The 2024 Understanding China Conference kicked off in Guangzhou on December 3 with the theme "Carry through the reform to the end - Chinese modernization and new opportunities for world development."

Over 600 participants, including politicians, scholars, diplomats, and media representatives from around the world, are attending the event.

Among the confirmed attendees are nine former heads of state or government, including former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, and former Belgian PM Yves Leterme.

Keynote speeches, two panel discussions, six parallel seminars, and fourteen thematic forums are being held during the conference until December 4.

According to the press conference held on November 27, key discussion topics will include the global significance of China's deepening reform and modernization and how China's latest innovations can help boost the global economy. The conference will also emphasize the importance of cultural exchanges and the promotion of Chinese heritage.

Additionally, this year's conference will also spotlight the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, highlighting its economic vitality and potential as a key driver of China's modernization efforts.

Organized by China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, Guangdong Government and Guangzhou Government, the Understanding China Conference was founded in 2013.