The Guangzhou government also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, to facilitate the construction of Guangzhou's multi-level capital market.

Guangzhou Hengjian Investment Holding Co Ltd signed a 20-billion-yuan ($2.93 billion) fund with Guangzhou Development Bank to further promote advanced manufacturing in Guangdong province, boosting the transformation of "Made in Guangdong" to "Intelligent manufacturing in Guangdong" and further to "Created in Guangdong".

"The expo is of great significance for Guangdong province to unite financial resources, improve financial services and strengthen real economy," said Chen Yunxian, former vice-governor of Guangdong.

GZIFE is a comprehensive platform that showcases financial achievements, financial reform, financial academic exchanges, and financial knowledge popularization.

Innovative products and cutting-edge technologies were also showcased at the expo, with intelligent devices and services, such as robots, and facial recognition technology introduced by several financial institutions.

Organizers also held a job fair, speech contest, micro-film competition and book selection.

"Guangzhou will establish a modern financial service system and grow into a financial resource allocation hub with global influence through availing the opportunity presented by the financial expo," Chen added.

The annual GZIFE has been held in Guangzhou every June for six consecutive years, since 2012.

In 2016, the expo attracted and created nearly 10,000 development opportunities for 170,000 professionals. Live trading and petty load credit reached 5.4 billion yuan. 

The exhibition area for banks at the sixth GZIFE is filled with visitors. [Photo by Huang Lulu/Xinhua]