Zhenjiang Hosts ‘Tongxin Qihang’ Asia-Pacific Matchmaking for Service Enterprises

Summary

The 'Tongxin Qihang' series service enterprises international cooperation matchmaking — Asia-Pacific session was held on 22 September in Zhenjiang. Trade and investment agencies, law firms, accounting firms, e-commerce platforms and industry associations from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia held in-depth matchmaking with relevant Zhenjiang government departments and local companies intending to expand overseas. The three-day event brought more than 20 experts from overseas institutions to Zhenjiang.

Through keynote presentations and roundtable dialogues, they exchanged views on talent recruitment and management integration, legal compliance and intellectual property protection, and tax planning and financial risk control, helping Zhenjiang companies understand the Asia-Pacific investment environment, cross-border operations, customs and tax matters, and talent strategies. During the event, overseas experts conducted site visits and discussions at Nan Kunlun Law Firm, Jiangsu Hengxin Consulting Group and Juneng (Jiangsu) Power Technology Co Ltd. The parties reached cooperation consensus and signed relevant cooperation agreements, laying an important foundation for regular exchanges and cooperation between Zhenjiang and the Asia-Pacific region in trade and economic exchanges, legal services, tax and financial consulting, and industrial projects.

The 'Tongxin Qihang' series is a key enterprise service brand created by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Zhenjiang Municipal Committee. Previous events include a training programme for returned young entrepreneurs in April, a service enterprises international cooperation matchmaking — Germany session in May, a 'European chambers of commerce in China visit Zhenjiang' event in June, and the 17th Zhenjiang Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair in July. This session aimed to help local companies precisely connect with overseas expertise, buyers and quality international cooperation resources, and empower their external cooperation.

Leaders from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Zhenjiang Municipal Committee, the Zhenjiang Overseas Friendship Association, the Ethnic, Religious, Overseas Chinese and Taiwan Affairs Committee of the Zhenjiang Municipal People's Congress, the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Committee of the Zhenjiang Municipal CPPCC, the Zhenjiang Municipal Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, the Zhenjiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Zhenjiang Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the Zhenjiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade attended the event.

Commentary

As a major manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta, Zhenjiang is seeing its SMEs' overseas expansion needs diversify from traditional European and American markets toward the Asia-Pacific region. This matchmaking event brought in professional service institutions from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, covering key areas such as law, tax and finance, and e-commerce, reflecting that corporate internationalisation has entered a deeper phase of compliance and localised operations. For NZ SMEs, the wave of Chinese local-city companies going global means potential cooperation opportunities: on one hand, New Zealand has strengths in agricultural technology, food processing and professional services, and can serve as a bridge for Zhenjiang companies entering the Australia-New Zealand market; on the other hand, Zhenjiang's manufacturing supply chain capacity may offer New Zealand companies more cost-effective procurement options.

Notably, the event emphasised 'regular exchanges and cooperation' rather than one-off matchmaking, providing NZ small and medium-sized enterprises with an entry point for sustained participation in Chinese local trade and economic networks. However, cross-cultural communication and differences in business practices remain major challenges, and NZ companies need to build trust through local partners. From an industry trend perspective, China's second- and third-tier cities are becoming new growth poles for international trade and economic cooperation.

If NZ SMEs can establish a presence in such regional networks early, they may find differentiated space in China's highly competitive market.

Keywords: Tongxin Qihang, international cooperation matchmaking, Asia-Pacific session, Zhenjiang, overseas-expanding enterprises, United Front Work Department of the CPC Municipal Committee, overseas institutions, cooperation agreements

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月22日，“同心企航”系列活动·服务企业国际合作对接会——亚太专场在镇江举行，来自澳大利亚、新西兰、马来西亚的贸易投资机构、律师事务所、会计师事务所、电商平台、行业商协会等机构，与镇江市相关部门及意向出海企业开展深度对接。活动为期3天，邀请20多位海外相关机构专家来镇，通过主题宣讲、圆桌对话等形式，围绕人才猎聘与管理融合、法律合规与知识产权保护、税务规划与财务风控等议题展开交流，帮助镇江企业了解亚太地区投资环境、跨境运营、关务税务、人才策略等内容。活动期间，海外机构专家赴南昆仑律师事务所、江苏恒信咨询集团、聚能（江苏）动力科技有限公司开展实地考察与座谈交流，多方达成合作共识并签订相关合作协议，为推动镇江与亚太地区在经贸往来、法律服务、财税咨询、产业项目等领域的常态化交流合作打下重要基础。

“同心企航”系列活动是市委统战部打造的为企服务重点品牌，此前4月举办海归青年企业家研修班，5月举办服务企业国际合作对接会——德国专场，6月举办欧洲在华商协会看镇江，7月举办第十七届海外华侨华人创新创业镇江洽谈会。本期活动旨在助力本土企业精准对接海外智力、客商和优质国际合作资源，赋能企业对外合作。市委统战部、市海外联谊会、市人大常委会民宗侨台委、市政协港澳台侨委、致公党市委会、市侨联、市工商联、市贸促会相关领导出席活动。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

镇江作为长三角制造业重镇，其中小企业出海需求正从传统欧美市场向亚太区域多元化拓展。此次对接会引入澳大利亚、新西兰、马来西亚的专业服务机构，覆盖法律、财税、电商等关键环节，反映出企业国际化已进入合规与本地化运营的深水区。对NZ SME而言，中国地方城市的企业出海潮意味着潜在的合作机会：一方面，新西兰在农业科技、食品加工、专业服务等领域具有优势，可成为镇江企业进入澳新市场的桥梁；另一方面，镇江制造业的供应链能力也可能为新西兰企业提供成本效益更高的采购选项。

值得注意的是，活动强调“常态化交流合作”，而非一次性对接，这为NZ中小企业提供了持续参与中国地方经贸网络的切入点。然而，跨文化沟通与商业习惯差异仍是主要挑战，NZ企业需借助本地伙伴建立信任。从行业趋势看，中国二三线城市正成为国际经贸合作的新增长极，NZ SME若能提前布局此类区域网络，或可在竞争激烈的中国市场找到差异化空间。

关键词: 同心企航, 国际合作对接会, 亚太专场, 镇江, 出海企业, 市委统战部, 海外机构, 合作协议

Source: United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Zhenjiang Municipal Committee