On a November weekend, the port city of Shenzhen in southern China stood before a gathering that will carry the Asia-Pacific economies' leaders into its streets: the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, set for November 18 and 19. Officials presented their readiness as a kind of hospitality, a city arranging its transport, its signs, its cash machines and its translation devices so that strangers can move through it with ease. Behind the logistics lies a quieter story of a place that has grown into one of the mainland's great engines of trade, having just passed the five-trillion-yuan mark in
Shenzhen Declares APEC Leaders' Meeting Preparations Complete as Foreign Trade Tops 5 Trillion Yuan
Imports surged 73.7 percent, nearly matching exports
Mark
Why does a press briefing about signs and ATMs matter?
Mimi
Because it shows what hosting looks like in practice. Over 100,000 standardized foreign-language signs, 7,000 AI translation devices, bilingual taxi announcements: these are the details delegates will actually meet.
Mark
And the payment measures?
Mimi
Foreign cards work at more than 3,000 ATMs and at metro gates, and tax refunds extend to 3,160 stores. That's about making a visit frictionless.
Luke
Worth noting that all of this is the organizers describing their own readiness. "Ready" is their word, and the briefing offers no outside assessment.
Mark
Fair. What about the trade numbers?
Mimi
5.25 trillion yuan in ten months, up 40.9 percent. Imports jumped 73.7 percent to 2.54 trillion, while exports rose 19.7 percent to 2.71 trillion.
Luke
Those figures come from Shenzhen Customs, reported at the briefing. The source doesn't say what drove the import surge, so I'd resist any explanation.
Mark
Is the first-on-the-mainland claim also from officials?
Mimi
Yes, it was presented in the data released at the briefing.
Luke
Right, and nothing here says what the summit will decide. Policy outcomes are simply unknown until Nov. 18 and 19.
Der Puls
- Shenzhen is racing toward the November 18-19 leaders' meeting, with officials declaring every venue and service ready for the arrival of delegates.
- Nine dedicated transport channels, over 7,000 AI translation devices and 100,000 standardized foreign-language signs are being deployed to guide visitors through the city.
- Foreign bank cards now work at more than 3,000 ATMs and metro gates, while departure tax refunds reach 3,160 stores, smoothing the path for overseas guests.
- Trade momentum is surging: imports jumped 73.7 percent in the first ten months, pushing Shenzhen past 5 trillion yuan and setting the stage for what the summit may mean for trade policy.
On a November weekend, the port city of Shenzhen in southern China stood before a gathering that will carry the Asia-Pacific economies' leaders into its streets: the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, set for November 18 and 19. Officials presented their readiness as a kind of hospitality, a city arranging its transport, its signs, its cash machines and its translation devices so that strangers can move through it with ease. Behind the logistics lies a quieter story of a place that has grown into one of the mainland's great engines of trade, having just passed the five-trillion-yuan mark in foreign commerce. The summit will test whether that prosperity can be shown as an open door.
On Saturday, November 14, officials gathered at the media center in Shenzhen, in Guangdong Province, to tell reporters the city was ready. The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting opens there on November 18 and runs through November 19, and the preparations were described as a blend of green practices, traditional and Lingnan culture, and digital technology. Key venues have been upgraded and rehearsed, and arrangements cover everything from reception and catering to medical care, public security and weather.
Mayor Li Yun said the city had strengthened transport, power, communications and hotels while trying to keep disruption to residents' daily lives to a minimum. Much of the briefing focused on how a foreign visitor will actually move through the city. Delegates will have dedicated channels at nine ports, more than 100,000 signs have been standardized, and over 7,000 AI translation devices are in place, with taxis making bilingual announcements.
Money matters were addressed as well. More than 3,000 ATMs accept foreign bank cards, over 1,600 bank branches offer currency exchange, and metro gates take contactless overseas cards. The departure tax-refund network has grown to 3,160 stores.
The briefing also marked an economic milestone: Shenzhen became the first mainland city to record more than 5 trillion yuan in foreign trade. Exports rose 19.7 percent, while imports climbed 73.7 percent, leaving the two sides of the ledger nearly balanced. With the summit days away, attention now turns to how the gathering unfolds in a city that has just crossed that threshold.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, officials gathered at the media center for the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Shenzhen, in southern China's Guangdong Province, and told reporters the city is ready. The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting opens there on Nov. 18 and runs through Nov. 19.
Wang Xi, deputy head of the provincial preparatory leading group, said organizers built green practices, traditional Chinese culture, local Lingnan culture and digital technology into the venues and services. Key venues have been upgraded and put through comprehensive rehearsals. Arrangements are in place for reception, accommodation, catering, transport, medical care and interpretation, along with measures covering communications, weather, public security, public health and city operations. During meeting week, Guangdong will offer 218 visitor sites and 43 routes, two of them representative routes in Shenzhen.
Shenzhen Mayor Li Yun said all venues and facilities are ready. According to him, the city has strengthened transport, power, communications and hotel services, and has tried to keep disruption to residents' daily lives to a minimum.
Much of the briefing dealt with the practical business of moving through the city as a foreign visitor. Delegates will have dedicated channels at nine sea, land, air and rail ports. More than 100,000 foreign-language signs have been standardized, over 7,000 AI translation devices have been installed at key locations, and taxis will make bilingual announcements.
Money is covered too. More than 3,000 ATMs support cash withdrawals with foreign bank cards, and over 1,600 bank branches offer currency exchange. Metro fare gates will accept contactless payment from overseas bank cards. The departure tax-refund program has grown to 3,160 stores, more than 1,000 of which offer instant refunds.
The briefing also carried an economic milestone. Shenzhen has become the first city on the Chinese mainland to record more than 5 trillion yuan, about 744.6 billion U.S. dollars, in foreign trade. Shenzhen Customs said imports and exports totaled 5.25 trillion yuan in the first 10 months of the year, up 40.9 percent from a year earlier.
Exports rose 19.7 percent to 2.71 trillion yuan. Imports rose faster, up 73.7 percent to 2.54 trillion yuan, leaving the two sides of the ledger close to even. With the leaders' meeting days away, the next thing to watch is how the gathering itself unfolds in the city that has just crossed that trade threshold.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
All venues and facilities are ready, and daily life for residents has been kept as undisturbed as possible.— Li Yun, Shenzhen Mayor (paraphrased)
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Das Original lesen bei China.org.cn ↗