Wei Jie

claudiamente@hotmail.com

UPON arriving at the Sky Museum in Futian District for the 2025 Kunpeng · Autumn Gathering of the Shenzhen Global Business & Trade Networking Conference, Michael Vonk, from Canada, took a keen interest in a mini humanoid robot displayed in the reception area.

The consul for political, economic, and public affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou interacted with the AI-powered robot developed by Shenzhen-based UBTECH, asking it questions about Canada before listening to a brief product introduction from a UBTECH staffer.

Vonk was among more than 80 guests — diplomats from foreign consulates in Guangzhou and representatives from about 40 institutions and enterprises — who attended the event. The gathering was hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Shenzhen), the China Chamber of International Commerce Shenzhen Branch (CCOIC Shenzhen), and Shenzhen Media Group.

The gathering, an initiative established as a regular liaison mechanism with foreign chambers of commerce in China, was officially launched by CCPIT Shenzhen in February.

Yang Haobo, deputy director of CCPIT Shenzhen, outlined the city’s measures and achievements over the past year in helping companies expand abroad and deepen Shenzhen’s presence in international markets. She said Shenzhen is committed to promoting high-tech industries, particularly AI.

“We are looking to be a very powerful agent of AI in Latin America,” said Gonzalo Rubilar, consul of economic and commercial affairs at the Consulate General of Chile in Guangzhou. “We need to learn from the best, and right now the best is China, especially Shenzhen. So, we are seeking direct cooperation with Shenzhen companies in this field,” he said.

Maxime Dechamps, CEO of 8am, a Brussels-based business platform that serves European companies seeking to tap the Chinese market and Chinese companies wanting to expand in Europe, said Belgium’s R&D tax regime for AI and tech companies is among the most competitive in the EU. He added that Belgium’s market access and connectivity can help Shenzhen-based firms scale into Europe.

Fabian Blake, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and chairman of the South China Board, praised Shenzhen’s business environment, calling it generally straightforward and entrepreneur-friendly, particularly when it comes to company registration and basic taxation.

Blake urged deeper engagement between European business organizations and Shenzhen.

“We’re happy to work closely with government agencies on talent attraction and tax policy,” he said.