The 12th International Consultative Conference on the Future Economic Development of Guangdong Province (ICCFED) kicked off on November 22nd. Guangzhou invited 12 foreign consultants from some of the world's leading institutions, including BASF, the Canadian Academy Of Engineering, DIHK, Emerson, Siemens and so on. Most of them already have very close ties to Guangdong.

Entrusted by Li Xi, Party Chief of Guangdong, and Ma Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong, Vice Governor Chen Liangxian welcomed the guests. Chen said that Guangdong is seizing this momentous opportunity to establish itself as part of a world-class city cluster along with Hong Kong and Macao. Guangdong will take the suggestions on board and put them into practice.

To achieve win-win development, Guangdong will work together with global investors, including the institutions represented at the conference, to further cooperation in business, scientific and technological innovation, exploring international markets, and international talent training, Chen added.

At the 2019 ICCFED, consultants provided constructive suggestions on scientific and technological innovation, sustainable development, new energy, digital transformation, financial opening-up, international cooperation, high-quality development, and strengthening both the disaster prevention and response capacity of the GBA.

Authors: Hu Nan, Hannah Zhou

Editors: Olivia Ouyang, Simon Haywood