Skyscrapers in Guangzhou, Guangdong

As an important multi-bilateral conference after the 19th CPC National Congress, the 2017 Fortune Global Forum kicked off in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province on Dec. 6, attracting over 1,000 representatives from around the world.

The three-day event marks the fifth Fortune Global Forum held in China, presenting a chance for heads of the world’s largest companies—the Fortune Global 500—to actively engage with world leaders on the forefront of international commerce. According to statistics from the local authorities, 388 enterprises are participating in the event, 152 of which are Fortune Global 500 enterprises

“Guangzhou, China’s Southern gateway to the world, is the ideal location for the 2017 Fortune Global Forum. As a center of international trade for many centuries, Guangzhou is both a renowned symbol and a modern manifestation of China’s participation in global commerce,” said Alan Murray, Fortune Editor-in-Chief.

Capital of hi-tech companies

Ehang 184 AAV runs tests abroad

“In the future, we can order autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) services by using AAV-hailing apps, just like we do for cabs nowadays,” said Xiong Yifang, CEO of Ehang, the world’s leading tech company of intelligent aerial vehicles, told People’s Daily Online.

Headquartered in Guangzhou, Ehang has developed the world’s first manned autonomous aerial vehicle. By setting a destination in the vehicle’s system, it can automatically send passengers anywhere at a top speed of 100 km/h.

Ehang is not the only high-tech company that has chosen Guangzhou as its base. Over 169,000 innovative technology enterprises have started their business in Guangzhou. The city also harbors over 4,739 high-tech companies, and the number is expected to exceed 7,000 in 2017.

“Guangzhou’s innovation development has achieved great success, offering the city an edge to compete on the global arena. In the past few years, Guangzhou has seized the opportunities brought by industrial transformation and the technology revolution, making significant progress in innovative industries,” Lin Huanxu, chief engineer of the Science and Technology Innovation Commission in Guangzhou, told People’s Daily Online.

A city embraces the world

Guangzhou’s busy harbor

Serving as the starting point of China’s Maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou has established cooperative ties with 31 cities around the world, and with 60 countries building consulates in the city.

“Guangzhou has become a world-class city, serving as the world’s vital trade, economic, and business center,” said Charles E. Bennett, the consul general of the US Consulate in Guangzhou, who added that the city’s swift development and openness have left a deep impression.

“Many international enterprises are willing to do business in Guangzhou,” said Luo Zheng, director of the city’s commission of commerce. According to Luo, Guangzhou has attracted investors from over 130 countries and region, and has trading ties with over 220 countries and regions. As of September, over 30,000 foreign companies have started doing business in Guangzhou, with a total foreign investment of $85 billion.