City unveils first batch of 20 international blocks

A total of 20 blocks in nine districts and Dapeng New Area have been selected into Shenzhen’s first batch of international blocks, the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office announced at a title-conferring ceremony held at the Civic Center in Futian District yesterday.

Representatives from Shenzhen’s international blocks pose for a photo at a ceremony at the Civic Center in Futian District yesterday. The Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office conferred the 20 blocks the international status at the ceremony. Sun Yuchen

Seven of them, namely Zhaoshang, Shekou, Yuehai, Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Zone (Futian Bonded Area), Minzhi, Xiangmihu, and Convention and Exhibition New Town, were recognized as the Demonstrative International Blocks for having favorable conditions for comprehensive development.

Six of the total — Zhaoshang, Yuehai, Shekou, Huaqiangbei, Cuizhu and Dapeng — won the title of Charateristic Demonstrative International Blocks, which excel in international commerce exchanges, international industrial innovation, culture and tourism.

In another category, 14 of the 20 were listed as the Characteristic International Blocks, such as Pingshan, Guiyuan, Bantian and Taoyuan.

During a speech at the ceremony, Cao Saixian, director general of the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, said the 20 international blocks have made prominent achievements in optimizing public space design, setting up international volunteer service teams, improving the international language environment, and promoting cross-cultural exchanges.

Each block has unique features based on its advantages, thus forming the city’s international block network comprised of different forms and styles, Cao said.

The building of international blocks has helped improve Shenzhen’s level as an international city, according to Cao.

Shenzhen took the lead in the country to pilot the construction of international blocks in 2019 and launched a three-year program to build 20 international blocks in a bid to boost the city’s internationalization.

Stewart Hansen points at an inappropriate English translation of a sign board in a citywide campaign to regulate English signs in public places. File photo

In November 2021, the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office initiated an evaluation on the work of building international blocks at 20 communities.

The evaluation adopted a method of combining basic and feature evaluations with indicators showing Shenzhen’s characteristics on its way of becoming an international metropolis.

The basic evaluation covers six aspects, including block governance, international exchanges, residents’ quality, livable environment, industrial services and communication capabilities.

The feature evaluation, with a focus on the blocks’ characteristic advantages, emphasizes three aspects of planning, development and achievements.

Expat residents pose for a group photo during an activity designed to help them have better knowledge of their community in Nanshan District. File photo

The evaluation centered around the competence and progress of the subdistrict governments and communities in building international blocks based on their own actual situation, rather than ranking them to show which one is better or worse, according to Liu Hongzhao, associate professor from the Quality and Standard Academy of Shenzhen Technology University, the mastermind of the evaluation guideline.

During the assessment period, which started in November last year, the expert panel collected a total of 18,234 questionnaires from the local and expat communities, according to Liu.

At the ceremony, the foreign affairs office initiated founding of the second batch of international blocks.

According to the plan, Shenzhen will form an international block network by 2025. By 2030, the international blocks will be the key components for the city’s construction of an international city and congregation of international advanced production forces, knowledge and technologies, and high-quality professionals.

List of the first batch of international blocks

1. Demonstrative International Blocks

Zhaoshang, Shekou, Yuehai, Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Minzhi, Xiangmihu, and Convention and Exhibition New Town

2. Characteristic Demonstrative International Blocks

1) Demonstrative Block Featuring International Commerce Exchanges

Zhaoshang

2) Demonstrative Block Featuring International Industrial Innovation

Yuehai

3) Demonstrative Blocks Featuring International Commerce, Culture and Tourism

Shekou, Huaqiangbei, Cuizhu and Dapeng

3. Characteristic International Blocks

1) Blocks Featuring International Commerce Exchanges

Convention and Exhibition New Town, Bao’an CBD, Minzhi, Guiyuan, Xiangmihu and Pingshan

2) Blocks Featuring International Industrial Innovation

Bantian and Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone

3) Block Featuring International Education and Research

Taoyuan

4) Blocks Featuring International Commerce, Culture and Tourism

Meisha, Gongming, Dongmen, Guanlan and Haishan