--Speech at the International Cooperation Conference for Asia-Pacific CEOs & Provincial Governors and Mayors
By Dr. Xiao Zhenyu
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good morning! The rapid development of economic globalization has become the mainstream of the current world. According to the definition of International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic globalization refers to speedy economic integration worldwide by way of international trade, technology innovation, capital flow, information network and cultural exchanges. It must rely on the realization of economic internationalization worldwide. Guangzhou, persistently marching on the road of economic globalization, is an active participant, promoter and immediate beneficiary of economic integration.
I.
The development of Guangzhou is a history of opening up to the outside world. Being close to rivers and oceans, with a geographical advantage of being located in the middle of the East Asia, it is convenient for the flow of population, goods, capital and information. The long tradition of its opening up to the outside world constantly injects vigor and vitality to its economic and social progress.
Guangzhou is the starting point of the well-known “Maritime Silk Road” as well as the only open city that has never been closed in the Chinese history. The world’s first import and export trade law, the first customs institution and the first international airline connecting East Asia, South Asia Arabian Region were all born in Canton, a nickname for Guangzhou in the past. In 1800s, famous for its richness and prosperity, Canton ranked the 4th city in the world in terms of overall strength, becoming one of the world’s economic and trade centers. Thanks for the opening-up strategy, the city has created economic prosperity in its history of development..
Being the pioneer of China’s reform and opening-up, Guangzhou is also the leading runner of China’s economic globalization. 20 years ago, Guangzhou became the first city in China to adopt an open economic development strategy of “foreign economy and trade-oriented economy”, making efforts to achieve optimal resource allocation impelled by “two markets, two resources”. As a result, it has become one of most vigorous cities in China. Since reform and opening-up, Guangzhou has been recorded to have a two-digit annual increase in GDP and gross industrial output value for a consecutive of 29 years, developing itself into an important base for China’s auto manufacturing, electronic information, petrochemical, bio-pharmaceutical, service and trade sectors. Guangzhou’s international development strategy based on mutual benefit also provides boundless business opportunities for investors. Many of the world’s top 500 enterprises have left a good name of business success in Guangzhou by achieving benefits at the same year of making investment or building factory. We can see that, by insisting on the road of economic internationalization, Guangzhou has created new prosperity unparallel in the history. |
