Core Insights - Shenzhen is enhancing its international business environment by developing a comprehensive payment infrastructure that integrates various payment methods and services to boost its global competitiveness [1] Group 1: Payment Infrastructure Upgrades - Shenzhen has established five one-stop service centers for foreign visitors at key transportation hubs, providing 24-hour services that integrate payment, tourism, communication, transportation, and immigration [2] - The city has achieved a 100% acceptance rate for foreign cards at Shenzhen Airport, with nearly 90% acceptance for digital currencies, and has distributed over 100,000 multilingual payment guides [2][3] Group 2: Consumer Spending Trends - In the first half of 2025, foreign visitors to Shenzhen made 85.88 million transactions totaling 11.81 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 29% and 35% respectively [3] - Hong Kong residents accounted for 58.66 million transactions worth 7.04 billion yuan, with year-on-year growth of 22% and 25% [3] Group 3: Innovative Payment Solutions - Shenzhen has introduced a new "immediate refund" tax refund service at shopping locations, allowing consumers to receive tax refunds instantly at the point of sale, significantly improving efficiency [4] - The city has expanded payment options in public transport, integrating various payment methods including digital wallets and cross-border payment solutions [4] Group 4: Cross-Border Payment Innovations - The launch of the "Cross-Border Payment Pass" facilitates seamless cross-border transactions between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, allowing users to transfer funds easily via mobile banking [5] - The number of transactions and amounts processed through the cross-border payment system increased by 91.9% and 64.9% respectively in the first half of 2025 [5]

Core Insights - The People's Bank of China Shenzhen Branch and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange Shenzhen Branch held a press conference to discuss the financial operations in Shenzhen for Q1 2025, highlighting the continuous support for key sectors and the establishment of a cross-border financial service benchmark [1] Financial Performance - As of the end of Q1 2025, the total deposits in Shenzhen reached 13.97 trillion yuan, while the total loans amounted to 9.81 trillion yuan, with both deposits and loans increasing by over 300 billion yuan during the quarter [1] - The manufacturing loan balance stood at 1.26 trillion yuan, accounting for 12.8% of total loans, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the end of the previous year [3] - The balance of inclusive small and micro loans reached 1.90 trillion yuan, representing 19.3% of total loans, with a growth rate exceeding the overall loan growth by 5 percentage points [3] Interest Rates and Financing Costs - The average interest rate for newly issued corporate loans in Shenzhen was 2.79% in March 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 0.71 percentage points, indicating a stable decline in overall financing costs [3] Policy Initiatives - The Shenzhen Financial "Five Major Articles" were introduced to enhance the coordination between financial policies and industrial policies, establishing a refined policy framework [3] - By the end of Q1 2025, the loan balance for technology-based enterprises was 1.23 trillion yuan, and green loans reached 1.27 trillion yuan, positioning Shenzhen among the top cities in China [3] Cross-Border Financial Services - Shenzhen has seen a significant increase in foreign personnel, with 69.5 million entries and exits recorded from January to April 7, 2025, a 15% year-on-year growth [4] - The city has facilitated over 400,000 proxy witness accounts for Hong Kong residents, with cumulative transactions nearing 32 billion yuan, accounting for 90% of the Greater Bay Area [4] - The "Cross-Border Wealth Management Connect" program has seen a total of 42 billion yuan in cross-border payments, capturing nearly 50% of the Greater Bay Area's market since its upgrade [5]

Group 1: Financial Overview of Shenzhen - As of the end of Q1 2023, Shenzhen's total deposits in both domestic and foreign currencies reached 13.97 trillion yuan, while total loans amounted to 9.81 trillion yuan, with both deposits and loans increasing by over 300 billion yuan in the first quarter [1] - The balance of loans in the manufacturing sector was 1.26 trillion yuan, accounting for 12.8% of total loans, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the end of the previous year [1] - The balance of inclusive small and micro loans reached 1.90 trillion yuan, representing 19.3% of total loans, with a growth rate 5 percentage points higher than the overall loan growth rate during the same period, placing Shenzhen among the top cities in the country [1] Group 2: Development of Payment Services - Shenzhen is actively developing a comprehensive payment demonstration zone, with over 44,000 merchants able to accept foreign cards and 4,156 ATMs supporting foreign card withdrawals as of March 2025 [2] - The number of non-cash payment transactions by foreign personnel in Shenzhen increased by 28.09% in terms of transaction count and 34.74% in terms of transaction amount in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year [2] - The city has implemented simplified account opening services and established 181 standardized foreign language service outlets to address account opening difficulties for foreign nationals [2] Group 3: Cross-Border Financial Services - Shenzhen has initiated a "Cross-Border Financial Services Entering Various Districts" campaign, focusing on stabilizing foreign trade and enhancing the quality of cross-border RMB services [4] - As of March 2025, over 1,500 enterprises in Shenzhen benefited from facilitation policies, with a business scale exceeding 140 billion USD [4] - The city has supported 21,000 enterprises in cross-border e-commerce settlement, with a business scale of 52.9 billion USD, and has facilitated cross-border RMB settlements totaling 1.2 trillion yuan [4]