At the "2025 Xi Talk Property Annual Speech: Deep Waters" held on December 2 in Shenzhen, Zhang Hongxi, Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Property Association, delivered a keynote address on the pressing challenges facing the property management industry today.

Zhang emphasized that marketization remains the fundamental principle and must not be relaxed. He noted that while government and Party institutions have become increasingly involved in the property sector—a positive development—he urged all stakeholders to align their efforts with market dynamics. Citing the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development’s Document No. 199 issued earlier this year, Zhang likened its impact on the industry to the 1994 Ministry of Construction Order No. 33. However, he stressed that the new policy better respects market logic, both invigorating market mechanisms and refining the role of government guidance.

He further highlighted the revised "Residents' Committee Organization Law," which grants committees a supervisory role in community affairs. According to Zhang, this framework does not represent undue interference but rather strengthens the position of property owners and clients, ensuring smoother market operations.

The second pillar of Zhang’s strategy is the dual drive of professionalism and digitization. He called on industry professionals to possess deeper expertise than property owners and clients, particularly in addressing key concerns such as pricing mechanisms, service cost calculations, and standardized contract templates.

Lastly, Zhang advocated for a uniquely Chinese approach to integrated property-community development, starting with the broader vision of Greater Bay Area integration. He framed this as a collaborative effort between Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangdong Province.