On July 30, the "Expanding Horizons, Navigating New Markets" event was held at Hongqiao Pinhui to empower foreign trade enterprises for global expansion.

Hosted by the Shanghai Import & Export Chamber of Commerce and supported by China Zheshang Bank Shanghai Branch, the event brought together government, industry, financial, and global partners to build a comprehensive platform for collaborative development.

Notable attendees included Wang Chao, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce; Ji Shengjun, President of the Chamber and Chairman of Oriental International Group; Mr. Tang Charles Andrew, President of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Lin Jingran, President of China Zheshang Bank Shanghai Branch. The event was moderated by Zhu Yi, Director of the Chamber and President of Oriental International Group.

Wang Chao noted that Shanghai's foreign trade hit a record RMB 4.51 trillion in 2025. In H1 2026, total trade grew 18.6% to RMB 2.55 trillion, with exports up 20.1% to RMB 1.14 trillion. Notably, monthly trade and exports have posted positive growth for 17 and 20 consecutive months, respectively.

He outlined five key initiatives to support global expansion:

1.Empowering Industrial Upgrading: Shifting from exporting individual products to entire industrial ecosystems. Sectors like AI computing, robotics, automotive, and shipbuilding are growing robustly, with the three leading industries surpassing RMB 2 trillion in scale.

2.Cultivating New Business Models: Driving cross-border e-commerce (CBEC). Port-based CBEC exports exceeded RMB 100 billion, local enterprise CBEC trade topped RMB 30 billion, and the Hongqiao pilot zone achieved over RMB 14 billion in its first year.

3.Diversifying Global Markets: Expanding trade partnerships to over 200 countries and regions. Trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners now accounts for 41.8% of the total, with emerging markets hitting record highs.

4.Supporting Overseas Exhibitions: Expanding the 2026 recommended exhibition catalog by over 50% to 305 events, and organizing over 1,900 enterprises for 460+ international trade shows.

5.Streamlining Financial Channels: Facilitating over RMB 32 trillion in cross-border RMB settlements in 2025 (nearly half the national total), while broadening overseas financing through Free Trade Port (FTP) accounts and Lingang reforms.

Ji Shengjun noted that as Shanghai's foreign trade pursues new frontiers, enterprises urgently need precise market guidance, risk management, and financial support.

Reaffirming the Chamber's commitment to helping businesses expand and resolve challenges, he stated that this event is a concrete step in mobilizing resources. Moving forward, the Chamber will roll out practical services—including emerging market insights, compliance guidelines, exchange rate hedging, and tailored trade finance—to help enterprises thrive in new global markets.

In his address, Mr. Tang Charles Andrew highlighted the broad prospects of China-Brazil trade. He noted that the upcoming EU-Mercosur trade agreement will create a vast market of nearly 700 million people with significant tariff reductions, presenting massive opportunities for Chinese enterprises in Brazil.

He also advised investors to prioritize local legal and labor compliance, assuring that the Chamber will provide end-to-end support for their investment and trade journeys.

Lin Jingran, Party Secretary and President of China Zheshang Bank Shanghai Branch, stated that serving foreign trade is a strategic priority for the bank. Leveraging the synergies between its FTZ segregated accounting units and its Hong Kong branch, Zheshang Bank will provide comprehensive, full-lifecycle financial services. By integrating domestic and foreign currencies, domestic and international trade, as well as onshore and offshore operations, the bank aims to empower businesses' global expansion through cross-border settlements, inclusive financing, and exchange rate hedging.

During the event, Ji Shengjun, President of the Shanghai Import & Export Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Tang Charles Andrew, President of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Witnessed by Wang Chao, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the partnership aims to streamline trade channels for information, services, and resources, paving the way for Shanghai enterprises to deepen their presence in Brazil and the broader Latin American market.

Wang Ying, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Import & Export Chamber of Commerce, and Liu Peng, General Manager of the International Business Department at China Zheshang Bank Shanghai Branch, signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. Witnessed by Wang Chao, Ji Shengjun, Lin Jingran, and Mo Shensheng (Deputy General Manager of the Bank's International Business Department), the partnership aims to deepen full-chain cooperation in compliance. This collaboration will channel targeted financial support across every stage of foreign trade enterprises' operations, from production and supply to order fulfillment and global expansion.

The event featured keynote sessions focusing on market opportunities, compliance, exchange rate hedging, and cross-border settlements, providing enterprises with systematic and practical guidance.

This event highlights the Chamber's role as a vital bridge connecting government, enterprises, industries, and global resources. Moving forward, the Chamber will continue to address the core needs of foreign trade businesses by mobilizing global partners, professional service providers, and financial institutions. By building more effective platforms and delivering supportive services, the Chamber is committed to driving Shanghai's high-quality trade development and strengthening its role as a strategic link in both domestic and international economic circulation.