From July 10 to 12, 2025, the “The Tailor-Made Finance & Innovation Visit in Chengdu” was successfully held in Chengdu. Organized by the China Innovation Finance Institute | Chengdu, this event is a key initiative under the Chengdu Finance Week empowerment platform, receiving strong support and active participation from municipal government departments, district and county governments, and over 100 outstanding enterprises.
Focusing on cross-border investment and financing opportunities in Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the event adopted a two-way roadshow model featuring field research and visits, project presentations, doors-closed roundtable discussions, and MoU signings. It effectively connected Chengdu’s leading enterprises with international investors and welcomed high-level representatives from government agencies, regulatory authorities, international organizations, and service institutions from Kazakhstan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Hundreds of local industry leaders and business association representatives also attended.
During the visit of the foreign delegation to Chengdu, Fengchao Wang, Mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, met with Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and his delegation.
Mayor Wang welcomed the Kazakh delegation and provided a brief overview of Chengdu’s economic and social development. He noted that Chengdu is accelerating its efforts to build itself into a key economic center in western China, a hub for scientific and technological innovation, a center for international engagement, and a national base for advanced manufacturing. The city boasts a solid economic foundation, strong innovation capacity, and a high quality of life.
Mayor Wang expressed hope that both sides would leverage the empowering role of finance to deepen pragmatic cooperation in fields such as high technology and green, low-carbon development, and work together to achieve higher-level mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Governor Renat Bekturov expressed his commitment to actively building a platform for communication and cooperation with Chengdu, attracting more enterprises to invest and grow in the city, and advancing mutual benefit and cooperation to new heights.
The meeting was also attended by municipal leaders including Junjie Cao, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee, Executive Deputy Mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government; Wenqiao Zhao, Director of Chengdu High tech Zone Management Committee; and Maolu Chen, Secretary General of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, Secretary of Chongzhou Municipal Committee.
With the support of Chengdu’s municipal departments and the Chengdu Private Economy Development Promotion Center, representatives from multinational enterprises and international institutions conducted intensive visits to the High-Tech Zone, Jinjiang District, and Tianfu New Area. They gained deep insights into Chengdu’s development model and engaged in discussions on cross-border cooperation with local parks and enterprises, as well as government representatives.
“Astana International Financial Centre Roadshow (AIFC Day)”:
Deepening China-Kazakhstan Cooperation and Expanding the Central Asian Market
The “Central Asia Cross-border Investment Roadshow & Astana International Financial Centre Roadshow (AIFC Day)” opened with a screening of promotional videos about Chengdu, Kazakhstan, and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
In his opening remarks, Renat Bekturov, Governor of AIFC, emphasized the vast potential of China-Kazakhstan cooperation. He noted Kazakhstan’s stable economic performance and continued growth as Central Asia’s largest economy and the world’s ninth-largest country. The financial sector, in particular, plays a key role in driving growth. He highlighted Chengdu’s innovation, industrial strength, and service advantages as vital to the future of China-Kazakhstan collaboration. The Kazakh financial delegation, visiting Chengdu for the first time, includes representatives from national financial zones, exchanges, sovereign wealth funds, and rail logistics firms. Over the past three years, Astana International Finance Center (AIFC) has established in-depth cooperation with Chengdu, Renat Bekturov expressed hope for deeper cooperation under the framework of the China-Kazakhstan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the keynote session, Kuanysh Amantay, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China, delivered a keynote speech highlighting the policy advantages of investing in Kazakhstan. He emphasized that Kazakhstan, located at the heart of the Eurasian continent, represents a land of investment opportunities. As the region’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), Kazakhstan has signed bilateral investment protection agreements with 47 countries and double taxation avoidance agreements with 55 countries. Since 1991, the country has attracted USD 474 billion in FDI, with total trade reaching USD 141 billion in 2024. He said that Kazakhstan has a large number of high-quality projects waiting to be explored by Chengdu’s enterprises, and that the innovation, production capacity and service advantages of Chengdu’s enterprises can transform a large number of project opportunities into real investments and expand the influence of Chengdu’s enterprises in the Central Asian market.
