On the morning of today (March 21), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a media briefing. Kong Fu’an, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and executive deputy director of the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Committee, introduced the achievements of the construction of the Hongqiao International Central Business District on the fourth anniversary of the start of the construction of the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub. Chen Guozhong, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Wu Qiang, acting chief of Minhang District, Liu Ping, chief of Changning District, Jin Xiaoming, chief of Qingpu District, and Gao Xiang, chief of Jiading District, attended the briefing and answered questions from reporters.Over the past four years, the Hongqiao International Central Business District has fully implemented the Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub, achieving significant progress across all areas. In 2024, the CBD’s total import and export value of goods rose by 13.0% year on year, while the total import and export value of services surged by 80.9%. Fixed asset investment grew by 15.5%, total industrial output of enterprises above the designated size increased by 14.6%, and tax revenue surpassed 50 billion yuan for the first time. As a key hub advancing multiple national strategies, the CBD has played a vital role in driving Shanghai’s high-quality development.1. New milestone achieved in building a premier headquarters economyOver the past four years, the Hongqiao International Central Business District has attracted more than 600 key projects with a total investment exceeding 300 billion yuan. As of February 2025, the CBD has introduced and nurtured 242 municipal-level recognized headquarters institutions. Industry leaders such as Anta, Midea, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Noblelift Group, Innovent Biologics, and Yunnan Baiyao have established international business headquarters and R&D centers in the CBD. Meanwhile, multinational corporations including Bosch, Jungheinrich, and Eaton have set up regional headquarters and R&D centers. The CBD has also seen the rapid clustering of productive Internet platform companies like Blake Lake Technology and ZKH.2. New progress achieved in advancing modern service industry clustersLeading global professional service firms such as KPMG, Dun & Bradstreet, and ManpowerGroup have accelerated their presence in the CBD. The “Going Out” service platform has been completed and put into operation, while the Yangtze River Delta Belt and Road High-Quality Development Promotion Association has officially settled in. The Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center has brought together 10 types of major international professional service institutions across finance, law, taxation, intellectual property, and human resources, offering tailored support to facilitate high-quality global expansion for enterprises. Meanwhile, the development of the Hongqiao International Central Legal-services District is progressing rapidly, with 157 legal services institutions now established and the Hongqiao Center of the Shanghai Arbitration Commission officially in operation. Technology services are also gaining momentum, with tech services firms now accounting for 21.4% of all businesses in the CBD. Hongqiao-based companies now benefit from a streamlined process for attracting top international scientific and technological talent. Additionally, the construction of the human resources service industrial park has accelerated, bringing together 272 human resources firms, including ManpowerGroup, Shanghai Foreign Service Holding Group Co, and CDP Group.3. New height achieved in developing new platform for international trade center The spillover effect of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) continued to expand. The “6+365” year-round exhibition and sales platform in the CBD has achieved a cumulative trade value exceeding 69 billion yuan, with 46 sub-centers established nationwide. Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center now showcases over 60,000 products from more than 90 countries and regions, while Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub has set up 68 national pavilions. The scale of international exhibitions continued to grow. In 2024, international exhibitions accounted for 83% of events at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, covering a record-breaking 8 million square meters. Meanwhile, the Hongqiao International Exhibition and Convention Industrial Park has attracted 426 exhibition companies. The Silk Road E-Commerce initiative is also making significant strides, with 22 national pavilions established and exports to partner countries increasing by 48.5% year on year. The Hongqiao Overseas Trade Center is rapidly expanding, with 43 international trade and investment promotion agencies now operating in the CBD, maintaining connections with over 150 countries and regions. New international trade formats are taking shape, marked by the establishment of the Hongqiao Digital Trade Industry Alliance, which has attracted more than 7,000 digital trade enterprises. Hongqiao Airport has also launched its cross-border e-commerce business, with the Hongqiao CBD Bonded Logistics Center (Type B) ranking first in the city for cross-border e-commerce import orders and sales for two consecutive years. Trade finance support continued to strengthen, with partnerships forged with nine financial institutions — including the Export-Import Bank of China and China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation — providing over 400 billion yuan in credit to fuel trade development.4. New blueprint drafted for international central business districtThe strategic development of the Hongqiao International Central Business District has been further refined. For the first time, a comprehensive plan has been developed for the entire 151-square-kilometer area, systematically enhancing key urban functions, including ecological networks, transportation, housing, and public services. The coverage of planned rail transit stations within a 600-meter radius has increased to 35%, and a plan has been implemented to double the per capita public service land allocation. The CBD’s core area is becoming more identifiable and visible, with key commercial and office buildings undergoing upgrades and landmark projects — such as the West Transportation Platform and Central Axis — progressing steadily. Public service facilities have also seen major improvements. High-profile commercial hubs like Panlong Tiandi and IKEA’s Livat Shanghai have opened, with Panlong Tiandi designated as a national-level tourist and leisure community. To enhance livability, approximately 26,000 affordable rental housing units have been built or are under construction. The CBD’s green spaces continued to expand, with 45 pocket parks established in the core area, while Hongqiao Sports Park is now in operation.5. New development achieved in advancing multi-layered transportation system The Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub has reached new milestones in traffic volume. In 2024, passenger flow hit 438 million, averaging around 1.2 million passengers daily. Hongqiao International Airport’s passenger throughput reached a record 47.97 million. The multi-layered transportation network continued to expand. Key projects such as the Shanghai-Nanjing High-speed Railway along the Yangtze River, the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway, and the Airport Link Line are now operational. Meanwhile, the western extensions of Metro Line 2 and Line 13, the Demonstration Zone Line, and the Jiamin Line are all progressing rapidly. Road infrastructure projects like the G15 Jiajin Section and the S20 Outer Ring West Section are also accelerating. Furthermore, the coordinated development of the low-altitude economy between Hongqiao International Central Business District and neighboring cities such as Suzhou, Jiaxing, and Wuhu is advancing steadily, with notable progress in constructing intercity passenger routes.