Shenzhen holds 12th policy exchange meeting for Japanese firms

Overview

On September 25, 2025, the "2025 Invest in Shenzhen Series: Shenzhen–Japanese-Invested Enterprises Industry Policy Exchange Meeting" was held at UpperHills, a mixed-use complex in Shenzhen's Futian District. It was co-hosted by the Investment Promotion Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Consulate-General of Japan in Guangzhou and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Guangzhou Office, and organized by the Shenzhen Foreign-Invested Enterprises Right and Interest Protection Service Workstation. According to the Shenzhen Commerce Bureau, the meeting has now been held for 12 consecutive years. About 100 people attended, including representatives of municipal government departments and leading Japanese-invested companies in China.

Background

Shenzhen hosts many Japanese companies, particularly in electronics, machinery and automotive-related fields. According to the Investment Promotion Bureau, 1,171 Japanese-invested enterprises were operating in Shenzhen as of August 2025. In January–August 2025, 8,119 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in the city, an increase of more than 60% year on year.

On the broader economic relationship, figures presented at an exchange conference held during the "Shenzhen Week" at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in May showed that trade between Shenzhen and Japan reached about US$26.4 billion in 2024, up 16.4%, and that Japanese investment in Shenzhen had exceeded US$3.8 billion. Against this background, venues where government and business can directly discuss the institutional issues Japanese firms face locally are becoming increasingly important.

Key Points

• Direct dialogue with government: Officials from relevant Shenzhen departments answered companies' questions on the spot, covering taxation, social insurance, education, environmental protection, customs and entry-exit administration.
• Shenzhen's position: A representative of the Investment Promotion Bureau said the city would continue its work to attract foreign investment and build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment.
• Japanese remarks: Consul General Kijima Yoshiko noted that China and Japan have maintained close economic and trade cooperation, and expressed the hope that the meeting would build mutual trust and help Japanese firms put down roots in Shenzhen.
• JETRO's view: Okada Eiji, Director and Chief Representative of JETRO Guangzhou, said Shenzhen's business environment had attracted many Japanese companies, and asked the municipal government to continue supporting them.

Item	Details
Date	September 25, 2025
Venue	UpperHills, Futian District, Shenzhen
Participants	About 100
Edition	12th consecutive year
Japanese-invested firms in Shenzhen	1,171 (as of August 2025)

What It Means for Japan–Shenzhen Exchange

Taxation, social insurance, children's education, customs clearance, and visas and residence are issues that directly affect the day-to-day operations of Japanese companies and their expatriate staff in Shenzhen. A forum that has allowed companies to hear directly from municipal departments on such practical matters for more than a decade is likely to contribute to the stability of Japanese business operations in the city.

At a time when the establishment of new foreign-invested firms is rising sharply, Shenzhen's efforts to publicize improvements in its business environment are also drawing attention. For the Japanese side, the meeting is expected to serve as a channel for keeping up with local regulatory changes and conveying requests. Some observers also see it as helping to support cooperation between Shenzhen and Japanese companies and smoother movement of people.

Another notable feature is that Japan's Consulate-General and JETRO co-host the event with Shenzhen government bodies. A framework in which government agencies, business organizations and local companies share information in the same room appears to help spread regulatory information that individual firms would find difficult to obtain on their own. For smaller Japanese companies, and for those considering entering Shenzhen, the information presented at such meetings may also serve as a useful reference.

Outlook

The Shenzhen Commerce Bureau's announcement did not mention the timing of the next meeting or any specific measures in response to the requests raised. How individual regulatory improvements will proceed remains to be seen in future announcements from the departments concerned.

From the Association

The Association closely follows developments in the business environment for Japanese companies in Shenzhen. We will continue to help create opportunities for exchange between Shenzhen and Japanese companies and institutions, and to share relevant information.