A staff member transports cross-border e-commerce goods at the Hongqiao Bonded Logistics Center (Type B) in Shanghai. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District (CBD) achieved robust economic growth in 2025, with key indicators showing strong growth in consumption, investment, and foreign trade. The district has solidified its role as a strategic hub for international cooperation and high-quality development.
Foreign trade volume reached 102.7 billion yuan ($14.3 billion), marking a 19.9 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, foreign investment in actual use surged 70.9 percent year-on-year, reaching $659 million, reflecting strong global investor confidence.
As a pioneer in supporting enterprises' global expansion, the CBD hosted 382 overseas-focused events in 2025, serving nearly 9,000 enterprises — 44 percent of which were from other parts of the Yangtze River Delta.
It has established collaborative links with more than 100 countries and 130 overseas economic and trade zones, helping over 1,200 enterprises register as UN suppliers and gain access to global procurement networks.
Cross-border business saw rapid growth, with cross-border e-commerce import and export volume jumping 380 percent year-on-year to 14.63 billion yuan.
A cross-border data service center was created to offer high-speed international internet access for enterprises, with more than 20 companies already utilizing the dedicated channel.
Leveraging the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), the CBD secured five high-quality projects worth approximately $30 million, featuring well-known brands such as Porsche and Maybach, amplifying the expo's spillover effects.
Designated a pilot area for institutional opening-up, the CBD now houses 283 municipal-level headquarters and more than 7,000 digital economy enterprises. A 24-hour self-service visa system for trips to Hong Kong and Macao was introduced, processing more than 75 percent of applications during non-working hours.
The CBD is set to optimize its global service system further, aiming to become the premier gateway for Yangtze River Delta enterprises seeking to expand overseas and to upgrade into a dynamic international central hub.
