City's global pull: 400+ foreign delegations touch down in 2025

During a visit to Shenzhen last September, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez toured the exhibition “Great Tides Surge along the Pearl River: 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up in Guangdong.” He noted that China’s socioeconomic progress offers a valuable reference for Cuba.

Emblematic of China’s reform and opening up, Shenzhen is a city created by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people — a striking embodiment of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Its rise from a small fishing village into a modern international metropolis showcases China’s commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation.

A growing number of world leaders now consider Shenzhen a must-visit destination in China. In 2025 alone, the city received over 400 foreign delegations, including three heads of state or government. From 2021 to 2025, it welcomed more than 1,200 foreign delegations, including 26 national leaders.

The year 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Shenzhen’s GDP has soared from 270 million yuan (US$39.32 million) in 1980 to 3.68 trillion yuan in 2024, achieving an average annual growth of 18.8%. This historic leap epitomizes China’s modernization.

This remarkable development draws keen attention from countries pursuing growth. During a visit last March, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung focused on Shenzhen’s support for the private economy, business environment, and technological innovation, seeking insights for Vietnam’s development.

Similarly, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith explored Shenzhen’s smart city initiatives, noting the city’s achievements “can provide Laos with valuable lessons for building modern cities.”

From August to September last year, 38 officials from Asian and African developing countries attended a seminar on Shenzhen’s development model.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits BYD. Photos from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

“I plan to write a research report outlining Shenzhen’s journey and sharing the lessons learned here,” said Philip Etale, communications director of Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement party, noting Kenya can learn much from Shenzhen.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, after visiting TCL, remarked, “I truly witnessed world-class Chinese technology.”

Home to tech giants like Tencent, Huawei, and DJI, Shenzhen is hailed as China’s “Silicon Valley” and a leading innovation hub, where partners worldwide can share opportunities through open cooperation.

In 2025, Shenzhen hosted high-level visitors including Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, and President of the Oregon State Senate Rob Wagner, as well as a group of U.K. mayors and representatives from the Association of German–Chinese Societies. During his visit, Gan stated, “We are very optimistic about Shenzhen’s development potential and hope to further deepen all-round cooperation.” For such guests, Shenzhen has become a key destination for forging partnerships.

Nauru President David Adeang tours Shenzhen Women and Children’s Building.

Major events like the China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) and the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) have become vital platforms for global engagement. In 2025, the CHTF drew participants from over 120 countries and regions, while the ICIF featured exhibitors from 65 countries and regions.

With the “China Year”now underway, global attention turns to Shenzhen for closer ties. “Shenzhen will be the primary source of China’s future investment and technological trends,”said Harley Seyedin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China.

Last April, a U.S. youth delegation took part in a pickleball cultural exchange in Shenzhen, where students from Montgomery County, Maryland, played friendly matches with local peers and engaged in archery, paper art, and gold foil painting — building friendships through sport and culture.

Two months later, teens from the San Francisco Bay Area joined an innovation camp in Shenzhen, where they collaborated with local students on robotics challenges, paper-cutting, and drama workshops, and planted “friendship trees” together.

International guests explore Shenzhen on a double-decker sightseeing bus.

In 2025, Shenzhen hosted the 9th World Conference on Sinology, convening nearly 200 scholars from over 50 countries. The city’s art festival featured over 100 international artists, and the “Belt and Road” International Music Festival showcased performers from 30 countries, including 18 Belt and Road partner nations.

These vibrant exchanges build bridges of mutual understanding, helping the world see a dynamic, open, and innovative China through the story of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen fast-tracks rise as global city

In March 2025, Shenzhen unveiled a three-year plan to accelerate its development as a modern international metropolis. The blueprint aims to boost the city’s global visibility, prominence, and reputation by promoting high-quality development and improving living standards.

As per the plan, Shenzhen will upgrade its comprehensive foreign-related service system by piloting internationalization projects in key areas such as business districts, tourist sites, transportation hubs, hospitals, and schools. By strengthening multilingual support, streamlining service procedures, and creating a more welcoming environment, Shenzhen seeks to set new standards for international services and build replicable models for other cities.