aim is to establish a new pattern of "comprehensive consumption" and comprehensively deepen the development of the International Consumption Center City demonstration zone throughout the entire district.
Shen Hong:
The Commerce Commission of Jing'an District, taking into account the characteristics of different business districts, has been focused on promoting the diversified development of the three major business districts in Jing'an. The West Nanjing Road business district, centered on the construction goal of building an "RMB 100-billion-level business district", has been creating a block that embodies the charm of Shanghai, a "window in Shanghai" for experiencing China, and a "Chinese landmark" that showcases the whole world. Anchored in the theme of "Artistic Suzhou Creek", the Suzhou Creek business district has been building an artistic business ecological center. Revolving around the concept of cultural innovation combined with e-sports, the Daning business district has been establishing a consumption experiential district that is "explorable, visually enjoyable, and entertaining".
Host:
I have learned that Jing'an, as one of the leaders in Shanghai's unveiling economy, has emerged as a vibrant center most favored for the first stores, both globally and in China. With an influx of global new product launches, Jing'an has continued to amplify the clustering effect of its "unveiling economy".
Shen Hong:
In April 2024, the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District, in collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, hosted the global promotion launching ceremony for "FIRST in Shanghai" at Zhang Yuan, unveiling the 2024 FIRST STORES IN JINGAN. In the past few years, Jing'an District has consistently positioned itself among the city's leaders in both the quantity and levels of newly introduced first stores. In 2023, Jing'an welcomed a total of 236 brand first stores, including 14 Asian and 15 global ones. As of July 2024, it already attracted 145. Furthermore, Jing'an has leveraged the "Business +" approach to drive the integrated development of culture, tourism, sports, and convention and exhibition activities; the "Cultural Tourism +" initiative to promote commercial growth; and the integration of high-level events with traditional commercial spaces to facilitate the development of the retail economy associated with sports events. It has improved spatial connectivity to increase the capacity of hosting commercial, tourism, cultural, and sports events, cultivating an ecosystem for the integrated development of commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and conventions and exhibitions.
Host:
Looking ahead, what plans does the Commerce Commission of Jing'an District have?
Shen Hong:
We will deepen our understanding and implementation of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. In alignment with the goal of "International Jing'an: An Outstanding Urban Area" proposed by the CPC Jing'an Committee and Jing'an District People's Government, we will actively engage and diligently work on three fronts: advancing open economic development, nurturing domestic enterprises, and enhancing business districts. As a trailblazer in the realms of reform, opening up, and innovative development, we aim to elevate Jing'an's commercial progress to new heights, thereby contributing to Jing'an's transformation into an urban model for Chinese Modernization.
Host:
Thank you for your sharing. That's all for today's interview. Thank you very much!
Shen Hong:
Thank you all. Goodbye!