When Michael Kruppe first stepped into Shanghai in 1989, Pudong was little more than farmland and quiet villages. Fast-forward to 2025, and the skyline he once imagined is now a glittering reality 🏙️. 'It’s like watching a startup grow into a Fortune 500 giant,' he says, reflecting on the city’s journey from 'empty canvas' to Asia’s financial heartbeat.
Back in 2013, Shanghai launched China’s first pilot Free Trade Zone—a bold experiment that reshaped global trade rules. Today, initiatives like the China International Import Expo (CIIE) are turbocharging international partnerships, offering everything from AI tech to avocado toast suppliers a slice of China’s booming market 🥑🤖.
'The energy here never flatlines,' Kruppe adds, noting how Shanghai’s evolution mirrors China’s wider opening-up. With 2025 marking new milestones in cross-border innovation, the city remains a living lab for tomorrow’s global economy 🔮.
