"Full makeup" Shenzhen, out of the circle

There is still one week left before the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders’ Meeting kicks off.

On November 11, the physical press center in Hall 2 of Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center (Futian) was open for operation. Chinese and foreign media have moved in one after another, focusing their cameras on this city - the week of the APEC Leaders' Meeting has officially entered "Shenzhen time".

This is a profound meeting.

APEC is a "big family gathering" of member economies. Everyone sat together and discussed how to promote economic and trade cooperation to make the lives of their respective people more prosperous.

And Shenzhen is welcoming this "Asia-Pacific appointment" with the precision of a city.

As the first stop for overseas visitors, the local ports and transportation hubs have fully entered the welcoming state. Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Luohu and other ports have completed logo updates, dedicated channel settings and multilingual service improvements.

Shenzhen has deployed intelligent translation equipment in key areas such as buses, subways, and government affairs halls. Taxis are equipped with AI translators to support multi-language real-time voice translation. 11,000 bus stops have all their names covered in English.

The urban landscape is quietly renewed. APEC themed flags were lined up along the main road, and driverless minibuses departed from Luohu Port, carrying overseas tourists on their "first journey" to Shenzhen - the city's sense of technology itself is a business card handed to visitors from all directions.

As night falls, the curtain walls of landmark buildings such as Ping An Financial Center and Kingkey 100 light up simultaneously. As light and shadow change, APEC-themed animations interweave with Lingnan cultural imagery: British singing and dancing, lion dancing and other intangible cultural heritage pop-ups welcome visitors from all directions, and visual elements such as phoenix wings and ocean ripples are alternately presented between buildings. The entire night sky was connected into a bright "light and shadow welcome belt".

“It’s so shocking, it’s really beautiful,” said Polish businessman Carol. He is engaged in the household appliance industry and made a special trip to Shenzhen to connect with business partners and inspect factories. "I am optimistic about cooperation with Chinese companies and look forward to continuing to expand business exchanges."

On social platforms, many netizens left messages like this, recording Shenzhen in the camera: "Shenzhen in full makeup is so ceremonial" "The APEC-themed sea of flowers is so beautiful" "It's like Monet's garden"...

But the importance of this event is far more than just "good-looking".

The 33rd APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting is the highlight of the event, but “APEC Shenzhen Time” goes far beyond November 18th to 19th.

Prior to the informal leaders' meeting, a series of important events such as the APEC Business Advisory Council meeting and the APEC Business Leaders' Summit were held one after another.

As people come and go, there are more and more international faces on the streets of Shenzhen.

Jamica Cara de Cuadros, who is engaged in the printing and packaging industry in Brazil, mainly aims to visit factories and purchase machinery and equipment. Her company has been trading with Chinese companies for two or three years. "China's efficient industrial supporting facilities and open and inclusive business atmosphere have brought many conveniences to overseas merchants," she said. "I cherish the cooperation opportunities established with Chinese companies and look forward to the APEC meeting bringing more opportunities for international cooperation."

A successful APEC meeting is inseparable from the participation of every citizen.

4.2 million registered volunteers are active at ports, stations, communities and business districts, providing guidance, consultation and language services to guests coming to Shenzhen.

Couriers and takeaway riders have gone into the classroom to learn basic foreign languages ​​and foreign affairs etiquette. Key business districts are equipped with bilingual menus. The English version of the "Volunteer Shenzhen" mini program and the APEC area have been launched to realize "one-click processing" of foreign volunteer registration and registration.

Lin Jia, deputy secretary-general of the Returnees Association of Yantian District, Shenzhen, organized a volunteer team to provide foreign language training for catering merchants, takeaway riders and other groups. "Everyone is a host, and everyone is contributing in their own way."

The APEC meeting is home diplomacy and a window into the symbiosis between Chinese enterprises and cities.

“As a local company, we are actively working with all parties to use AI technology capabilities to provide APEC conference services and visitor experience,” said Cai Guangzhong, vice president of Tencent Group.

Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL, hopes that the APEC meeting will further promote regional openness and cooperation, promote more efficient flow of industrial chains, supply chains and innovation resources, and create a more stable and predictable environment for companies to invest, manufacture, research and develop and cultivate talents locally.

Liu Jiafa, president of the Hong Kong Nanshan Association, hopes that the APEC meeting can promote a stable tariff environment and facilitate import and export trade.

With one week to go, various tasks such as venue facilities, transportation organization, port clearance, volunteer services, and urban environment have entered the final sprint stage.

Shenzhen is ready.

This modern coastal city will welcome visitors from all directions with an open, inclusive, pragmatic and dynamic attitude.