Over 100 deputies to the municipal and district people's congresses, heads of enterprises, experts, and scholars recently gathered at the Shanghai People's City Practice Exhibition Hall by Yangpu Riverside. Under the themes of "precision, responsiveness, and inclusiveness", they explored how Yangpu refines its policies ("additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions") to enhance the sense of gain for businesses. This event marked the debut of the 2025 Yangpu "People's Deliberation Hall" YOUNG series.

"Warmth means knowing boundaries - leaving us alone when we don't need help, but always being there when we do." "Warmth is fairness, creating a space where everyone can thrive and be happy." "Warmth is being inclusive, with room for mistakes and easy exits." "Enterprises are like living beings; true warmth reaches deep into our hearts." "Warmth is the support and confidence the government gives when my business hits a rough patch."…In the warm-up discussion, the experts, deputies, and entrepreneurs shared their personal understanding of what "warmth" really means.

As a large screen unveiled a cloud map of corporate demands gathered through surveys, the conversation turned to the experiences from the implementation of the 8.0 version of Yangpu's "warmest business environment" policy.

Pro-Business Policies: Heartfelt Warmth

In the business environment, service is the key element. Yangpu has been actively enhancing services through strategic "additions", providing a powerful boost to corporate growth.

"We're a local enterprise that has recently been recognized as an innovation headquarters in Shanghai. I truly feel the warmth of Yangpu's business environment. From the small details that mattered in our early days to the opportunities the district helped us seize in our development stage, the training that broadened our knowledge, and the critical support during our listing process, the district's service goes beyond mere support - it brings comfort, confidence, and genuine warmth," said a head of Aihuishou, reflecting on their 14 years of entrepreneurship in Yangpu.

The founder of Shanghai Kaidun Information Technology Co., Ltd. once faced entrepreneurial failure but chose to restart in Yangpu. Now the company's business is doubling annually and has even expanded overseas. A suite of supportive policies has become a solid foundation for the company's growth.

A head of Bailian ZX Fun Center noted, "Many of our tenants are new to the shopping mall scene and were initially very unsure about the procedures for move-in and license application. The government stepped in with proactive services and precise guidance. They also provided robust support in terms of venues for IP events. This enabled our tenants to smoothly welcome the winter vacation peak in ACGN consumption and successfully transformed the mall from a traditional department store into an ACGN hub."

In daily business operations, challenges tend to be highly specific and minute - sometimes down to the smallest operational details. Yangpu is steadily improving the precision of corporate services to tackle systemic and case-specific hurdles alike, all while constantly enhancing corporate experiences.

To build the 'warmest district', government departments should focus on three key areas. First, financial support is crucial, as it directly addresses the most pressing needs of enterprises. We provide tangible financial rewards, backed by district policies. Second, we allocate public resources. For instance, Wujiaochang will soon have 70,000 to 80,000 square meters of commercial space dedicated to ACGN businesses. We'll collaborate with local sub-districts to ensure robust services. Third, we create platforms for interaction. Today's gathering organized by the standing committee of the district people's congress is a perfect example, bringing entrepreneurs and government departments together to exchange ideas and share resources," said a head of the Yangpu Commission of Commerce in response.

Streamlining Approval Processes to Alleviate Burdens

By cutting red tape, speeding up procedures, and minimizing visits, the 8.0 version of Yangpu's plan for improving the business environment aims to make things simpler and faster. It offers a streamlined approach to getting things done, with special services like "green channels" and "flexible acceptance" to make the process easier for businesses.

"Thanks to the guidance from the district administration for market regulation, we've achieved many industry firsts. We launched one of the first digital medicine warehouses in Shanghai right here in our district. It allows us to operate unmanned pharmacies at night and meets the residents' needs for medicine purchases." "As a foreign trade company, we often deal with tax rebates. The process is incredibly fast. Once we file the declaration, the rebate is processed almost immediately. I'm very satisfied with how smoothly it works."

"Our district is streamlining service workflows, streamlining approval processes, and making entrepreneurship more accessible than ever," said an overseas returnee who started his business in Yangpu with just 100,000 yuan. In just a few years, what began as a solo endeavor has blossomed into a team of over a hundred. From a tiny seed, it has taken root and become a small but sturdy tree. He believed that his company will one day stand tall as a mighty tree in Yangpu.

