Shenzhen, the southern Chinese tech hub that will host the upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, has eased entry, payments, and shopping refunds for international visitors, Mayor Li Yun announced on Saturday.
He made the remarks at the first media briefing since the Media Center for the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Week opened on Wednesday.
To facilitate the smooth arrival of summit delegates, Shenzhen has designated special lanes at nine ports, which include sea, land, air, and rail access points.
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The city is well-equipped to handle international financial transactions, with over 3,000 ATMs allowing withdrawals with foreign cards, and more than 1,600 bank branches offering currency exchange. Additionally, all Shenzhen subway gates now accept contactless payments from foreign cards, enhancing convenience for foreign visitors.
Of the city's 3,160 tax-refund stores, over 1,000 provide immediate refunds, offering seamless shopping experiences.
To overcome language barriers, more than 7,000 AI translation devices have been deployed at entry checkpoints, airports, metro stations, and shopping districts. Furthermore, foreign-language signage at more than 100,000 locations has been standardized to assist visitors.
Li emphasized Shenzhen's commitment to creating "a standing facilitation system" to ensure ongoing ease of access for international visitors.
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Gong Zhenzhi, director of the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, highlighted Guangdong's robust trade relations with APEC economies, which reached 5.74 trillion yuan ($860.3 billion) in the first nine months of the year.
It earmarked a year-on-year growth of 26.4 percent and accounted for 65.9 percent of the province's total trade.
APEC economies contributed 80.2 percent of the foreign capital actually used by Guangdong in the first three quarters of the year and absorbed 68.4 percent of its outbound investments.
Notably, nearly half of Guangdong's 217 sister-city partnerships are with APEC economies, highlighting the region's commitment to fostering international cooperation and exchange.
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At the same time, Shenzhen's trade with APEC economies grew by 40 percent, accounting for nearly 70 percent of its total, with local firms investing $4.1 billion in the region.
The city boasts over 26,000 high-tech enterprises, 47 unicorns, and 628 publicly listed companies, with a substantial 7.1 percent of its GDP allocated to research and development, according to Xia Lei, deputy director of the city's science and technology bureau.
Wang Xi, head of the province's APEC preparatory office, announced that 218 sites and 43 tour routes are ready for APEC participants, underscoring the region's rich cultural and economic ties.
