Luca Manatti, Asia Pacific President of CNH Industrial N.V., has been in Shanghai for over two years and plans to stay in the city for the Spring Festival this year. Today, he received a special gift—a "lucky bag" for the Year of the Horse, containing festive mascots, a curated list of 2026 Spring Festival specialty restaurants and global cuisine packages for expatriates, a citywide cultural and sports activity guide, and tickets to major exhibitions. This delightful surprise prompted him to say, "I plan to visit Shanghai's scenic spots, experience the festive street atmosphere, and enjoy exquisite international cuisine." The "Welcoming Spring in Shanghai, Sharing Blessings with Warmth" New Year blessing event was held today at the historic site of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce. Over 70 representatives from consulates, multinational corporations, and business associations—along with their families—from 23 countries and regions gathered to celebrate the upcoming Lunar Year of the Bingwu Horse and gain deeper insights into Shanghai's investment opportunities.
Shanghai is striving to become the premier destination for global tourists to experience the "Chinese New Year." Zhu Min, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, stated that the city will host a "New Year Season" themed around the Year of the Horse during the Spring Festival, warmly inviting international friends to join the "Haipai New Year Feast." On-site, attendees encountered handicraft experience zones and intangible cultural heritage displays brimming with Chinese New Year charm. From dragon-and-phoenix knotted buttons and white magnolia silk roses to Haipai seal carving, Yuanbao tea, and Leiyunshang herbal sachets, many foreign guests immersed themselves in traditional cultural activities, appreciating the unique allure of Chinese heritage. Guillaume Muriset, Customer Excellence Director at Swiss Center, remarked, "The bottle-shaped seal symbolizes peace and safety. I truly admire this beautiful integration of form and meaning in Chinese culture."
The event venue, the former Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, has been transformed into an urban cultural salon blending historical architecture with modern high-end services. The surrounding area hosts a cluster of international premium commercial establishments, including the Bulgari Hotel. Matthias Terrettaz, General Manager of the Shanghai Bulgari Hotel from Switzerland, who has lived in Shanghai for seven years, shared, "Since last year, our hotel business has continued to improve, with the proportion of international guests steadily increasing. We have specially launched Spring Festival-themed menus in our Cantonese restaurant and arranged cultural experiences like paper-cutting and origami. If time permits, I also hope to enjoy a warm Spring Festival dinner with my family." Shen Weihua, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, introduced that Shanghai's 2026 New Year Season will feature hundreds of distinctive activities. The Commission has prepared a detailed "menu" of offerings, including New Year celebration menus, global cuisine selections, e-commerce festival promotions, and policy service guides. Notably, Shanghai is home to over 9,700 international restaurants showcasing flavors from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond. "This quarter, we are highlighting European continental cuisine, followed by Asian, American, and fusion dishes, along with corresponding promotional activities," Shen added.
Data reveals that Shanghai's economy achieved impressive results in 2025: the regional GDP reached 5.67 trillion yuan, total retail sales of consumer goods amounted to 1.66 trillion yuan, foreign trade import and export volume hit 4.51 trillion yuan, and actual utilized foreign capital exceeded $16 billion. Following the event, a Citywalk themed "Urban Renewal and Cultural-Commercial Integration" guided international representatives on an immersive tour of revitalized landmarks, including the former Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Tianhou Palace, and Shenyu Li. The Chamber building, originally constructed in 1912, has been preserved through restorative renovations and now serves as a cultural venue combining historical exhibitions with high-end business functions. Shenyu Li, one of Shanghai's well-preserved Shikumen alleyway complexes, has been transformed into an open lifestyle district integrating boutique commerce, cultural arts, and community vitality.
At the Jing'an International Reception Lounge, many foreign visitors inspected one-stop offshore service centers for global service providers, convenience service windows for overseas talent, and enterprise service platforms for foreign investment project licensing consultations. Through digital sand tables and industrial mapping systems, they gained in-depth understanding of Jing'an District's integrated innovations in attracting foreign investment, providing full-cycle enterprise services, and protecting intellectual property rights. Eric Angué, Vice President of Product Development for Festo China, who has lived in China with his wife for six years, expressed, "Festo has been developing in China for nearly 20 years, with our industrial chain continuously expanding here. Shanghai offers a very friendly and open business environment and living experience. We look forward to participating more deeply in Shanghai's development journey in the future." Shen Weihua disclosed that Shanghai will further deepen investment cooperation in service sector openings, particularly in telecommunications and biotechnology, while strengthening support for upgrading foreign-funded regional headquarters and R&D centers. The city will also enhance intellectual property protection, promote foreign investors' domestic reinvestment, facilitate equity investments, and streamline merger and acquisition processes.
During the Spring Festival period, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce will coordinate with various districts and functional zones to launch over 20 business exchange events and cultural-sports competitions. These activities will cover cultural experiences, consumption promotion, policy matching, and more, providing ongoing interactive platforms for international residents and enterprises in Shanghai to share in the city's development opportunities and urban warmth.