Despite changes and challenges in 2024, Guangdong province, a leading economic region in China, saw its foreign trade volume exceed 9 trillion yuan and reach a new high, maintaining its top position in the nation for 39 consecutive years.

On the first working day after the 2025 Chinese New Year holiday, the province convened its annual high-quality development conference, one of the goals being to accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system through enhancing foreign trade, investment, outsourcing, talent attraction, and more.

How can Guangdong realize this goal? Let's see.

First and foremost, Guangdong boasts a complete industrial chain and high customs clearance efficiency as a sound base for foreign trade and investment. As Zhang Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, pointed out at the conference, using Shenzhen's high-end equipment and electronics as main export products, it is clear that the integration of Guangdong's entire industries and trade is maturing.

Representatives from the enterprises also drew the same conclusion from their business practices in Guangdong. Wang Yingqun, Vice President of BeiGene (Guangzhou) Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., noted that the BeiGene Guangdong base is a key link in the company's global production and supply chain.

Guangdong enterprises are also vigorously developing high-tech manufacturing and other cutting-edge industries. Huang Yehua, Vice President of WeRide, a company rated by Fortune magazine as one of the top ten companies that are changing the world, noted that by actively expanding into overseas markets, the company aims to further integrate into the development of future transport in cities around the world.

Midea Group Co., Ltd. is also integrating in-depth into the Southeast Asian market by participating in establishing local refrigerator standards. "This is the first national mandatory standard being promoted by a Chinese private enterprise in Southeast Asia," said Wang Jianguo, Vice President of the group.

Looking ahead, Guangdong will continue to focus on accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system through better leveraging foreign trade, investment, talents, and more. The province aims to enhance innovation levels, leverage market size, and optimize the cooperation environment to further facilitate foreign trade and investment.

Gu Xueming, President of the Institute of Open and Innovative Development of Shenzhen University emphasized that large market size, high innovation levels, strong industrial capabilities, and an excellent cooperation environment are crucial for high-quality development. Customs authorities in Guangdong will also continue to introduce special support measures to create a first-class port business environment, facilitating foreign trade and investment.

(cnbayarea.org.cn & GDToday)