From March 16 to 19, the China Forum under the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University conducted a thematic research trip in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on the strategy of driving international growth of local enterprises and NGOs. The research was coordinated by the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC), and aimed at a greater understanding of the international cooperation and its way forward at local NGOs and enterprises as well as how China Forum can better assist them in going global. Mr. ZHANG Lirong and Ms. WANG Xin, respectively Secretary General and Head of Special Cooperation at the China Forum, exchanged views with the leadership of Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office and visited well-known enterprises and NGOs including BYD, Hytera, Tencent, One Foundation, Shenzhen SME Entrepreneurs Association, Shenzhen Outbound Alliance, Shenzhen Charity Alliance, and Shenzhen Mammoth Public Welfare Foundation.

Mr. CAO Saixian, Director of Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, expects to facilitate more international exchanges for local entrepreneurs and welcomes more China Forum experts to Shenzhen with their expertise for the international development of local enterprises.

SFIEC Secretary General Mr. CAO Cong introduced the city’s vision in international growth, and conferred with the research team on cooperation projects in 2021. Local companies also presented on their international development, challenges, and interaction with the government and NGOs.

The team investigated the best practices and weaknesses of NGOs in Shenzhen in terms of international exchange, cooperation and assistance projects, as well as their visions for the future. The team noted a strong incentive for internationalization across the enterprises and NGOs, which have already made considerable achievements in going global but need even stronger international cooperation, communication, discourse power, as well as industry standard-making power.