More than one year ago, on September 13, Guangzhou won its bid to host the prestigious international business forum. Alan Murray, Chief Content Officer and Fortune Editor-in-Chief, made the announcement at the landmark Canton Tower, making Guangzhou the 5th Chinese city to host the event.
Guanzghou has since promoted the forum in 13 major cities and extended invitations to companies all over the world. As the promotion meeting in the Silicon Valley concluded, the worldwide promotion tour of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum came to an end.
A Global Tour Introduces Guangzhou's Openness and Innovation
1st stop
Beijing, China: Dec. 6, 2016
"The two topics of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum are 'openness and innovation,' announced the executive committee of the event on the first stop of the worldwide tour.
2nd stop
Paris: Jan. 20, 2017
This marked the beginning of the global tour overseas.
3rd stop:
Hong Kong, China: Feb. 27, 2017
Hong Kong has long served as an entry point for international capital to enter Guangzhou and for local companies to go global. The increasingly close cooperation between the two cities made Hong Kong a must-visit.
4th stop:
New York: March 13, 2017
A trip to the heart of the US economy. Guangzhou's promotion video "Guangzhou, Flower City in Bloom" was screened in Times Square, showcasing the unique advantages of the city as an international business hub.
5th stop
Washington: March 14, 2017
Guangzhou's representative offices in Silicon Valley and Boston, the very first overseas, were officially launched during the promotional meeting in Washington. US Today, Washington Post and New York Times promoted Guangzhou with articles introducing the city from a range of different angles.
6th stop
Tokyo: April 25, 2017
Through automobiles, the connection between Guangzhou and Japan goes a long way back. Three Japanese automobile giants—Honda, Toyota and Nissan—have established plants in Guangzhou. Thanks to the favorable business climate, Guangqi Honda was able to turn a profit in its very first year of operation.
7th stop
Singapore: April 27, 2017
Sharing the achievements of the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, Guangzhou and Singapore have a great deal to discuss in terms of city livability, innovation and development. The promotion meeting enabled the world- renowned city state to learn more about the business-friendly environment of Guangzhou.
8th stop
Taipei, Taiwan, China: May 15, 2017
Multiple Taiwan newspapers reported the promotion meeting, highlighting Guangzhou's I.A.B. industries, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the potential opportunities for Taiwanese companies.
9th stop
Chicago: June 8, 2017
Guangzhou and Chicago have many things in common. Each is the country's third largest city, an important domestic transportation hub, and both share a similar industrial foundation.
10th stop
Munich: June 12, 2017
In the era of Industry 4.0, Guangzhou, with its rapidly developing manufacturing industry and a vast market, is a potentially excellent partner for Germany, which is also Guangzhou's largest trade partner in Europe.
11th stop
London: June 14, 2017
Striving to be a world financial center, Guangzhou can learn a great deal from the UK capital. By strengthening exchange and cooperation with London, Guangzhou can establish closer ties with the UK and draw experience to guide the development of its financial industry.
12th stop
Shanghai, China: July 27, 2017/9/30
The sending of invitation letters to Fortune 500 CEOs was officially launched at the promotion meeting, with some million students and youth volunteers participating in the event. More than 210 CEOs of leading companies had registered for the forum by the end of the Shanghai promotion meeting.
13th stop
Silicon Valley: Sept. 21, 2017
Silicon Valley is a cradle of innovation, and Guangzhou represents fertile soil for further technological development. It is hoped that exchanges between Silicon Valley and Guangzhou will facilitate exciting growth in the future.
City of Opportunities Attracts Global Attention
The global promotion tour has offered a rare window for the world to learn about Guangzhou and its exciting prospects. Promotion meetings in all cities attracted representatives of some 120 companies, including Global 500 companies, to discuss and explore opportunities of cooperation with Guangzhou.
"The introduction of the Guangzhou delegation to the excellent legal guarantee systems of Guangzhou and the industrial vitality of Nansha district has dissuaded doubts of UK companies to invest there," said Hampton Group Chairman Chris Yang, on the China-UK entrepreneur roundtable meeting in London.
Flower City "Blooms" Overseas
The 2017 Fortune Global Forum overseas roadshows generated extensive interest from the international press. During the London meeting for example, CNBC invited the Guangzhou delegation to its local office, in order to discuss the establishment of an international studio in Guangzhou.
"Our audiences are paying more and more attention to news about China, especially cases of Chinese enterprises and innovation. We have already set up international studios or broadcast centers in Silicon Valley, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, and would like one in Guangzhou to cover innovative enterprises in the city, Pearl River Delta and even in China," said a manager at CNBC.
In the run-up to the promotion meeting in the Silicon Valley, CNBC shot a 60-second promotional video of Guangzhou and played it during prime time all over Europe, America and Asia. In just six days this attracted hundreds of millions of viewers.
"Guangzhou, Flower City in Bloom," the official video promo was also screened on the BBC. It was played at the home stadium of RCD Espanyol in Barcelona during a La Liga match on September 24, 2017. This was the occasion when the Guangzhou delegation took over the World Routes flag from Barcelona to host World Routes 2018.
"Guangzhou, taking the opportunity of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum, has made itself known to the world. The ties it established with cities around the globe may have great significance to its future development," Harvey Cary Dzodin, vice-president of ABC TV, told Guangzhou Daily.
