Representatives from 18 Shanghai-based economic and trade organizations from 11 countries and regions — including Japan, Germany, Denmark and Serbia — recently explored business opportunities in the city's Fengxian district.

Delegates from six organizations engaged in discussions and shared insights at a forum, in pursuit of collaboration and development.

Jelena Grubor Stefanovic, director of the Representative Office of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, highlighted the country's increasing role in global trade, emphasizing its stability in the face of current uncertainties.

She also praised China's consistent trade policies and initiatives for providing a stable environment for global trade — and its robust infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities for supporting global supply chains.

Masayoshi Yamada, chief representative of the Shanghai office of the Osaka Business Development Agency, noted Fengxian's prominence in the beauty and health industry and its strategic focus on green energy, new materials and smart equipment.

He also highlighted the district's Oriental Beauty Valley — a hub for multinational corporations in cosmetics, including France's L'Oréal Group and Japan's Shiseido Co Ltd — and voiced his optimism for enhanced Sino-Japanese cooperation through increased understanding of the district's distinctive practices.

Masanobu Matoba, chief delegate of the Shanghai office of the Osaka International Business Promotion Center, discussed deepening exchanges between Shanghai and Osaka on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their sister city relationship last year — calling for increased interactions between businesses in Fengxian and Osaka.

Qian Xihan from the Shanghai office of the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK), underscored the challenges that were faced by nearly half of the more than 6,000 German enterprises in China in 2024.

However, he revealed that 92 percent of the German enterprises had firm confidence in the Chinese market — with more than half looking to increase their investments in China in the coming two years.

He also emphasized the importance of localization and innovation for German enterprises — and called for strengthened cooperation with China, particularly in areas like cross-border data.

After the forum, business delegates visited the Fengxian Planning and Resources Exhibition Hall and Wufang village in Qingcun town — gaining insights into the district's urban development plans and rural revitalization achievements.

Source: Fengxian district government