Shanghai's 2025 Action Plan
Shanghai's 2025 action plan includes 186 major projects across five categories:
- Science and Technology Industry (66 projects)
- Social Welfare (27 projects)
- Ecological Civilization Construction (15 projects)
- Urban Infrastructure (65 projects)
- Urban-Rural Integration and Rural Revitalisation (13 projects)
Additionally, 35 projects are listed as preparatory items.
Key Projects
Some notable projects planned for completion by 2025 include:
- Zhang Jiang Laboratory Research Building
- Tesla Energy Storage Super Factory
- Legoland Shanghai
- NetEase Shanghai International Cultural and Creative Technology Park
New projects set to begin including:
- Qilu Pharmaceutical's Global R&D Headquarters for Innovative Drugs
- Shanghai Superconductor's Second-Generation High-Temperature Superconducting Tape Production and Headquarters Base
- China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Shanghai Scientific Research Base
Implications for UK-China Relations
The Shanghai 2025 plan coincides with recent developments in UK-China economic relations, as evidenced by the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) held on January 11, 2025
Opportunities for UK Businesses
- Financial Services: Shanghai's plan to enhance its position as a global financial centre aligns with UK-China agreements to strengthen financial cooperation.
- Green finance
- Wealth management
- Capital market cooperation
- Technology and Innovation: With Shanghai's focus on science and technology industries, UK companies could explore partnerships in sectors like:
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital economy
- Advanced manufacturing
- Education and Research: The plan's emphasis on research facilities and university expansions could lead to increased collaboration between UK and Shanghai academic institutions
This could create opportunities for UK financial institutions in areas such as:
Challenges and Considerations
- Market Access: While the UK has addressed some long-standing market access issues, British businesses may still face challenges in certain sectors.
- Competition: As Shanghai aims to develop its own high-tech industries, UK companies may face increased competition in sectors targeted by the "Made in Shanghai 2025" initiative.
- Geopolitical Factors: The UK government has acknowledged the need to address concerns in the economic relationship, including discussions on national and economic security.
Conclusion
Shanghai's 2025 action plan represents a significant push for development across multiple sectors. For UK businesses and policymakers, this presents both opportunities and challenges. While there is potential for increased collaboration in areas like financial services and technology, careful navigation of the evolving economic landscape will be crucial. The recent UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue provides a framework for addressing these opportunities and challenges, aiming to create mutually beneficial outcomes in the context of Shanghai's ambitious development goals
Source: Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission
Image: Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng delivers a speech at the "Shanghai Night" event during the World Economic Forum 2025 annual meeting at Davos in Switzerland. [Photo credit-- WeChat account: shanghaifabu]
