6 special March 28-29, 2015 China Daily

At the forefront of China’s opening-up, the modern international metropolis in South China is among the most preferred destinations for investment. Provided to China Daily Guangzhou’s vision of glimmering future Conference courts massive investment in modern facilities

By ZHAN LISHENG top 500 companies”. the city’s Nansha Free Trade He added that special atten- [email protected] He promised that Guang- Zone that will become opera- tion will be given to the finan- zhou will be friendly to inves- tional soon. cial service sector, which is set Guangzhou, capital of South tors, assisting them and bring- As a hub of the Maritime Silk to become a pillar of Guang- China’s province, ing benefits as always. Road, Guangzhou is well-posi- zhou’s modern service industry. sponsored the first Guang- Guangzhou had 25,516 tioned for a leading role in the In addition to the Nansha zhou Annual Investment Con- foreign-funded enterprises by nation’s opening-up strategy, free trade zone, Chen said the Cars rolls off a production facility at Guangzhou Automobile Group. The company is the joint venture ference on March 26 to court the end of 2014 and 236 of the the mayor said. city will also strengthen the partner of renowned foreign automaker such as Toyota, Honda and Fiat. Provided to China Daily investment for further mod- world’s top 500 companies. The He said Guangzhou will seek development of Sino-Singa- ernization. 236 companies have launched to boost trade and investment porean Guangzhou Knowl- The city proposed 21 large 656 projects with investment with the countries and regions edge City, and the Zengcheng projects with a price tag total- totaling $45.85 billion, accord- along the route. Economic and Technological Ranked No 1 for business climate ing more than 110 billion yuan ing to official statistics. Chen also said the city has Development Zone, making ($17.7 billion). Most are related New investments are expect- ambitions to become a hub for them preferred destinations to infrastructure, environmen- ed to accelerate the city’s international shipping, logis- for investors. By ZHAN LISHENG he noted. 25 years ago when he first tal protection and public facili- development and enhance tics and trade. He added that the city is [email protected] Xu lauded the city govern- came “is absolutely beyond ties. its position as one of China’s The mayor said that by applying to the central gov- ment’s investor-friendly and description”, he said. Various districts in the five central cities along with drawing in global resources ernment to become a national In the eyes of Hubert Xu, ready-for-service attitudes, He said the residents — the city proposed 140 projects to , Shanghai, and using international practices, model zone for independent the competitive business envi- awareness of market mecha- region’s strongest asset — potential investors with total . the future of Guangzhou will innovation that will include ronment has always been an nisms and adherence to fair are another reason why UL investment of 239.5 billion “Guangzhou is striving to reside in the Nansha Free both the Guangzhou High- ace Guangzhou can play to play and international prac- continues to invest in South yuan that range from advanced become an international trade Trade Zone. Tech Development Zone and win the hearts of investors. tices. China. manufacturing to information and shipping hub, a globally Finance, research and devel- Sino-Singaporean Guangzhou Xu is the president of CDC He also cited Guangzhou’s UL has five testing labs in technology, commerce, finan- renowned cultural city, a trans- opment, shipping and logis- Knowledge City. Group in the Guangzhou proximity to Hong Kong and China, two in Guangzhou. cial services and healthcare. portation hub in South China tics, the marine economy and Guangzhou is making prog- Development District and Macao as well as convenient “If you’re not in Guang- Addressing the opening of and an international metropo- advanced equipment manu- ress in adjusting its economic a senior advisor to the city’s public facilities in daily life, zhou, you’re not in China,” the conference, Guangzhou lis,” Chen said. “The new pros- facturing will be prioritized in structure, promoting innova- international investment an improved traffic network, Williams said. Mayor Chen Jianhua said “the pect will mean immense busi- the zone. tion, deepening overall reform, board. His company has a lot good air quality, the well- Guangzhou’s ideal business city will open more projects ness opportunities.” Chen said the city will high- opening further to the world of contact with foreign inves- developed supply chain and climate has also earned wide to domestic and interna- He said Guangzhou now has light development of modern and promoting the rule of law, tors, many of them top 500 logistics system. Rich human recognition. tional investors and will seek new opportunities in the New services and advanced man- Xuefeng, the city’s Party global conglomerates. resources add another win- Forbes China magazine to cooperate with industrial Silk Road, 21st-Century Mari- ufacturing industries for an chief, said during a conference “Business operations in ning card to attract investors, ranked Guangzhou the No 1 leaders including the world’s time Silk Road initiatives and optimized industrial structure. earlier this year. Guangzhou are much easier he said. city in the country for business and much more efficient,” “I’ve heard from quite a few four times from 2010 to 2014. he told China Daily, due to of my clients that they enjoy The city also topped studies the city government’s move doing business and enjoy evaluating city government to streamline administrative their life here,” he said. performances in 2014. procedures and alleviate gov- Xu’s remarks are echoed by Yet even with all the acco- ernment intervention in the senior executives of foreign- lades, the local authorities are market. funded enterprises attending all not content. Top officials One example he cites is the first Guangzhou Annual of the city have pledged on business registration reform Investment Conference on several occasions recently to that city implemented early March 26. further the efforts to improve last year that exempts a “The local government’s the business climate by stick- foreign-funded project from awareness of service and its ing to market mechanisms, needing a permit before administrative efficiency have international practices and applying for a business impressed me deeply,” said the rule of law. license. The business license Peng Wei, president of Carl Mayor Chen Jianhua said itself can be ready in three Zeiss China. during the city’s People’s Con- days compared to 15 working “That was a crucial reason gress session in early Febru- days before. why Carl Zeiss finally decided ary that it “will enhance its “The reform ended the his- to invest in Guangzhou,” he administrative transparency tory when a new company said. and efficiency with innova- had months of torture before Keith Williams, president tive services, create a market it had the license to start,” he and CEO of US-based Under- climate for disciplined com- explained. writers Laboratories Inc, also petition by improving mar- “The change was definitely had complementary remarks. ket supervision, and improve Business representatives from home and abroad meet at the Guangzhou conference to hear about a range of new opportunities. Zou significant, especially for a The transformation of law enforcement for business Zhongpin / China Daily foreign-funded enterprise,” Guangzhou from what it was operations”. Ambitious plans for historic port

