Sharing open development opportunities, creating a better future for cooperation
In line with the inaugural China International Import Expo and in order to strengthen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and European countries, the 2018 China (Guangdong)-Europe Investment Cooperation Conference and German Enterprises Invest in Guangdong Promotion Event was jointly held by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Shenzhen on November 6, 2018. More than 900 guests from 13 European countries including the UK, France and Germany gathered in Shenzhen. Wang Weizhong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Ma Xiaoli, Vice Chairman of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and Shi Weizhe, Chairman of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce attended the event and delivered speeches. Huang Wu, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference, delivered a keynote speech at the meeting.
On behalf of Li Xi, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Ma Xingrui, Governor, Wang Weizhong, represented the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and the People’s Government of Shenzhen Municipality to extend a warm welcome to the guests. He pointed out that Guangdong was the vanguard and pioneer trial area of China's reform and opening up policy. After reform and opening up, Guangdong developed from an agricultural region into a major economic province with a GDP that has ranked No.1 in China for 29 consecutive years, and has achieved historical developmental milestones. As the most influential and best constructed Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen was the first place in China to implement reform and opening up, and is also an innovative international city that has grown alongside Guangdong. At present, Shenzhen is further studying and implementing the spirit of the major speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to Guangdong. The city is at the forefront of the new era, and it is a pioneer in this new journey. It is moving towards building a pioneering demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics and striving to create a model city and a force for socialist modernization. Shenzhen will continue to hold high the banner of reform and opening up in the new era, remain firm in its commitment to fully expanding its opening up policies, and grasp the major historical opportunities presented by the “Belt and Road” initiative and the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It will also implement the most stringent protection measures for intellectual property rights in accordance with the law, strive to create a first-class market-oriented business environment that is internationalized and governed by the rule of law, while accelerating the construction of key open platforms such as Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Special Cooperation Zone. These efforts will help build a new open economic system linked to international investment and trade rules, and create a global city serving China and facing the world, while striving to write a new chapter in Shenzhen's journey of comprehensive opening up in the new era.
Wang Weizhong emphasized that in recent years, economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and Shenzhen and Europe have become increasingly close, and have constantly forged ahead covering various fields. Guangdong and Shenzhen in particular will implement the policies of the central government, stick to the path of openness, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and constantly strengthen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world, including those in Europe, and make greater contributions to the construction of an open world economy. It is hoped that more European companies will come to further understand and become familiar with Guangdong and Shenzhen, and even eventually fall in love with these places. In doing so, they will establish roots in this hot region and invest in development, innovation and entrepreneurship, share open development opportunities, and create a better future for cooperation.
Huang Wu said that Guangdong will promote the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, build a model of high-quality development, and achieve new breakthroughs in key fields such as the construction of a modern industrial system, cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, reform of the business environment, and construction of major cooperation platforms, which will surely bring significant development opportunities to global investors including those from Europe. It is hoped that exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and European countries will be further strengthened, and trade between the two sides will be promoted. This should result in enhanced two-way investment and more cooperation in science and technology innovation. Ties in finance, education, humanities and other fields will also be deepened to jointly lift the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Europe to a new level.
Ma Xiaoli said that the development achievements of Guangdong and Shenzhen in the past 40 years of reform and opening up have proved that only an open market can truly promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and unleash a huge driving force for development. At present, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is giving Guangdong and Shenzhen new economic vitality. It is hoped that this conference will bring more opportunities for Europe and Guangdong to cooperate on business, create more chances for enterprises from the two sides to work together, and jointly promote stable economic prosperity for both Europe and China.
Shi Weizhe said that the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has provided many opportunities for cooperation between enterprises in Guangdong, Shenzhen and Germany, and demonstrates China's confidence and determination to further expand its opening up and achieve long-term sustainable development. The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce will be committed to promoting pragmatic cooperation between the two places and further promoting ties and win-win outcomes. It is hoped that the conference will encourage more German companies to participate in the development of Guangdong and Shenzhen and share the fruits of cooperation.
Before the meeting, Wang Weizhong met with representatives from the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce led by Shi Weizhe. The two sides stated that they will deepen pragmatic cooperation in SME services, technological innovation, the environmental protection industry, smart cities, vocational education and other fields to achieve mutual benefits and win-win development. Wang Weizhong also exchanged views with important European guests attending the conference.
Shenzhen municipal leaders Gao Zimin and Wang Lixin also attended the event.