On the afternoon of Aug. 20, the conference room of the Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC), next to Shenzhen North Railway Station, bustled with activity. A group of business owners attended a briefing to learn more about international market policies. Nearby, an expat spoke with staff about visa procedures, assisted by an interpreter switching between Spanish and Mandarin.

It was a scene that would have been unlikely in a district once known mainly for its manufacturing clusters. But since 2023, Longhua has been trying something new: running Shenzhen’s largest district-level international cooperation hub, designed to make global engagement more than just a concept but an everyday service.

As Shenzhen marked its 45 years as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Longhua — a district with a heavy industrial base and growing population — is looking for ways to align with the city’s broader ambition of becoming a global innovation and business hub.

Building a local gateway

The LICC offers more than 500 services, from foreign policy consultation and legal advice to cultural programming. Staff at its counters can assist in 43 languages, an unusual capacity at the district level.

Staffers there describe the model as a way to bring “foreign affairs for the people” more down to earth. In practice, it means supporting not only multinational firms but also small manufacturers, startups, and individual residents.

Within two years, the center says it has established links with over 500 international organizations and associations in 130 countries. It hosts more than 250 events annually, ranging from trade forums to community exchanges.

One milestone was the launch of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) HUA HUB, the first SDGs Innovation Lab to be established in one of China’s National SDGs Innovation Demonstration Zones, in Longhua last year. The hub connects local enterprises with UN-linked accelerators and research initiatives, underscoring how even district-level actors are seeking a place in global networks.

The Capacity Building Training on ESG and MSMEs' Engagement in Global Markets was held to help Longhua firms adapt to international practices and go global. Photos courtesy of LICC

Building on this, the LICC has deepened cooperation with international organizations such as UN-Habitat, UNITAR, and the International Chambers of Commerce, helping Shenzhen’s unique sustainable development practices gain global recognition. For example, Longhua Drainage’s “Digital Water System” and “Six Waters Integrated Management” model were presented at the WUF12 Urban Expo. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives from Longhua-based companies like Ugreen Group Limited and Hello Tech were included in global communication projects.

Helping firms go abroad

The center also serves as a springboard for local companies seeking to expand internationally. According to the LICC, more than 40 firms from the district have expanded into overseas markets with its support, with procurement deals worth over 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) facilitated so far.

Companies like Hithium, Shenzhen Heiman Technology, SWPD, DYU Intelligent Mobility, LEJU ROBOT, and Auratic have successfully established overseas partnerships and received international orders through the LICC, supporting their growth in global markets.

The Shenzhen Day event, co-organized by the LICC and other organizations at last year's U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Events such as investment fairs and industry matchmaking sessions have drawn tens of thousands of participants, both in person and online.

Through regular cross-border investment forums, capacity cooperation meetings, and international procurement events, the center has hosted over 160 activities in two years, benefiting more than 10,000 businesses, with over 200,000 participants joining online.

Visiting foreign officials and diplomats are often shown exhibitions of “Longhua Tech Stories” or taken on tours of industrial parks. For Shenzhen, these encounters are as much about building visibility as they are about securing partnerships.

Cultural bridges & everyday services

Beyond trade, the center emphasizes cultural and community links. Events such as multicultural festivals, language corners, the annual “Celebration of the Spring Festival with Friends at Home and Abroad” event and the exploring Longhua tour program have drawn participants from more than 100 countries.

One standout event was the second leg of the “Explore Longhua · Global Experience” — “Cycle around Guanlan” — which received glowing reviews from expats.

Participants of “Explore Longhua · Global Experience” — “Cycle around Guanlan” pose for a photo at Niuhu Greenway in Guanlan Subdistrict.

Jim Filbird, a Shenzhen’s Global Communications Ambassador who played General MacArthur in “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” said, “It was a great experience. It’s my first time around this park, and it’s really well done.”

Jo?o Pedro, from Brazil, added, “This event was a great opportunity for expats to connect.”

Foreign residents can also turn to the center for practical support — work permits, tax guidance, schooling information, and even rental advice. More than 9,000 cases have been handled to date, according to the center. For many expats, it is their first point of contact with local authorities.

“You feel there’s a place to go when you run into a problem,” said one Spanish entrepreneur, Rita Gimenez, who sought help with her startup company. “It has been beneficial for people like me.”

Youth programs are another priority. From cross-border summer camps to “Sustainable International Block-Youth Co-Creation Camp” projects involving international students, Longhua is trying to frame globalization as part of everyday education.

Significance beyond Longhua

In May, Longhua unveiled a three-year plan to accelerate its international orientation, part of Shenzhen’s broader goal of becoming a modern global metropolis. The blueprint covers talent, industries, and urban services, and highlights “l(fā)ocalized internationalization.”

An expatriate spectator experience practicing Chinese acrobatics during the "Celebration of the Spring Festival with Friends at Home and Abroad” event in Longhua.

The center will focus on several main areas in the next phase: expanding resource connections with international innovation hubs and world-renowned business associations; building a full-service ecosystem to support companies going global; focusing on youth and international talent, creating shared spaces for innovation and entrepreneurship; and implementing the Youth Global Competence Empowerment Program to build a deeper, more open, and higher-quality cultural community.