A bird's-eye view of Guangzhou, which is taking the role of an international exchange center. (Photo provided to China Daily)
Guangzhou, capital of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, has emerged as an international exchange center and a new hub of global integration under China's Belt and Road Initiative.[Special Coverage]
The city, also known as the southern gate of China, is speeding up the process of opening-up to the outside world as it continues to ride the wave of a cluster effect as the host city of important international events.
Guangzhou has cooperated with world-leading international exchange platforms－such as the Fortune Global Forum, World Economic Forum and Boao Forum for Asia－to showcase its vibrant style and spirit of openness.
As the host city of the ongoing Fortune Global Forum, Guangzhou attracted around 700 guests and 358 global companies, including 152 Fortune 500 companies this year.
Founded in 1995, the forum has become the clearest and most direct window to the global economy.
"Through the 2017 Fortune Global Forum, we can see that Guangzhou is building itself as an important international exchange center and China is leading a new phase of globalization," said Alan Murray, the president of Fortune magazine.
For the 2017 Fortune Global Forum, Guangzhou hosted road shows and promotion fairs in 13 metropolises around the world from last December to this September. These included Paris, New York, Tokyo, London, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
During the events, Guangzhou set up overseas offices in cities and regions that are leaders in science, technology and innovation, such as the Silicon Valley, Boston in the United States and Israel's Tel Aviv.
In addition to setting itself up as a stage for international conferences, Guangzhou has also developed its own brand of international conference.
The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation, a biennial selection event founded in 2012, is one of the highest honors for urban innovation in the world.
Last year it attracted 301 projects from 171 cities in 59 countries and regions to showcase their experiences in urban innovation.
In addition, Guangzhou will host the World Routes 2018, the 2019 World Ports Conference and the 13th Metropolis World Congress 2020, attracting more international guests and paving its way toward a better future.
Benefiting from its growing status as an international conference brand, Guangzhou has developed itself into a magnet city－attracting high-end resources, talent, technologies and capital, as well as creating a new driving force for its economic development, according to experts.
According to the Guangzhou municipal commission of commerce, the city has attracted 130 countries to invest in it and maintains trade contacts with 220 countries and regions.
To date, a total of 297 of Fortune 500 companies have invested in Guangzhou and set up 921 projects. In addition, 13.78 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) has been invested in 45 projects for the development of a hub for science, technology and innovation.
Zhu Xiaoyi, deputy director of Guangzhou publicity department, said his city had a bright future.
