(Photo: Deng Yingheng)

Guangdong, a powerhouse of China's economy, held its annual high-quality development conference in Guangzhou on February 5, the first working day after the Chinese New Year holiday. The event focused on building a modern industrial system with greater international competitiveness to drive further high-quality development.

This marks the third consecutive year that Guangdong, which has maintained its position as China's leading economic province for 36 years, has hosted this high-profile conference. The gathering aimed to unite the province's resources and efforts toward achieving ambitious industrial and economic goals.

In his keynote speech, Huang Kunming, Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, emphasized that the province has accumulated a strong foundation and unique advantages through long-term development. These include a comprehensive industrial system, robust supporting infrastructure, and ample development space. To sustain its economic vitality and social dynamism, he stressed the need to establish a more internationally competitive modern industrial system.

Huang highlighted Guangdong's commitment to accelerating new industrialization by strengthening traditional and advantageous industries while nurturing and expanding emerging and future sectors. He specifically underscored the importance of artificial intelligence and robotics, positioning them as key drivers of Guangdong's next-generation industrial growth. To achieve this, the province will implement various measures to reinforce its industrial foundation, optimize business policies, and create a more attractive environment for global talent. Guangdong also plans to collaborate with Hong Kong and Macao to build a high-level talent hub, offering competitive salaries and career opportunities to attract top professionals from around the world.

Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong reinforced the importance of optimizing the regional industrial development layout. He stressed the need to deepen the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, boost agricultural and rural development, and implement integrated measures across five foreign-related fields to expand Guangdong's industrial development space and strategic depth.

Wang further stated that governments at all levels should support outstanding enterprises and strengthen industries by treating all business entities equally, enhancing policy support, and fostering a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationally competitive.

During the conference, two videos showcased Guangdong's industrial achievements and future plans. Representatives from national ministries and commissions provided feedback, while senior officials and business leaders discussed key strategies to strengthen the province's manufacturing sector and modernize its economy.

Fang Hongbo, Chairman and President of Midea Group, highlighted the company's efforts in robotics. He noted that Midea Robotics is developing products tailored to the Chinese market by integrating the technological strengths of the German robotics firm KUKA—acquired by Midea in 2017—with China's advantages in scale, cost, and efficiency. This approach aims to create cost-effective robotic solutions for broader industrial applications.

Meanwhile, Haryono Lim, President of Mega Projects Asia at BASF, announced via video that BASF's core Verbund site in Zhanjiang is set to start operations by the end of this year. Originally announced in July 2018 and launched in November 2019, this €10 billion project represents BASF's largest investment to date. It will be the company's third-largest Verbund site in the  world. Lim emphasized that this milestone not only marks a significant achievement in BASF's 140-year history in China but also showcases Guangdong's rapid development. He expressed optimism about collaborating with stakeholders to promote mutual prosperity and high-quality growth.

In the afternoon, five sub-forums were held, covering key topics such as the transformation of traditional industries, the development of strategic emerging industries, and the implementation of the "High-Quality Development Project for Guangdong's Counties, Towns, and Villages." Other discussions focused on enhancing foreign trade, investment, outsourcing, economic cooperation, and global talent attraction.