Industry Transformation: A Multiplier Effect for Mutual Success

Digital innovation has unleashed a powerful "multiplier effect" in enhancing the business environment. "Amid the escalating U.S.-China tariff trade war, our business volume has plummeted. But the district stepped in at a crucial time, showing genuine concern for our operations, helping us navigate the challenges, and finding solutions. That support has been incredibly heartwarming," noted a head of Oujian Group. "Right now, we desperately need to innovate and transform. We hope to partner with top Internet firms. For instance, collaborating with Douyin and leveraging the Volcengine could significantly boost our efficiency."

The head of the relevant department of Douyin just happened to be there and quickly chimed in, "We've already got a lot of collaborations going on with the district, and we've got joint policies in place to help more local businesses tap into digital tech, transform, upgrade, and expand. Let's definitely step up our communication and coordination moving forward."

The government, businesses, universities, research institutes, and other sides are all working together to innovate and create a powerful force for change. "We've got plenty of universities in the district that can partner up with businesses for industry-academia-research collaborations. The universities bring tech support and talents, while the businesses offer practice platforms and application scenarios. This kind of synergy can really speed up the transformation of technological achievements and drive industrial upgrades," an expert at the scene pointed out.

Right now, Yangpu is pushing hard to build "Digital Yangpu" New Quality Innovation Zone. It is leveraging the concentration of major companies and universities, pooling resources from all sides, and sparking innovation and creativity throughout the district. This is all aimed at giving its regional development a big boost and multiplying its efficiency.

Rule of Law Dispels Worries, Ensures No Disturbances

The rule of law is the cornerstone of the optimal business environment. At this discussion, it was a hot topic. During this year's NPC & CPPCC annual sessions, deputies to the municipal and district people's congresses all came up with ideas on how to make our business environment even better. They stressed that the rule of law needs to play a leading role, set clear standards, and provide solid protection.

"I've got a saying for you: 'Support the old and help the young'. We've got plenty of long-standing businesses that are the backbone of our district. They've kept us stable all this time. When these older companies hit new challenges, we need to back them up with strong legal support. If our legal protection is both warm and powerful, it'll do wonders for creating jobs and keeping our society stable," said a deputy at the event.

"Introducing an administrative inspection code for businesses is essentially showing credentials during checks. Relevant departments are advised to spread the word effectively; otherwise, businesses won't know what a proper and compliant credential display looks like. Responding to the concerns raised by entrepreneurs at the scene, a head of the Yangpu Administration for Market Regulation said, "We believe in blending regulation with services and vice versa. When we visit businesses, we follow a simple rule: no inspection without a code, always show the code during an inspection, and let businesses evaluate afterward. This cuts down on random and ineffective checks and makes sure we're there for businesses when they need us most."

A head of the Yangpu Bureau of Justice added, "Any inspection of a business has to be filed in advance. As the department handling these filings, we're making steady progress. To make sure inspections are done right, the district has set up a special taskforce and a joint leadership system between the district development and reform commission and the bureau of justice. We've also rolled out a plan to improve how we inspect businesses, putting an end to random, overlapping, and repetitive checks."

People's Deliberation Hall

Following the event, a head of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the Yangpu District People's Congress stated that they will thoroughly examine and analyze the key issues raised and conduct follow-up oversight. The standing committees of the municipal and district people's congresses are currently collaborating on an enforcement inspection of the Shanghai's Regulations on Improving the Business Environment. This initiative not only reinforces the role of the rule of law in safeguarding a positive business environment but also addresses the critical concerns of businesses.

In this year's efforts, the Standing Committee of the Yangpu District People's Congress is partnering with Shanghai Media Group and Ajmide Media to further enhance the democratic practice of the "People's Deliberation Hall". By focusing on major development issues across the district and pooling the collective wisdom of three zones, the committee aims to provide genuine insights and effective strategies. This collaboration seeks to ensure that people's deliberations lead to decisions and actions, fostering a culture of consultation that is open to everyone, anytime, anywhere, and on any issue. It will create a more inclusive, open, and orderly landscape for people's deliberation, contributing actively to Yangpu's efforts in deepening reforms, advancing Chinese modernization, and leading the way in creating the best practices for a people's city.