Expats contribute wisdom to Qianhai's intl. growth

Video and photos by Zhen Jianhong

On the afternoon of July 12, the 14th “HiQianhai” event took place in Qianhai. More than 10 expat experts contributed their insights and visions through immersive site visits and focused discussions to support the construction of an international talent ecosystem and accelerate the region’s internationalization.

Participants tour the Qianhai Longwan International Talent Apartment.

The event began with a field visit to Qianhai’s pioneering high-end international talent apartment — the Qianhai Longwan International Talent Apartment. This modern development spans 150,000 square meters and comprises 1,028 fully furnished apartments alongside 12,000 square meters of commercial space.

The project offers four apartment types — one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus study, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom — ranging from 75 to 150 square meters, all designed for immediate occupancy. It is slated for official opening by the end of August.

Participants pose for a group photo at the Qianhai Longwan International Talent Apartment.

“The apartments are well designed. We would all like to live there. If there were subsidies or some kind of support for entrepreneurs, that would be really great to encourage more people to come, stay, live, and work here,” said Titiana Lis, from Belarus, who works as an educator in Shenzhen.

Participants inspect English signage in Qianhai.

The group then toured key sites, including the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, Qianhai MixC, and the Qianhai International Talent Hub. The focus was on evaluating English signage improvements and identifying areas needing further refinement.

Last month, the Qianhai International Cooperation Center and EyeShenzhen convened a 10-member foreign think tank to visit these locations and gather suggestions to enhance English signage. The visit culminated in a comprehensive feedback report.

Following submission to the Qianhai Authority, the majority of the corrections were implemented within a month. This follow-up visit aimed to provide additional optimization recommendations to continuously elevate international service standards.

Participants share insights at a discussion session.

During a lively discussion session, participants brainstormed on the theme of “Qianhai’s international construction.” The international guests offered practical, experience-based proposals, providing valuable guidance for Qianhai’s ongoing international development.

Recently, The Qianhai Authority officially released the "Qianhai International Development Action Plan (2025–2027)." This plan focuses on several key areas, including “vigorously promoting economic internationalization,” “building a new international city center,” and “enhancing external exchange and cooperation,” marking the comprehensive launch of a new chapter in Qianhai’s international development.

Mahmoud Hamdy Mahmoud Ahmed, an Egptian entrepreneur in Qianhai, stated, “I have witnessed many developments in Qianhai and hope that more policies catering to expatriates will be introduced in the future.”

He explained that while registration for Chinese enterprises in Qianhai takes only one day, his foreign-invested company took five days to complete the process. Additionally, he noted that his applications for free office space were not successful.

Andrew William Gibbs from the U.K. shares his insights at the session.

Andrew William Gibbs, a teacher from the U.K., suggested that Qianhai could strengthen information promotion in public places such as metro stations, making it easier for expats to stay informed about newly opened parks, shopping malls, and other facilities. Rita Gimenez, an entrepreneur from Spain, expressed hope for more cultural venues to further enrich the atmosphere in Qianhai.

Participants poses for a group photo at the Qianhai International Cooperation Center.

As a core driving force of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Qianhai is committed to creating a truly international, convenient business and living environment driven by a dual strategy of “hardware infrastructure + software services.”

This event established a dynamic loop of “experience—feedback—optimization,” ensuring that internationalization initiatives effectively address expats’ needs and fuel Qianhai’s rise as a global talent hub.

Looking ahead, Qianhai aims to further elevate its international stature by building an international “service circle,” fostering an international “innovation circle,” creating an international “living circle,” and expanding its international “circle of friends.”