Timur Onzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Baiterek National Managing Holding, Sadvakkas Seitzhanov, CEO of KTZ Express China, Roza Jamulbek, VP of CICC International Asia – Australia Region; Chunyu Liu, Deputy General Manager, International Division of the China Construction Bank Sichuan Branch, and other representatives of Chinese organizations joined a panel discussion on the theme of “Unlocking the Potential of China-Kazakhstan Investment Cooperation.”
Timur Onzhanov, stated that Baiterek is a wholly state-owned strategic development institution of the Kazakh government, playing a central role in key sectors of the national economy. Upholding the principle of social responsibility, the company is committed to advancing commercial development, housing, and food security. In 2025, the company plans to allocate over USD 16.2 billion to support key economic sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure development, and export operations. He held in-depth discussions with Chengdu enterprises participating in the roadshow and engaged with the event organizers to explore the potential of introducing Chengdu’s advanced production capacity into Kazakhstan through investment, as well as the role these enterprises could play in supporting economic development in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. He emphasized that many of the companies presenting at the roadshow aligned closely with their investment focus and criteria. More importantly, the innovation and production capabilities showcased by these Chengdu enterprises are precisely what his sovereign wealth fund seeks to support Kazakhstan’s sustainable transformation. He remarked that the visit and the roadshow far exceeded expectations and expressed strong anticipation for advancing cooperation with stakeholders in Chengdu.
Sadvakkas Seitzhanov highlighted that Kazakhstan has developed a nationwide railway transportation backbone, with a total rail network length of 16,006 kilometers—ranking ninth globally. As a key hub of the Eurasian Land Bridge, Kazakhstan has placed strategic emphasis on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the “Middle Corridor,” which has become a vital artery for China-Europe trade. In 2024, a total of 358 China-Europe freight trains operated via this corridor, representing a 33-fold increase compared to previous years. He noted that future cooperation between Chengdu and Kazakhstan in transportation infrastructure presents vast potential for expanding bilateral trade.
At the conclusion of the Central Asia cross-border investment roadshow, witnessed by attending delegates, the China Innovation Finance Institute | Chengdu officially signed MoUs with AIFC and AIX. According to the agreements, CIFI will engage in practical cooperation with AIFC and AIX across multiple fields including the global expansion of enterprises, financial services, capital markets, and policy research. CIFI will support their vision of leveraging Chengdu’s role in radiating across Western China and the broader Chinese market. In addition, CIFI will promote the establishment of new cooperation mechanisms and platforms for finance, investment, and trade between Chengdu and Astana, serving the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan and delivering results under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.
Chengdu Enterprise Go Global Roadshow:
Showcasing Innovation and Driving Global Cooperation
During the thematic luncheon session, several leading Chengdu-based enterprises delivered compelling roadshow presentations, highlighting their innovations and international strategies across sectors such as technology, finance, and advanced manufacturing.
Among them, Chengdu Guibao Science & Technology Co., Ltd. stands as a leading enterprise in China’s silicone sealant industry. Its products are widely applied in construction, photovoltaics, new energy vehicles, and rail transit, and are exported to over 40 countries. The company has contributed to the development of landmark projects such as Beijing Daxing International Airport, the Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), and Fulton Lane in Melbourne—promoting the global expansion of green building materials. Tecloman Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. presented its independently developed BMS, PCS, and EMS systems, which form comprehensive energy storage solutions for residential, commercial, and grid-level applications. Its products have already been deployed in Europe, Latin America, and Africa, supporting multiple countries in their green transitions. Yimai Digital Cloud (Chengdu), showcased its industrial intelligence solutions based on large language models and intelligent agent platforms. These solutions have been successfully applied in sectors such as new energy vehicles, heavy equipment, and home appliances, significantly enhancing the digital operational efficiency of overseas clients. Additionally, companies such as Vinchin Tech, IEC, SiChuan LANHI, HC Scientific also shared their achievements in fields including data security, intelligent engineering, smart equipment, and sustainable agriculture. These presentations demonstrated the diverse and dynamic internationalization strategies of Chengdu enterprises. Delegates from Kazakhstan and over 100 institutional guests expressed strong interest in potential investment and partnerships.
