Core Viewpoint - Shenzhen has maintained its position as "China's Foreign Trade Capital" in the first half of 2025, surpassing Shanghai with a total import and export value of 2.17 trillion yuan, despite a year-on-year decline of 1.1% [2][4]. Group 1: Economic Performance - In the first half of 2025, Shenzhen's total import and export value reached 2.17 trillion yuan, accounting for 9.9% of the national total, with exports at 1.31 trillion yuan and imports at 858.86 billion yuan, reflecting a 9.5% year-on-year growth in imports [4]. - Shenzhen's import strategy has been pivotal in driving the rapid recovery of total import and export values, with companies actively increasing imports to adapt to global supply chain changes [4]. Group 2: Competitive Position - Shenzhen's foreign trade strength has effectively countered doubts about its sustainability as a leading trade city, especially after reclaiming the title in 2024 with a total import and export value of 4.5 trillion yuan [2][3]. - The competition among the top ten foreign trade cities in China remains intense, with Shenzhen and Shanghai leading, followed by cities like Beijing, Suzhou, and Dongguan, which collectively accounted for 10.63 trillion yuan in import and export values [2]. Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Shenzhen has implemented strategies such as activating import dynamics, optimizing export structures, exploring emerging markets, and enhancing cross-border e-commerce to build a multi-dimensional foreign trade stabilizer [3][5]. - The city has seen a significant increase in cross-border e-commerce, with overseas warehouse exports surging by 19.5 times, showcasing a shift from scale-oriented to quality-oriented foreign trade [5]. Group 4: Policy and Innovation - Shenzhen's success in foreign trade is supported by innovative policies and practices, including the pilot of cross-border e-commerce standardization and the establishment of overseas warehouse standards, which enhance its influence in global trade rule-making [5][6]. - The interaction between policy innovation and market practices is becoming a key institutional guarantee for Shenzhen's sustained leadership in foreign trade [6].