By Qiu Quanlin and some river ports along the largest cruise ship operator, and Qianhai and Shekou in [email protected] Pearl River. will soon open a passenger Shenzhen. Guangzhou Port now has route to Guangzhou, accord- “We are determined to Guangzhou has unveiled an 868 berths that handled 500 ing to the newspaper. build the Nansha Free Trade ambitious plan to develop the million tons of cargo last year, During the city’s annual Zone into a fast and efficient ancient port city into an inter- making it the world’s fifth- People’s Congress session in shipping and logistics center, national shipping hub within largest port, according to the February, Chen said enhanced which will help expand the three years, said local authori- authority. shipping and logistics services local economy,” Chen said. ties. In an address to an annu- facilitate development of the According to the local port Major efforts will be given to al investment conference in newly approved free trade zone authority, Guangzhou Port has the expanding the port’s han- Guangzhou on Mar 26, Mayor in Nansha. developed links with more dling capacity, which includes Chen Jianhua said renowned “We will also push devel- than 400 ports in over 100 development of more ship- companies from home and opment of infrastructure countries and regions. ping lanes, and terminals for abroad have shown increased including an airport, express- In addition to developing containers, oil and bulk cargo, interest in investing in Nan- ways, subways and railways the shipping hub, authorities according to the Guangzhou sha following the city’s plan to to build closer links between have also mapped out a plan Port Authority. develop into an international the zone, the downtown area to build the city into an inter- Construction on the third shipping hub. and neighboring cities,” Chen national aviation hub. Crucial to city plans to become an international shipping hub, Nansha Port already handles 10 million phase of Nansha Port, which One is China State Ship- said. During a recent visit to containers a year. provided to China Daily can currently handle 10 mil- building Corp, which plans to The city will invest about 1 the Guangzhou Airport Eco- lion containers a year, will be open a ship chartering busi- billion yuan ($160.1 million) to nomic Zone in early March, completed soon and put into ness in Nansha, according to build a commercial airport in Guangzhou Party chief Ren ing an international aviation has more than 110 routes to ing 1.4 million tons, according operation in September, said the local Nanfang Daily. Nansha, said the mayor. Xuefeng said rapid growth in hub. over 100 domestic and over- to the authority. the authority. Construction on a cruise lin- The Nansha Free Trade passenger numbers and cargo According to the port seas cities. Guangzhou Baiyun Inter- Nansha is a major com- er home port in Nansha will Zone is part of the Guangdong through Guangzhou Baiyun authority, the Guangzhou air- It accommodated about 55 national currently serves 33 ponent of Guangzhou Port, be completed in 2018. Royal Free Trade Zone, which also International Airport lays a port, one of the top three civil million passengers in 2014, airline companies, according which includes four seaports Caribbean, the world’s second- includes Hengqin in Zhuhai solid foundation for develop- aviation centers in China, now with cargo throughput reach- to the authority.