During the event, the China Innovation Finance Institute | Chengdu officially released two major research outcomes, its Global Innovation Finance Index & Report. These professional deliverables provide new benchmarking tools for assessing innovation-driven financial development in cities worldwide, while also offering practical insights for advancing the modernization of Chinese cities.
At the same time, the Cross-border Investment & Financing Digital Platform (CIDP) was launched. This platform integrates global resources and features a dedicated “White Paper on Chengdu Enterprises Going Global,” which compiles outbound information on a group of high-quality, representative enterprises from Sichuan and Chengdu. The platform aims to break information barriers in cross-border investment and financing, enabling more precise and efficient connections between local enterprises and international markets.
Europe Cross-Border Investment Roadshow:
Leveraging German and UK Strengths to Expand China-Europe Cooperation
Yucheng Zhao, Director of Strategic Partnerships for China at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), and Feng Chen, Director of Marketing for Data & Analytics in Southwest China, London Stock Exchange Group offered a deep dive into the investment environment in the UK. They also highlighted how LSEG supports Chengdu-based enterprises in their outbound financing, investment, and strategic decision-making processes.
Middle East Cross-Border Investment Briefing:
Decoding Geo-Economics, Sovereign Wealth Funds, and Investment Opportunities in the Middle East
In the Middle East session, Xinchun Niu—Vice President of Ningxia University and Vice President of the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies, Former Director of the Middle East Studies Institute at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)—to share his insights. He delivered an in-depth analysis of the geopolitical economic landscape of the Middle East, the evolving role of sovereign wealth funds, and emerging regional investment and financing opportunities.
Calvin, Chenggang Fu, Chairman of the China Innovation Finance Institute | Chengdu, drew upon the institute’s research on Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and market trends to provide participating institutions with targeted market insights, policy interpretations, and investment recommendations. His presentation aimed to help Chengdu enterprises seize investment opportunities amid the region’s economic transformation, enhance their global expansion efficiency, and effectively manage outbound investment risks.
Chengdu Finance Week:
Serving as a Bridge and Building a Collaborative Platform
During the event, international and domestic delegations conducted in-depth visits to Chengdu’s High-Tech Zone, Jinjiang District, and Tianfu New Area. These visits provided a comprehensive understanding of local industrial park development, enterprise growth, technological innovation, and emerging trends in cultural tourism and consumption—laying a solid foundation for future cooperation.
Many attending guests and company representatives praised the effectiveness of the event, noting that the Tianfu Tour was content-rich, pragmatic, and highly efficient. It offered valuable information and resources for facilitating cross-border investment and collaboration. One company representative remarked, “Through this event, we not only gained insights into the investment environment of our target markets, but also engaged in direct dialogue with regulatory bodies and sovereign wealth funds. We met numerous potential partners and acquired a wealth of information—truly a rewarding experience.”
As one of the flagship events of Chengdu Finance Week, this roadshow brought together global expertise and facilitated high-level dialogue, in-depth discussions, and on-site visits. It successfully built an efficient matchmaking platform between Chengdu enterprises and international capital, resulting in the signing of multiple cooperation agreements. The event injected new momentum into global financial collaboration and opened new pathways for regional economic development.
Looking ahead, the China Innovation Finance Institute | Chengdu will continue to serve as a vital bridge in cross-border investment and outbound innovation. It will further refine its dual-track service mechanisms for “bringing in” and “going global,” actively promote connectivity between China and global financial markets, and support more local enterprises in stepping onto the international stage and advancing their global expansion strategies.
