2017 China (Guangdong)-U.S. Investment Cooperation Conference Successfully Held in Guangzhou

For implementing the important consensus reached by the Presidents of China and America and [g3] further promoting economic and trade investment cooperation between Guangdong and America, the People’s Government of Guangdong and American Chamber of Commerce jointly held “2017 China (Guangdong)-America Investment Cooperation Conference” in Guangzhou on April 20^th. The Conference was organized by the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and Foreign Affairs Office of [A4] the People's Government of Guangdong Province. Top officials of Guangdong Province Mr. Hu Chunhua, Ma Xingrui, Ren Xuefeng, Yuan Baocheng, the Vice Minister & Deputy Representative of International Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC, Mr. Yu Jianhua, and diginitaries of the Chinese and American governments, as well as more than 50 of the Global 500 enterprises or leading enterprises from U.S., business elites from 150 American enterprises and high-level managers of 150 enterprises from Guangdong attended the conference. Moreover, the Conference also included the other four branch forums: Round Table Talk between Governor of Guangdong and CEOs of American Leading Enterprises, Guangdong-America Business Dialogue, four seminars in fields as Finance, high-tech and innovation industry, aviation industry, Pilot Free Trade Zone development, as well as 5 Networkings: Innovation Technology and Equipment, Health Care, Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Education and Investing U.S..

    Prior to the Conference, Guangdong Provincial Leaders Hu Chunhua, Ma Xingrui, Ren Xuefeng, Yuan Baocheng, the Vice Minister & Deputy Representative of International Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC Yu Jianhua met with  30 high-level representatives of American politics and business circles. Hu Chun expressed warm welcome to the guests’ attendance on behalf of Guangdong Party Committee and the People's Government of Guangdong Province. The Standing Vice President of American Chamber of Commerce, Myron Brilliant, expected closer cooperation between two sides, and Consul-General of the United States in Guangzhou, Charles Bennett, said that the Consulate will provide better service for the cooperation of two sides’ enterprises. The Global Executive Vice-President of Wal-Mart, Scott Price, hopes to increase investment in Guangdong, deepen practical cooperation in the fields of e-commerce, energy-saving and environmental protection, intelligent logistics etc. Qualcomm, P&G, Dow Chemistry, Rockwell and other enterprises expressed their willingness to continuously expand investment in Guangdong. 

Secretary Mr. Hu Chunhua pointed out that, under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions of “four persistence, three supports, two going advance”, Guangdong will continuously take a lead in the new round of development. Guangdong is willing to deepen regional economic and trade communication and cooperation under the cooperation framework reached by the state leaders of both countries. Hu hoped that Consulate of the United States, United States Chamber of Commerce can play full role in propelling both sides’ cooperation in the fields of science and technology, education, trade and investment.

The Governor of Guangdong Province Ma Xingrui delivered a keynote speech on the conference. He said that, Guangdong will take this investment cooperation conference as an opportunity to further deepen communication with American enterprises , so as to improve practical cooperation level. Guangdong will advance the connection of major industries and investment projects, facilitate trade scale and level, deepen science and technology innovation cooperation, promote connectivity cooperation, continuously expand mutual cooperation channels, and establish multi-level and various cooperation and communication mechanism. 

The Vice Minister Yu Jianhua indicated that the economic and trade cooperation between Provinces in China and States in the US serves as the foundation for Sino-America economic and trade relations. Through establishing a “trade and investment cooperation joint working group”, the Ministry of Commerce of PRC facilitates the cooperation between states in the U.S. and cities in Guangdong. He hoped Guangdong will play an active role in advancing Sino-America economic and trade relations. 

The Vice Governor of Guangdong Province Yuan Baocheng presided the Conference, and Charles Bennett,Consul-General of the United States in Guangzhou,  Harley, the organizer of 2017 American Chamber of Commerce Asia-Pacific Regional Business Summit, Myron Brilliant, the Standing Vice President of American Chamber of Commerce, delivered speeches on the conference. The Executive Vice-President & CEO of International Division of Wal-Mart, Scott Price, Vice-President of Rockwell, Bruce Quinn, Chairman & CEO of Hytera, Chen Qingzhou gave speeches on behalf of entrepreneurs. The conference also included  Signing Ceremony of Major Projects, 15 projects, amounted to 2.289 billion US dollars.

After the Conference, The Governor of Guangdong Province Ma Xingrui held the Round Table Talk of CEOs of American Leading Enterprises, and conducted fuether communication with 26 representatives of American Global 500 and other leading enterprises. Mr. Yu Jianhua also attended the meeting. The American entrepreneurs at the meeting pointed out that Guangdong is still the most attractive area for investment in China, and they will expand investment in Guangdong. They also came up with problems and proposals on innovation cooperation, intellectual property protection, business environment optimization, food and drug safety, cooperation of supply chain, and financial cooperation. Ma Xingrui agreed with their opinions and suggestions on government services and business environment optimization, and indicated that Guangdong will intensify efforts to reform and build international business environment under the rule of law.

In the afternoon, the Vice Governor of Guangdong Province Mr. Yuan Baocheng and Charge d'Affaires ad interim of United States Embassy in China David Rank attended the China (Guangdong)-U. S. Business Dialogue, and carried out deep communication with 20 entrepreneurs from Guangdong and America. Yuan Baocheng indicated that the investment cooperation between Guangdong and the United States has great potential and prosper prospects, and Guangdong is committed to conducting closer cooperation with American industries. Both sides’ enterprises, such as Johnson and Johnson, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, Ltd., shared investment and development experience respectively, and gave proposals on advancing cooperation in the fields of new energy, environmental protection, science and technology, biological medicine, standard docking etc.

The Municipal Governments of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai  and  China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Office respectively organized four special forums: Financial Cooperation, High-tech and Innovation Industry, Aviation Industry, and Pilot Free Trade Zone development opportunity. The Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and Consulate General of the United States in Guangzhou jointly held special business networkings on these 5 industries: innovation technology and equipment, health care, environmental protection and agriculture, education and invest in U. S..

The Director-General Mr. Zheng Jianrong, Deputy Director-General Mr. Ma Hua and Deputy Director of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Office Mr. Chen Guangjun accompanied the Top officials of Guangdong Province to attend the relevant activities.