Dongguan held its annual High-quality Development Conference on February 6, the second working day after the Chinese New Year holiday, following the Guangdong Provincial High-quality Development Conference.

In 2024, Dongguan focused on its real economy and prioritized manufacturing. The city accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system anchored by advanced manufacturing. During the city's value-added industrial output of enterprises above the designated size increased by 6.9 per cent, its GDP grew by 4.6 per cent, reaching a new milestone of 1.2 trillion yuan.

The main agenda for the 2025 Dongguan High-Quality Development Conference included a speech by Wei Hao, Secretary of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee; presentations from representatives of the Municipal Development and Reform Bureau, the Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, and the Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; speeches from representatives of various districts such as Songshan Lake, Nancheng District, Chang'an Town, and Qingxi Town; video addresses from local business representatives; and the conference was hosted by Mayor Lv Chengxi.

Looking ahead to 2025, Dongguan has set a GDP growth target of over 5 per cent. The city plans to fully promote consumption and advance foreign trade and investment innovations. In terms of technology, it aims to maintain R&D investment at around 4% and achieve mutual advancements in industrial technology for greater breakthroughs. Additionally, Dongguan intends to expedite the establishment of a modern industrial system, deepen regional collaboration, further integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and build a new landscape of open and mutually beneficial development.